Viltinga Rasytoja
Bio
Stories (55/0)
Middle School Mystery
Oh, the sweet and miserable days of middle school; not a little kid anymore and just barley entering the teenage years. It is an awkward stage of life to be in for most; your body beings to make changes toward adulthood that cause embarrassment and plenty of fuel for others to poke fun at.
By Viltinga Rasytoja3 years ago in Viva
Military Mayhem
The Army is special. They have their own set of rules and regulations and time old traditions. In many ways these are great and help keep everyone safe and in order, but in some ways they are irritating and old fashioned. Joining the military family you have to learn a new language of acronyms and new way of behaving.
By Viltinga Rasytoja3 years ago in Serve
Delivery Dangers
It was the summer of 1992 and my 12-year-old little brother was on a mission to win a grand adventure to visit Yellowstone National Park in the winter. All he had to do was be in the top five to enroll the most subscribers to the newspaper he delivered for, the Idaho State Journal, before fall. We all figured it would be an impossible feat considering our town only had around 300 people in it, and he was already delivering the paper to most of them. Of course, there was no way he could compete with employees in a large city, so it was a massive shock when we learned he had indeed won and would get to go on an amazing adventure.
By Viltinga Rasytoja3 years ago in Criminal
Alaskan Wonderland
I am by no means a wildlife photographer or seeker of extreme experiences, unless you count going for a winter drive in my little corner of the world. Fairbanks, Alaska may be known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” but come winter the more appropriate name would be “Land of the Three Hour Sun.” Winter in the far north can be brutal as you fight not only darkness night and day, but also temperatures that drop well below zero and stay that way for months. This past winter we even set a new record, 180 days at 40 degrees or more below zero. That is almost half a year living in temperatures that could kill you in a matter of minutes! If the extreme temperatures don’t get you then the animals themselves might. Having a moose in your yard is not uncommon, and a legitimate reason to be late for work. These gorgeous vegetarian giants may seem harmless, but in reality they injure more people every year than the feared grizzly. I guess with that in mind, I am willing to go to extremes for a picture.
By Viltinga Rasytoja3 years ago in Photography
Through Time
I never met my Grandma Elizabeth yet her example left a lasting impression giving me strength and courage to carry on in hard times. She was my Great Great Great Grandma and was born Oct 6, 1822 in Devon Scotland. Her life was one full of hard work, sorrow, and pain. Even with all the trials and challenges she experienced it was said she was cheerful and fun-loving. When Grandma was only 5 years old her father died leaving her mother and two siblings in a very difficult situation. Her mother, out of desperation, married a man who instantly decided Elizabeth was old enough to go work in the coal mines. She would spend all day working in the small, dark, dust filled tunnels pushing the loaded coal carts to the surface. The carts were heavy and strenuous to move; she found it easier to push them using her hands and the top of her head. A bump formed on that spot and it remained with her the rest of her life. Whenever children or grandchildren would groan about their work and duties at home she would call them over to feel the bump and remind them of why they should not complain. Whenever I am frustrated and tired of life, wanting to give up, I think about Grandma and how even her childhood was stolen. I at least got to enjoy the carefree days of youth, while she worked away beautiful days in dark cold mines. I imagine myself rubbing Grandmas head feeling the bump and hearing her say encouraging or chastising words like, “You can do hard things it’s in your blood keep going you got this,” or “Stop your belling aching, this is nothing compared to what I went through!”
By Viltinga Rasytoja3 years ago in Families