Singing Till The Sun Rises

In today’s society, we live in a world where people have TV shows to find their BFF, an up and down economy, and celebrities who move on to buy their third and fourth houses. But how are we Americans able to tell what makes something valuable and valueless? Is it the valuable and expensive things in life? Or the priceless moments you wouldn’t trade for the world?

The alarm clock sounds off loudly blaring an old country rock and roll song. I quickly hit the off button and look at the screen that now says 6:42 AM. I jump out of bed excited, yet tired, and tip toe into the next room to wake my brother and two cousins. They wake up startled, but quickly smile knowing why they have been awakened. Together we soundlessly race downstairs and gather the things that we need. I grab the radio while the others grab blankets, muffins and juice. After we’re all set, we step outside, shut the door, and then we run.

The four of us run down the beach near the water’s edge and put down our blankets along with our food, and scramble onto the fuzzy blanket. I turn the radio on to a country station and one our favorite country songs of all time comes on. Summertime by Kenny Chesney. As the song begins, so does the suns ascent into the sky. Slowly but steady it rises as we sing. Watching the sunrise is so beautiful and special especially when you get to witness it with the ones you love.

After the sun has risen, we eat our makeshift breakfast and quickly run back to the house before the adults wake up. We make our way back inside, and put everything we took back in place. We all laugh and say good morning, and head back up stairs to go to sleep, even though in our minds, we know that will never happen. As I lay in bed, I suddenly find myself yearning for next summer, when we shall do this tradition once again.

I quickly scroll up and down my Ipod’s playlist looking for a song. There are just so many to choose from it practically takes me five minutes. But since I’m feeling very relaxed and mellow, I decide to listen to some country. I press play, and the music flows through my small white earphones, causing my ears to fill with sweet, sweet sound.

Minutes later I find myself selecting a new song, only to see that my battery is low. I place my Ipod on its portable dock to let it charge. I absolutely love this charger because while it’s charging I am still able to listen to music. Halfway through another song I decide to start my homework. I honestly don’t know how I would be able to do my homework without music. It keeps me so calm and focused even when homework stresses me out, or can be frustrating.

I go at my homework for another hour, and finally finish. I pack up my stuff, and decide to give my Ipod a rest after a long day. I get up to find myself something to eat, but rather find myself thinking about the day I got my Ipod, which was last Christmas. It meant so much to me, since I had wanted a new one forever. I was so happy my parents decided to get me one and I believe I thanked them about 100 times that day.

I value both my Ipod and summer tradition of watching the sunrise in Wells, Maine for both different and similar reasons. Watching the sunrise with my cousins and brother is always great. We have the greatest time laughing and singing. It is also a bonding experience where we talk about the school year, and what we want to do for the rest of the summer. I only get to experience the sunrise once a year, and cherish it deeply. Music connects my two values in a way. That morning when we watch the sunrise, we listen to country music and sing along. I also listen to music while using my Ipod, although on the other hand, I can listen to my Ipod every day, where as I can’t watch the sunrise every morning.

Both my Ipod and watching the sunrise tradition mean a lot to me. My Ipod helps me feel relaxed and calm when I am feeling stressed or frustrated. Watching the sunrise helps me connect and be closer with my cousins before we start off the summer together. Both are emotionally important to me. I value things that make me feel good, which happens to be watching the sunrise and my Ipod.

I believe something is valuable if it is something you love deeply. To know if you love it deeply enough, then you must ask yourself if you could live without it. And I know for a fact that I could manage my life without my Ipod. It would be tough, but I could manage. But I don’t think I could get through life without watching that sunrise every summer with my cousins, because that is my priceless moment that I couldn't live without, and wouldn’t trade for the world.