In April 2016, I happened to meet a black and white cat named Kylo. With a black smudge on his otherwise pink nose, he was a small kitten with such an adorable meow. I ended up adopting him from the shelter, and my life changed for the better.
Over the following months, Kylo became my best friend. When I wrote articles as Features Editor for the University Echo, he would nap nearby as I typed away. Every time I came home, he would greet me by rubbing his face against my chin (or by jumping on my back). No matter what happened in my life, from graduation to heartbreak and the start of the Covid-19 nightmare, he was always there for me.
Three years have gone by since he passed away. I still feel all the love he gave me.
If you asked me this question in the middle of last year, I would’ve listed a handful of my favorites instead of naming just one album: Core by Stone Temple Pilots, Yourself or Someone Like You by Matchbox 20, Moving Pictures by Rush.
But things changed last summer. To help kick my exercise plans into gear, I dived back into the world of metal, something I’d shockingly forgotten about for the majority of my twenties. As a teenager, I listened to a lot of Metallica and Megadeth. I listened to Holy Wars… The Punishment Due and Hanger 18 over and over again. Yet I had never listened to the entirety of Rust In Peace.
I loaded up my Spotify and hit the play button. I already knew the two starting songs, but soon Take No Prisoners graced my ears. The blistering riffs, the synchronized shouts of the band, and the brutal lyrics blew my mind.
Next up? Five Magics. From Dave Ellefson’s spooky bass line to Dave Mustaine’s chugging riffs and Marty Friedman’s insane solos, I can’t help but to love every second of this song. I don’t really like headbanging, but the verse where the band chants “Give me sorcery” does the trick for me.
The rest of the album is incredible. Mustaine hangs out with a ghost named Lucretia in his attic, and a nuclear weapon states its case in Rust In Peace… Polaris. Best of all, my favorite break-up song of all time, Tornado of Souls, is the seventh track on the album. Full disclosure: Friedman’s masterpiece of a solo has made me cry on more than one occasion. It’s perfect.
I plan on diving deeper into the songs at a later date, but in the meantime: Give Rust In Peace a listen. It’s now my favorite album of all-time.
After furiously mashing all the buttons on my controllers for years, I stopped playing fighting games. SoulCalibur. Street Fighter IV. The horrors of Mortal Kombat II. No matter how hard I tried, some fights were simply too difficult, the combos too meticulous to master.
In early 2021, I started trudging through my Xbox 360 backlog. Filled with games I had long forgotten about, I started with those I really wanted to complete, like Resident Evil 4. Although tedious at times (especially collecting every item in Beautiful Katamari), I enjoyed reliving some fantastic titles.
SoulCalibur IV
This March, I picked up a copy of SoulCalibur IV. The last time I played this game must’ve been in 2012, which feels like an eternity ago. It was never my favorite game, but I wanted to complete all of its achievements. So, I fired up my Xbox to do just that.
After reviewing the achievements I still needed, I started working my way through my list. A handful were simple: “Perform 20 Just Impacts” or “Collect all weapons for five characters.” The rest asked for quite a bit of legwork.
As I grinded through countless fights to accumulate some 3 million gold, I asked, “Why do I do this to myself?” I just ran through the campaign as all 32 characters and dragged myself to the top of the Tower of Lost Souls. Now I have to repeat the same fight until I have enough money to buy everything. I kept pushing forward, calculating and recalculating the amount of gold I needed until I could buy the final item.
In retrospect, this grind took a fair bit of time, but wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. As my last achievement popped, I felt proud of myself for completing another fighting game (one of the first being Mortal Kombat Arcade Collection, which was ten times worse).
Soulcalibur V
After debating which game I wanted to revisit next, I chose SoulCalibur V. As opposed to the comparatively mild grind of the fourth game, the developers kind of lost their minds with this one. Here are some of the things the achievements asked you to do:
Land 20,000 attacks.
Move over 87,600 meters during battles.
Defeat 240 warriors of varying difficulty.
The first isn’t so bad, especially if you love fighting games. The second requires a lot of backing away from your opponent, but nothing a rubber band on a controller can’t handle. The third? Oh my. Each fighter is ranked according to their difficulty (for example, an E5 opponent literally cannot fight, while an A1 feels nearly impossible). When I tackle achievements like this, I usually start with the hardest battles to make my life simpler. You know, get the worst over with?
Well, that was a mistake. When you hit the A-ranks, the fights can be insanely difficult. If your hit doesn’t connect, you’ll find yourself being juggled around with no remorse. I found ways to “cheese” my way through fights using Mitsurugi’s jumping katana slash and Astaroth’s rapid battle axe spin, but this obviously didn’t work for every fight. After being relentlessly taunted far too many times, the game forced me to reassess my tactics. I started experimenting with different characters to see what worked best against each opponent’s playstyle.
The two most difficult fights I encountered were an A2 version of Pyrrha named “Irasea” and an A3 version of Leixia named “Vanessa.” The first strings lightning-fast combos together without giving you much of a chance to respond, while the second essentially does whatever she wants.
After dozens of tries, I beat Irasea with Mitsurugi. I continued challenging other fighters and claiming their titles before Vanessa finally reappeared on my screen. She beat me up, over and over again. No matter what I tried, the battle always ended with her taunting me. Sometimes I’d win a round, and then she would decimate me for the next three. I eventually prevailed through sheer luck.
In the end, some fights were easy to figure out, but others required an absurd amount of luck and skill to gain the upper hand.
Success through Perseverance
If there’s one thing I learned through this process: Anything can be possible with perseverance. Nothing is guaranteed, but I used to be absolutely terrible at fighting games. Now, I can put up a decent fight. I had a similar experience with the Dark Souls series, but I’ll save those thoughts for another day.
Since June, I haven’t played many fighting games as I’ve been focusing on games like Fallout 76 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 for the time being. My backlog has a fair number of fighting games like Mortal Kombat X and SoulCalibur VI waiting for me. But when I finally go back, I know I’ll be able to win.
This month, I had my first short story, The Beauty of Machinery, published in Black Petals. I’ve written horror fiction for a long time, but this is the first story of mine to appear in a publication.
Inspired by many hikes in the woods of Eastern Tennessee, the story focuses on a group of friends hanging out at a beautiful park with a tragic history.
When I think about Huntsville, Alabama, visions of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center fill my mind.
Sweltering heat, amazement at humanity’s progress with leaving our tiny rock, and being trapped in a tiny velcro suit on a wall come rushing back. But in the years since my last trip to Huntsville, I’ve always wondered how things have changed. What awaits me a mere two-hour drive away?
Home to nearly four-hundred thousand people in the city and its metro, Huntsville has grown exponentially over the years. With a bit over twenty-four hours available, I set out to make the most of a quick day trip to the Rocket City.
A Walk through the Huntsville Botanical Garden
Sprouting as an idea from a meeting in December 1979, the grounds of Huntsville Botanical Garden contain one of the finest collections of flora and fauna in the Southeast.
After walking through the halls of the new guest center, which was constructed in 2016, a world of diverse flora and fauna of all kinds await visitors.
The pruned grounds offer visitors a chance to see gardens containing daylilies, perennials, bulbs, annuals, and a special garden dedicated to more than 30 species of trillium, containing almost all known kinds from neighboring regions.
On the northern end of the Garden sits the Damson Aquatic Garden, a gorgeous pavilion with pathways cutting through a pond filled with Victoria lilies and other aquatic plants.
While visiting, the garden hosted the Chinese Lantern Festival, which featured lanterns of all kinds. I absolutely adored the lanterns swaying from the pavilion’s pergolas.
Lanterns hanging from pergolas at the Damson Aquatic Garden
Strolling around Twickenham
Bearing the name of the city’s original settlement, the Twickenham Historic District lies in the heart of downtown Huntsville.
In the early 1800s, drama surrounded Pioneer and Revolutionary War Veteran John Hunt, his settlement of Big Spring, and planter and lawyer LeRoy Pope.
Before the Madison County Land Sales of 1809, Hunt planned on securing the best areas. Long story short: Hunt failed to properly register his claims, and Pope purchased huge swathes of land. He founded a new settlement called Twickenham, named after the English city where his distant relative and poet Alexander Pope hailed.
A fair number of Twickenham’s citizens despised the name, so to honor Hunt, the Mississippi Territorial Legislature renamed the settlement to Huntsville in November 1811.
Lined with homes and churches dating to the early seventeenth century, the district preserves countless buildings with distinct architectural styles.
One of the many examples of architecture in the Twickenham district
Represented among the district’s structures are examples of Federal, Italianate, Victorian, Revival, Second Empire, and Craftsman architecture, amongst others. Built in 1819, the Weeden House Museum and Garden serves as an example of Federal architecture, a common style during the late eighteenth to nineteenth centuries.
On the corner of 208 Eustis Avenue, the spire of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity towers 151 feet over the district. Completed in 1859, the church stands as an example of the Ecclesiological Gothic style, a rarity in the South. A few streets over, both the bright steeple of the Huntsville First United Methodist Church and the gable roof of the First Presbyterian Church exemplify Gothic Revival architecture.
The Huntsville First United Methodist Church
A Diverse Food Scene
Before I travel to a new (or old) city, I always check out what restaurants are around town. Similar to other large cities, Huntsville offers a diverse food scene: Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Indian, Mexican, Greek, and more.
After debating on which restaurant to visit, I chose Hildegard’s German Cuisine. This small, cozy restaurant serves a variety of German dishes, with staples such as sauerbraten, spätzle, sausages, and a wide variety of schnitzels.
After checking out the menu and eating some delicious, citrus-tinged bread, I ordered the Bavarian schnitzel: a pork cutlet filled with melted swiss cheese, mushrooms, onions, and covered in a savory jäger gravy. As for sides, I chose red cabbage and German potato salad.
The verdict: Incredible. I occasionally make German cuisine at home, but eating at Hildegard’s is a real treat.
Bavarian schnitzel, red cabbage, and German potato salad at Hildegard’s
Little River Canyon National Preserve
Alright, this is a fair bit outside of Huntsville, but hear me out: Make the hour and a half drive to Fort Payne and stop at Little River Canyon National Preserve. The Little River twists through a canyon atop Lookout Mountain and features overlooks, trails, and a number of waterfalls.
Little River Falls
Located on Alabama State Route 35, there are two ways to access Little River Falls: One is a parking lot sitting right above the rocky steps leading to the river. The other leads you to the main visitor center and a short, rocky trail culminates at the bridge above the falls.
The rushing waters of Little River Falls crash forty-five feet into a large pool, which flows further into the canyon. It’s perfect for relaxing in the sun (or shade) or taking a quick dip.
Final Thoughts
It’s been three years since my last trip to Huntsville, and I again wonder how the city has changed. I intended on visiting the Huntsville Museum of Art and Monte Sano State Park, and maybe try another restaurant, but time always evaporates. So next time, maybe I’ll peruse some art and hike a bit.
Nearly a year ago, my life changed drastically. After recovering from a mystery illness in August 2018 (imagine the midpoint between a terrible cold and a mild case of the flu), I stepped back and evaluated my entire existence: My direction in life, health, my lack of good reading habits. I scrutinized anything and everything I could.
But the most important issue, one I’ve neglected for far too long, was my lack of exercise. On the evening of September 25, 2018, I stepped past my front door and walked a half-mile. I’ve exercised on-and-off over the years, but I never managed to build something lasting.
On that cool evening, I decided to build an unbreakable habit.
September rolled into October. The weather cooled and brilliant fall colors arrived. I continued walking and managed a total of 9.61 miles. A small amount, but more than I had walked in months. I started feeling better.
By December, a new habit had formed. In spite of the icy rain and cold temperatures, I racked up a total of 37.66 miles. I felt amazing.
In July 2019, I challenged myself to walk as much as I could. I hit 44.50 miles on July 31. I’ve lost a significant amount of weight and I’ve never felt better before.
Although I faced hiccups along the way, I persisted. Since last year, I learned a great deal about myself and the importance of exercise.
A view of the Chickamauga Lake from Harrison Bay State Park. Photo by Hayden Seay.
Walking (and other types of exercise) is incredible for the body, mind, and soul. Plus, I discovered I love walking in the rain without an umbrella. Whether hot or cold, the rain always feels nice.
I’ve also ventured to new places with my newfound love of walking, including Julia Falls Overlook and Glen Falls, both near my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. One of my favorite walking spots is the loop trail at Harrison Bay State Park, which features a beautiful view of the Chickamauga Lake.
A thought occurred to me on this bright Sunday afternoon: I haven’t written a single article since July 2017. Two full years have passed since I last wrote a story. Not a single event covered, a dish at a local restaurant reviewed, or any notable individuals interviewed.
Where has my passion gone? Life events, dreams of writing fiction, and everything else swirled my creativity down the drain. The thought of writing an article paralyzed me for two long years.
But at heart, I’m still a writer, despite my lack of recently published articles. It’s a part of my identity, nearly five years after I scribbled my first article about the Chattanooga Market in August 2014. After receiving my assignment, I felt clueless about how to approach the story. I knew nothing about AP Style, conducting interviews, or how to make a story worth reading.
Instead of letting my fear of failure take over, I wrote the best story I could with my limited ability. I conducted interviews, took photos with my Canon Rebel T5i, and sent my completed story to my editor. I wrote for the University Echo, the student newspaper of my alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The paper ran my story with a number of edits.
Seeing my byline and the words I wrote lit a spark deep inside my soul. I knew I wanted to become a writer, no matter what. My poorly written article sent me on a path which taught me countless lessons about myself, Chattanooga, and the world around me. Writing changed my life for the better.
Today, I’m no longer terrified of what might happen after I finish typing these words.
Hayden Seay 