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Steven Rothwell Professor Lynn Raymond English 1102 February 11 2014 Writing Prompt #1 Families across the United States are full of differences. They have different structure, they have different habits, they have different histories. Inside these families, people are different. They have their own eccentricities, traits and identities. Families share some traits and ideas, because of their closeness, but even to outsiders families are groups of individuals. All families have that member that sticks out. Be it good or bad, they are the subject of stories. Their colorfulness shades the family. My family owes a great deal of its own color to my Mother, Sandy Tryon Born on Valentines Day, in the year none of my business, Sandy Tryon is a petite woman different than her stockier brothers and sister. She stands a little under 5 and half feet, and her dark hair resides in a short haircut. Her blue eyes have the same sparkle they have always had. Her way of speaking is clear and precise, but with a grounded edge that comes from years of working both working class and upper class jobs. She has stubbornness about her that is legendary, one with such a sheer reputation that it discourages those that cross her. Her smile and laughter are infectious, and both are hard won. She grew up in Orange County, California, when Los Angeles was a fraction of its current size. California then, as now was in flux. Her father had moved the family to California
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after World War 2. He passed away when Sandy was a young age, leaving her mom to raise 8 children alone. It was an egalitarian upbringing. She started working in childhood. She eventually left California for Phoenix, Arizona. She worked 2 jobs, and with only a bicycle for transportation she worked her way through college to get a degree in Engineering. In her twenties, she played bass and sang in a touring band. While fame never struck, they toured California, and made a record, with the band name being Icarus. They opened for David Lee Roth and Van Halen, but she hated them. Other highlights include winning a motorcycle on a bet, and turning my Oldest sister into such a Rolling Stones fan that they won backstage passes to a Rolling Stones Concert (one of their many final Tours) when Kristine won a radio station trivia contest at the age of 5. Verifying all this was as much fun as interviewing Sandy. The other family members relegated their own sides to the memories. My oldest Sister confirmed the Stones concert, and my Uncle confirmed that my Mom was in a band in her twenties (though he didnt like the music). Sandys temperament and attitude have colored her children in a good way. It took two conversations to get through her stubbornness for more details, which without inheriting that same stubbornness I would not have been able too.
