De-Bugistas Share Their Most Memorable Moments of 2010

A Walk to Mom's Resting Place

By Jacob Jimenez

A couple days after spending a really fun Thanksgiving with friends and family, I went to visit my mother's grave. I don't usually go visit her too often but something told me to go that day. I woke up in the morning and got ready, fed the dog and was out the door by 10 a.m. It had been at least 4 months since my last visit. Since I can't drive yet, I went on a very long walk to see my mom.

I started at Park Ave. and Race Street near San Carlos Street, and then I cut through Lincoln and Hoover. I walked all the way to N. Winchester in Santa Clara where I walked all the way to her grave.

When my mom was alive we spent a lot of time together. We joked and laughed, and had a lot of fun times. I was always very happy with her. My mom and I prayed, read the Bible and went to church all the time. I quoted scriptures to her all the time. I was my mom's child but the Lord's son. The love I have for my mom is a certain kind of love. There are many types of love, like love for family, or your wife or when you love some one so much you will take a bullet for them. I still love her so much, she is so special to me. The kind of love I have for my mom is hard to explain. It's not so much that I only love her because she's my mom but because my soul loves her. I would do anything to see my mom once more. If I got the chance to talk to her one more time I would tell her that I love her more than anything in the whole wide world.

When I got to her grave, I also went to see my grandmother's grave. They are buried together and I also got to say I love you to her too. It was sad to see both my grandma and mother. I laid down for a while and fell asleep. After two hours I woke up, I just felt so much at peace. I was just the happiest teenager alive as I walked all the way home. I was that same happy kid with his mom once again.

No More Drama

By Jessica

It seems like 2010 has come and gone so quickly. I must say, it has been a year that has tested my faith and courage. My most memorable moment of 2010 has to be the day that started what has become my five-month journey. I woke up one day back in June and said to myself, "Today is the day I'm leaving." I packed up what I could, grabbed my puppy and made my way back to my mom's house. I left a three-year abusive relationship and never looked back. I got tired of fighting every night — the bruises, the blood and the black eyes were just starting to be too much for me. Not many people knew what was going on with me. I got tired of protecting and lying for the one person who was hurting me the most. He may have gotten to keep the car, the place, and everything else we bought together. But none of those price tags are worth my life. It's liberating to be able to speak openly about the abuse and not feel ashamed. I may have had to start over and I do get my bumps in the road, but leaving him in my past has to be one of the best things I ever did for myself.

Stereotypical Acid Trip

By Alex Gutierrez

As the bus door opened, inviting a burst of cool air, I couldn't wait to step foot onto the Las Vegas transit center platform. My heart was pounding with adrenaline and my body shaking with anticipation of what my first breath of Las Vegas would be like. I jumped from the bus to the platform and as soon as my feet hit the ground the only direction I was able to walk was forward. And that forward step led me to old town Vegas. While on the way over, my friend and I were able to bum a cigarette from a fellow tourist walking by. As soon as we saw the large crowds on the streets, for some weird reason we felt the need to be there.

The neon lights glaring on the crowds and the sidewalk from the huge screen that covered the ceiling in the dome of Old Town Vegas seemed to amaze the hell out of me. The tie dye colors screamed as “purple haze” as Jimi Hendrix played through speakers I couldn't see but only heard. It was like stereotypical image of an acid trip.

From the lighted up ceiling, huge crowds, and the sight of it all, made us want to score some “weed” from a man who was at the same time pimping out his girl. In the long run, we got played for weed and were broke. We just decided to improvise on dinner.

As we left old town Vegas and walked down the street towards the strip, we came across a Denny's diner where we walked in and ordered our meals. From there we went to eat and that would be my first time I experienced my first dine and dash. After we ate our meal, we quickly ran for the door and out to the street. The stratosphere hotel was two blocks down, and from there we enjoyed the fountains at the Bellagio and the females on the strip, not to mention the constant “doing it moving” in and out the casinos with no money.

February was a memorable month for me.

Flowing Poetry

By Cesar Flores

The best moment personally for me in the whole year of 2010 would have to be the first time I went up on stage to perform my “floetry”(poetry that flows). It was something that I always wanted to do and never had the nerve to because of the fear that people would not give me the feedback that I had expected. I'd been hanging out with people from De-Bug for a while — a place that allows you to do what you love. So when an open mic came up, my friend Daniel, who I had met at De-Bug was going to go up. I decided then, that I would conquer my fear and just go up. I thought I would be super nervous my first time up. I guess I felt backed by all the De-Bug affiliates that I was with and that's how I got up with almost no nerves. I guess those ethics stuck to me. I do what I love without thinking what other people are thinking, and showed it in 2010.

Free Man, But Barely

By Ookie

The most memorable thing in the year 2010 would have to be when I got arrested in Downtown San Jose for fighting in public. I know what you're thinking — what's so special about getting arrested? Well I didn't after all, but I was on probation, looking at 5 years for violation and assault. The guy that I ended up sleeping, got picked up by the ambulance. I would have gotten away, if the old white dude didn't tell the cops. But I guess that's how it goes when you are trying to help your friend. I was so mad when the cops grabbed me and tried to act hard. They put me on the curb, then into the car. I was leaning my head against the glass just looking at all the memories of music and CD sales I've done, only to end it all for a fight.

As we got to the station, the officer was asking me questions about who I was. I let him know who I was, and then he told me to be quiet when he was getting a call. Then all I heard was him saying, "OK, what does that mean?... OK, what you want me to do?... OK, what do I do with the paper work???.... OK."

He hung up the phone. "Looks like today's your lucky day. The witness's testimony was no good". "What?" I said. "Yeah, I guess he saw you leave the scene so he didn't actually see what happened." My pupils began to get dilated from the relief. "So, I'm a drop you off downtown. But don't let me catch you at music in the park again, comprende?" I told him, "Yeah, you ain't going catch me out there so don't trip." He dropped me off at the convention center and let me be on my way. That is the most memorable thing I member about 2010.

Jumping the Broom

By Adrian Avila

The most memorable moment of 2010 for me was the day of my wedding — November 27, 2010, to be exact. It was a great night for me. My lovely wife and I had a great time with our friends and family celebrating the start of our marriage. With the somewhat sad state of the world now a days, the night was a great reminder of the joyful and meaningful moments in life. 2010 was a great year and I will always remember that amazing night. It was also my 26th birthday so that was the icing on the cake for me. Life is good.