Blog #3

Exercise #5 (Removing "I")

Before: With a sizeable backyard comes games to play, especially when your neighbors were as friendly as mine. We were a close knit group, as kids we were always running around the cul de sac on the rocky and bumpy road playing sports and hanging out. Everyone got along no matter what age you were, I was 9 years old playing basketball with 15 year olds and our dads who were in their 40’s. It’s a pleasure to remember my childhood and see how active I was. It wouldn’t have been done without the great people I had around me. Our all-time most cherished game was “Bob Baseball.” It was simply given that name because we played baseball in my backyard with my dad whose name is Bob. We loved this game to death, all the kids on the block would come to play everyday, sometimes bringing friends and showing them what a great time we had. It would be a boiling hot summer day, sweat dripping down our foreheads, and we would be having a blast, cracking jokes while playing the game we all loved. Everyday I would be ready because I knew, right as they knocked on my door it was time. I would race down the steps, heart pounding in anxiousness to play, and answer the door to see one of the neighbors. We would gather everyone up, pick teams and then it began. The little kids used metal bats while the older kids and my dad used a stick ball bat with jet black tape wrapped around the lower half. This game created long lasting memories that I will never forget, such as my sister singing the national anthem and announcing the players before the championship game. As well as my friend taking a line drive off of his forehead for a home run. From hilarious memories to competitive games I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my days as a child, and doing it with friends I hope to keep forever.

After: With a sizeable backyard comes games to play, especially when your neighbors were as friendly as mine. We were a close knit group, as kids we were always running around the cul de sac on the rocky and bumpy road playing sports and hanging out. Everyone always got along no matter what age you were, there were 9 year olds playing basketball with 15 and 40 year olds. Being active as a child is great, and having great people around you makes it a whole lot easier. Our all time most cherished game was “Bob baseball.” It was simply given that name because we played baseball in my backyard with my dad  whose name is Bob. This game was beloved by all, the kids on the block would come to play everyday. Sometimes bringing friends and showing them what a great time we had. It would be a boiling hot day, sweat dripping down our foreheads, and we would be having a blast, cracking jokes while playing the game we all loved. Everyday the neighbors would come to the front door and ask to play, the teams would be picked and the game began. The smaller kids would use a metal bat while the teenagers and adults used a stick ball bat with jet black tape wrapped around the lower half. This game created long lasting memories, such as the national anthem sang at the championship game. As well as a player taking a line drive off of his forehead for a home run. From hilarious memories to competitive games “Bob baseball” was a great past time for Hunting Hill Drive.


I enjoyed this activity because I use "I" a lot in my writing so it is helpful to see what my writing would like without "I" at all. My writing is still better with the use of first person, but finding a balance of not enough or too much first person could benefit my writing a lot. My sentences do not flow great with the use of first person so taking it out was definitely a challenge but overall a beneficial experience.