Cassie's Nimble Nuggets

       When I was nineteen years old, I tried out for American Idol.  Yes, I went to the Browns Stadium in Cleveland Ohio, stayed the night and the next morning I sang in front of producers of the show.  As the people were picked, they came up the stairs and sang for the whole crowd.  It was an exciting experience as we waited all day to sing in front of producers for 30 seconds and then not be chosen.  I tried out the year Carrie Underwood won, and although I did not make it past the first rounds, honestly I wasn't too upset about it.  I just wanted the experience of trying out for a singing competition.   As I left I saw people crying; they were devastated as all their dreams were crushed.  I heard some of them; they were professional grade vocalists, no doubt.  But it wasn't what the show was looking for, and so they were not chosen.  Not being chosen caused them to cry, to mourn, to have crestfallen looks. ...

I was the eldest daughter of four kids,  and I was always the first to do something.  It is incredible the thrill of your younger siblings looking up to you; you enjoy taking care of them because they think you're terrific.  When my sister who was younger than me hurt her foot, I took care of her, picked out her clothes, brushed her hair, I then began doing the same for my youngest sister.  Brushing her hair, picking out her clothes, making sure they got their baths.  My mom had a nervous breakdown when I was twelve, so I picked up the role of mothering my sisters and kept it till I was eighteen.     I love my sisters even to this day, but there was a time when my sister shifted from loving me to seeing me as competition.  She would always tell me "My friends like you more."  or, "People think you're better than me."  My sister went from loving me to competing with me.  For me, I saw her as smart, funny, shy, quiet, and pla...