Linoleum

When I first came to Dordt as a church shopping freshman, I became excited when I found out about the Church of Christ. Its website made it sound like its theology was the closest to the nondenominational church I grew up in, so I had it in my mind that this was the church I wanted to become a regular member of. One autumn Sunday morning, a friend and I put the address on the website into my GPS and set out. I was convinced that my GPS was malfunctioning when we ended up in the parking lot of a…

I remembered the fear and worry in my grandmother’s eyes the night before when my grandfather had been admitted to a hospice when he had been suffering from an unusual fever that never subsided, prompting us to call an ambulance. I had never been in this situation before and my anxiety had heightened more than ever. The paramedics clamored over my grandfather, scolding my grandmother for having not called for help sooner, “If you knew that he was in this condition then why did you not call for…

“Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle. I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle. I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike.” High pitched in all its glory—at the top of our lungs—it was “Bicycle Race” by Queen, or The Bicycle Song in the terms of an unknowing five-year-old. It started my morning for three years. Katherina would rock out to and sing this memorable song, even through its fiftieth time, with a joy that few siblings can muster. Sometimes loud, sometimes in a fit of giggles, but…

Bobbing and weaving through crowds of worried parents, children, and loved ones, my anxiety worsened at the thought that I might not make it off this ship alive. I needed to know some details of what is going on, therefore I’m making my way to the captain’s headquarters. If I tell him that I know his daughter, even if I believe she’s eerie, which I won’t mention, he might feel more open to informing me on what’s going on. Just a few feet away from the captain’s living space, I hear the wails…

Michael didn’t always enjoy working at the coffee shop. Costumers could be absolute dicks and pay could be better. One thing he absolutely liked about the job was messing with Ana. Ana was short- topping out at 5’ 3”. His short coworker refused to accept her height, often trying to reach plates or cups in high places. She usually resorted to climbing on counter tops to achieve her goal. Michael- who was at least a head and a half taller than her- would tease her about it and show off by grabbing…

The 1950’s marked the beginning of an evolution in Chicago architecture, which would be a dramatic contrast to the two previous decades. These earlier years were characterized by stunted architectural growth and reform, and the lack of advancement was largely due to the shortage of funding associated with the Great Depression and World War II. In the midst of this new era of development, architectural firms Loebl and Schlossman & Bennett were commissioned to reconstruct the Loop Synagogue in…

Working on winter break. What a torturous task to go through. While everyone is at home relaxing and spending time with family you’re working nonstop on your feet and watching the clock until you can leave. I sat down with my Dad and interviewed him about his high school experience. He went on and spoke about how he went to football games,6 flags, and work. Growing up in a lower income neighborhood defined him as a person and made him have a positive outlook on life despite the situation he was…

The Strength to Rise Above Gender Roles on Mango Street The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros, is a book about the obstacles Latin women encounter while residing on Mango Street. In their community, males dominate and women are treated as if they are inferior. A woman's merit is placed on her outward appearance, as well as her loyalty to the men in her life. Throughout The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros utilizes the first-person frame of reference, portraying her struggle to…

It was a long summer’s evening in Colorado Springs, 1975. The air was warm and still, and Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” and Rod Stewart’s “Maggie Mae” were spinning on the AM station of my friend Paul’s Earl Schrieb freshly-painted turquoise-blue Karmann Ghia. “When you’re down and troubled, and you need a helping hand…” I felt accomplished to have memorized each song and confidently sang the works out loud. Paul closely resembled Jim Croce: dark Italian skin, long chestnut curls,…

A Feminist Literary Analysis on Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globes Speech The 75th Golden Globe Awards, a ceremony that honours achievements in television and film was held on the 7th of January 2018 (Gajanan). In light of the current state of the Hollywood and music industry, the ‘#MeToo’ and ‘Time’s Up’ movements were the main themes of the night which consequently led to the awards ceremony focus on women issues more than ever. The unofficial dress attire for the night was all black to…