The Nature In Me
THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER -Thuan Tang
The day I was born, I knew I was on a journey of a lifetime. Instead of the usual activies that babies do like sommersaults or cartwheels in their mother's uterus, I carefully sketched out my pathway in life. I was unique little fellow. When it was time for my deliverance, I cried. Not because I was afraid but tthe fact that I never got to complete my blueprints of my life. I had forgotten everything that was planned out for nine months! As of today, I slowly try to recollect my thoughts and ideas that I once had in my mother's womb. My goal in life is the seek the truth as to why I am here today.
What was the really the turning point about my life was an incident in which life nearly gave up on me. On a hot summer day, I was a fourth grader swimming in the North Platte River of Nebraska (the place I grew up in before I moved to Texas). My friend C.J. and I were wrestling each other near the bank of the river when all of a sudden, the river currents rapidly gained control. After the being body slammed five times, I began to notice myself underneath the water with him being on top for a while. The only thing that ran through my mind was, "LET ME GO YOU FAT BASTARD!" Was C.J. trying to drown me? The only thing I was thinking of at this time was hurting him for doing this to me. It took me a while to realize that my feet weren't touching the ground and neither was his! I began to worry and continually had adrenaline rushes. At this moment, I fought vigorously out of fear because I had no skills of swimming and felt anger because I did not deserve this. My fight for life became relentless but my strength rapidly perished as I continually drank the polluted river. Slowly, my stomach became filled with crude oil, duck feathers, microorganisms and all sorts of filth as my oxygen tank became depleted. With very deficient amounts of energy left, I went into an unconscious state. My respiratory systems went out of business and sooner or later, I was assure of becoming rigor mortis. Nobody was around me, not even C.J. Everything came to a complete dead silence. No fish, no wind, no voices....nothing. I was lost in a river fighting for my life hoping for a second chance of living. Was this suppose to happen this way? Was I suppose to go out like this? Was I being punished? What about my plans and goals that I outlined in my mother's womb? I never recall such an event happening to me. Why did it happen? Why me! Infinite amounts of questions flourished left and right when I was about to leave this place until all of a sudden...SPLASH! Something woke me out of my unconscious state. One of the adults swimming nearby saw us go under. When he grabbed me, I bit immediately with fear. Just knowing that someone was with me again brought me joy; but a joy that wants to avenge with anger. I began round two by kicking, biting, and grabbing hold of this stranger for dear life hoping he wouldn't let go like C.J. did. Fortunately, after being a minute under water, I was brought back to the surface. I saw the light of life again. I looked around for C.J. to avenge him but he was nowhere in my site. About twenty seconds later, C.J. was brought back up. He was unconscious and CPR had to be performed. My anger became sorrow and grief for him. I didn't want any of this to happen and all I wanted was to see C.J again. Unfortunately C.J. did not recover from CPR and paramedics immediately rushed to the scene. He was taken to St. Paul hospital nearby and had safely recovered from this incident.
Today, I look back on this incident and at all the things nature can do to people; tornado, hurricanes, earthquakes...etc. My life has been greatly effected by it and because of that, I learn to appreciate the things of nature that surround my environment. I take annual camping trips to various places and try to become one with it. Each trip has been very special and memorable because not only do I experience the great outdoors, I try to understand the beauty and meaning of life.
