1. My Most Precious Items

2. Seeing my house disappear through the car window, I dived for my sling that was on the floor next to my dog, Romeo. I had loaded two special items inside, although my violin was in the back with the luggage. This September, hurricane Gustav was going to hit Slidell, Louisiana, my home, and I, wasn’t going to take any chances with my most cherished gifts in the entire world because no one could ever replace the love in them.

3. Hugging a passed memory, my Minnie Mouse doll smiled back at my face draped with worry. Ever since I was born, she was there in my cradle. My Abuelita or Grandmother had given it to me, and it reminds me of how secure she is in heaven. Whenever I see my doll, I see my Abuelita’s face in my mind and love her in my heart.

4. Putting her back in the bag, I slipped out my necklaces
Putting her back in the bag, I slipped out my necklaces. There were two; one recently became mine while the other had been with me almost forever. The most recent necklace was an engraved charm strung with glass pink beads that I got this April from my Godfather. He gave it to me after my orchestra performance and I wore it with pride. The words on the silver charm gave me contentment since I hardly ever see him. “ S…. Love, Parin Kevin,” it said. The other necklace was given to me when I was about two years old. It was an Indian bead necklace from my Panamanian Grandfather, Abuelito. The delicate beads thread together an assortment of backgrounds and colors, of red and white.

5. Hooking them around my neck, I reflected on my violin
Hooking them around my neck, I reflected on my violin. With seven to eight years of age, I rode the bus home to find a wooden violin next to my German teddy bear. It is my desired instrument of all and it will be for the rest of my life. Ms. Taylor taught me how to make the music sound sweeter than candy; the strings sparkle underneath my fingers.

6. Whilst I welcomed myself home, relief embraced my soul for everything was full of luster and untouched.
Once my mom yelled, “Girls, start to unpack,” I darted towards my sling and violin and carefully placed my most precious items back in place.