Articles written by Rebekah Oakley

What is Helium

About me - Rebekah Oakley

I wake up every morning to the sounds of a baby bouncing in her crib. We live by a ritual that has the major points outlined by meal times. The combined total of fishy crackers consumed in one day between the two of us is astounding. I stay at home with my

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Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Clutter: 1 of 42
Sometimes She Leaves the Door Open The entire area is littered with nostalgia:A wet room with the seeping through the sillsDroplets run down the panesBooks with curling covers, half readBoxes stacked on top of boxes on top ofcarefully placed piles of garbageBags in corners overflow with shiny, expensive rubbishPictures, scatt... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Teen Challenges Should you vaccinate your teen daughter for HPV/cervical cancer with Gardasil?: 2 of 26
Here is the reason why "Gardasil" was developed: to ultimately rid the world of the horrible scourge of HPV. It is being cleverly marketed to people under the guise of preventing cervical cancer so that parents who are conservative won't feel ashamed to vaccinate their young daughters against an STD. Was this a wise decision ... More..
Relationships & Family > Romance & Sexuality A guide to surviving your relationship: 3 of 33
Almost every morning now I wake up to the chirps of our little girl. After a diaper change and the commencement of the coffee pot I wander back into my own bedroom with a steaming cup dosed with sugar and set it next to my sleeping husband. I am not a wife who is subservient. I do this because I am trying to be considerate, h... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenthood The myth of the good mother: 14 of 54
My 2 year old daughter just walked into the room and asked me to take all her clothes off. Of course, seeing no harm in freeing her from the confines of sweatpants and onesies, I strip her down to the diaper. These are the moments when I can sit and pretend that my decision to let my child run around naked will help her to be... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Life as a food server: 3 of 9
As a server you get to be privy to the most egregious circle of confusion regarding how people like their food cooked. Although there are many clearly stated places you can go to see what it means to have a medium rare steak, many customers feel that it is their duty to create their own "medium rare" so when their steak comes... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Waiters and waitresses: 2 of 5
Please Pass the Salt orThe Working Waitress When a person shows both sets of their teeththe upper can symbolize a genuine smile,the lower, exposed, can simulate a genuine smile.A smile contrived from the eager act of service:a drink here, a plate, appetizers, "stuffed mushrooms? I'm sorry, we're out."Clenched jaw. "Can I get... More..
Food & Drink > Breads, Grains, Pasta & Rice What is a better ramen flavor, chicken or beef?: 5 of 12
For the Love of Ramen.Here I am on a Saturday night. Sitting on my bed watching television and waiting for my Top Ramen to boil. Ramen is the anti-food food. It is the food you eat when it seems like there is nothing to eat you house. It is the food that you boil on your stove and consume when you don't really want to cook or... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Death of a parent: 28 of 67
I was in the car when I realized something was wrong. It wasn't an unusual kick in my belly, as I had become quite accustomed to the interworkings of my hiccupping fetus. A phone call in a certain tone can cause your heart to swell up so big it feels like it is trying to get out while it still can. It knows what you don't wan... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Finding yourself: 107 of 255
OpeningI sometimes lie awake at night; visions of releasing myself replace sleep.The process would be quick, but in my mind slow motion takes over.I grab my rib cage, one side in each hand; pull them apart from each other.Slowly my skin tears away at the hidden seam where God or Someone sewed me together with invisible, flesh... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing (Other) Is writing slowly becoming a lost art?: 19 of 42
It should be very obvious by the countless blogs, online communities, and the fact that MFA programs are springing forth in every direction: writing is not losing any momentum in our society. The real problem is our inability to read or pay attention to what others have written. How can we better ourselves as writers if we ar... More..