mandyraclark

For the Dead

Working and waiting,Leaves falling and I’m alone:Bury him—go home.

What I Want to Do v. What I Want to Do

Stop picking your face. My mom told me this in the latter years of high school, when I alone continued what she started. Now my husband tells me to stop, as I asked him to remind me, even while we were only dating. But, even though I don’t want to, and I ask others toContinueContinue reading “What I Want to Do v. What I Want to Do”

Too Much Chocolate for Banana Bread

Baking brings me joy. It’s a subtle positive experience, but I like it nonetheless. While some strive to finish their products because of the forethought of tasting their creations, I do not. I strive to seek out other stomachs who may desire my baked dessert, pastry, or bread, and when found, I transfer the goodsContinueContinue reading “Too Much Chocolate for Banana Bread”

Cleansing Yourself: Inside & Outside

Books. A few boxes. A prom dress. Shoes. Other miscellaneous items. These objects are scattered around my living room, and they’ve been there for over a week, nearly untouched. Recently, to complement the style of our front room, our kitchen has accumulated piles of dishes in the sink and food crumbs on the counter. TheContinueContinue reading “Cleansing Yourself: Inside & Outside”

Temple to Temple 5k Run

Over 20,000 people clustered together, following the same path: from the Provo Temple to the Provo City Center Temple. The 5k race included a wide age range, from babies in stroller to older folks with white hair and great ambition. As two young adults, my husband and I certainly did not stand out. We blendedContinueContinue reading “Temple to Temple 5k Run”

Twenty-Two

Welcome to a new age, and in six months, a new year! Supposedly, from this age on, there are little milestones left for me to look forward to. But, up until this point, there has been so many. At age 10, I hit the double-digits milestone. Then at age 13, I was officially a teenager.ContinueContinue reading “Twenty-Two”

Eyebrows

They’re either the worm or the caterpillar of the face. Slim and sometimes hardly existent, or bushy and hard to ignore. These are eyebrows. Sure, some may say, “Not all eyebrows are worms or caterpillars! Some eyebrows are in between!” I cannot blame these people for being sadly mistaken. Simply, those “middle-ground” eyebrows are eitherContinueContinue reading “Eyebrows”

“Short-term Long Distance” Relationship Advice

Successful long distance relationships are a stretch when it comes to physical and emotional separation. They’re not impossible, just hard and less likely. Thus, crowds go wild with shouts and hollers when a couple can function healthily in a long distance relationship. It helps to remember that eventually the distance for a couple may beContinueContinue reading ““Short-term Long Distance” Relationship Advice”

The “A-” Life

Finals finish. Breathing can resume, a lull in the day becomes acceptable—welcomed even. Only a few days until the school reveals the final outcome: semester grades. As usual, at the beginning of the semester, I set my expectations high: I need all A’s. One second later, I modified my mindset: I want all A’s. TimeContinueContinue reading “The “A-” Life”

Belonging to a Team

There’s nothing like belonging to a team;Losers, Weepers, “Hopeless” Dreams—There’s nothing like belonging to a team If I lose and I’m alone,I become vulnerable and prone.If I lose with someone else,I love the one who knows how I felt.If I weep and I’m alone,My tears soak past my skin to the bone.If I weep withContinueContinue reading “Belonging to a Team”