America, land of the free

"Price Club has samples, rows and rows of endless samples"

I think that it's safe to say that everybody is guilty of going to Sam's Club, BJ's or something like that and absolutely stuffed themselves on free samples. I mean, they're giving them away, why not take the oppertunity of free food? I always think fondly of the day that Becca and I discovered that if you say you're sixteen, they will give you anything you want. Before, you had to have a parent or older brother or sister with you. Being 16, or at least faking it, allowed a freedom we had never known. We walked down the row, putting on sunglasses, switching around our scarves, trying to look slightly different every time we grabbed one of the cookies (our favorites). What I'm trying to say it, my name is Emma Kane, and I am a samples addict.

"Retirement usually brings out men's true passions..."

I was really reminded of grandmother, from Children of the River in this. She's retired, but she never seemed to spend any time enjoying herself. It's really sad that she spends a lot of her days moping around the house rather than at least trying to learn the culture. That shows a lot about grandmother's character, she is very sensitive and emotional and misses her home life maybe even more than she lets on.