Interpretation of A Story About the Body

1. I am interpreting "A Story about the Body". I will be focusing on the main points of the young composer working for the older, brilliant Japanese woman. My main focus is on the reasoning of why the young composure went from loving this woman to being disgusted by her only because of a physical deformity.

2. This text needs to be interpreted further because there is more than meets the eye. There are words put in certain places and people used that can be looked over when their whole existence within the story is for a greater purpose. I don't think they need to go unnoticed.

3. I chose this text because I believe there are many underlying issues that are not made aware bluntly throughout the story. Reading this story the first time around lead me to believe this was only centered at a young boy who thought he was so in love with someone, but then finds out he is so shallow as to stop loving her because of her mastectomy. However, with a closer look at this story, I've found things I did not notice before, but are also pretty important in my opinion. The first line I want to take a look at is the very first one: "The young composer, working that summer at an artists' colony, had watcher her for a week." I'm focusing on the line because I believe Hass wants us, as readers, to know this is a young boy. He's talented and he knows what he wants. From this line we come to know that there is a girl he is interested in, but clearly hasn't had the guts to say anything to her because it had been a week. So we can conclude that the boy is talented, hard working, observant, but also timid when it comes to girls. In the next line, it says: "She was Japanese, a painter, almost sixty, and he thought he was in love with her." From this line I came to understand why she was Japanese. I think Hass made it a point to say she was Japanese to show that the boy was Japanese. To a boy who is not Japanese, a woman of this ethnicity can seem exotic even being sixty years old. I think the word "thought" should be looked into more too. Who ever THINKS they're in love? I believe you either know or you don't. I believe one can think they could fall in love with that person or that they are beginning to. But when you think you're in love with someone, you're clearly not. Throughout the story it came to my realization that this Japanese woman was very intuitive and could tell that the boy wanted her. Being sixty and having a young, perhaps attractive, male be interested in you can lead to have feelings or desires for that person too. However, I don't think the Japanese woman was being a floosy in saying she wanted him too. I think she was being cunning. She got his heart racing once she said she wanted him too. I feel like she waited a couple of seconds before telling him she had a double mastectomy. I don't think her only reason for telling him this was so he wasn't surprised when they became physical and she only had one breast. I think her true intentions were to see his reaction to her one breast. In turn, he denied her. Denied her because of a physical attraction for her. His love was not love, but infatuation. My interpretation of this story is that there is a growing generation of men that only will use the beautiful word, love, for something physical with another woman. Because this Japanese woman was to his liking he found this feeling inside him. This feeling was not of love, but of lust. Because of this lust, younger to older men will take this word meant for two people to share in unity forever to get something that could only be there for one night. Also, not to confuse infatuation with love. This common misconception is the result of so many divorces and break ups and pregnancies that could be avoided if one would take the time to truly get to know someone and begin to fall in love with their physical features, emotional feelings, and flaws altogether. 

4. I'm interpreting the story the way I am because this whole story is about love. There are times when we think we're in love, but we're nowhere near the capacity of what it could be. This text shows this infatuation by the terms like "he thought he was in love with her" and then the boy saying "I'm sorry. I don't think I could." after he finds out she's had a double mastectomy. These are all items that point to infatuation. It was all outward appearance, which can be the initial attraction, but it's also on the inside that counts and accepting that person for their outside and inside flaws.

5. This interpretation matters to me and readers because love is taken for granted too much. We throw the word love around like it means nothing, when it can mean more than we can imagine. Love has such a great capacity to do things, but very few know this because they don't take the time to get deep in love. They're on the surface of infatuation all of the time. If this boy would have looked beyond the outward appearance of this Japanese woman and truly fell in love with all her attributes like he thought he did, he could have found himself in a kind of love he had never known before. I'm doing this interpretation because love can be powerful, but also fragile. It must be handled delicately, but used to its highest ability.

A Temple of the Holy Ghost

This turned out to be one of my favorite stories to read. Not so much because I have this in depth interpretation of the story, but it was just entertaining for me. I'm guessing because I'm a girl and I can relate to some of these girls' personalities. This story reminded me of Cinderella, but almost opposite. The two girls  reminded me of the "evil step-sisters", except they weren't really evil. They weren't the sweetest strawberry patch, but they were like two normal young teenagers who think they're the best thing since milk and honey. The child, who I would normally perceive to be Cinderella, was quite opposite of her. I would expect the two girls, or the "evil step-sisters", to be the ones to ruin the child's life and make her miserable and think of mean things to do to her. Instead, the child tried to think of evil things to do to the girls and was downright mean to them.
I mainly liked this story because I think I was similar to the personalities of the two girls when I was fourteen. They loved attention from boys and there seemed to be no other entertainment, but to flirt and have a boy to look at you. Not that I was boy crazy then or anything..ha..I can also relate to these girls because I went to a private school all throughout middle school and even though that's nothing compared going to an all girls school, they were very strict about boy-girl conduct. I think this makes you even more boy or girl crazy. I don't really have a deep interpretation of the story. I just took this more of fun entertainment story for me that I really enjoyed. I think because I could relate it to a Disney story (which I LOVE!) and could relate it to myself...which seems to be a recurring theme in my blog posts haha.

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

I had to take some time to reflect on this story because I was a little confused on what to say about this story. It was confusing at times and said some far out stuff, but towards the end I got a glimpse of something that struck me. This story reminds me of our world today and the believers and non believers of Christ. In the beginning it describes a kind of world that was a long time ago. The kind of world the could've once been the Earth or somewhere among the Earth. Over time, however, this place is slowly beginning to become corrupted. Then the story took a turn to talk about this unloved, unkempt, young boy. I have yet to really figure out why he was mentioned or who he really was. Towards the end of the story, it talks about the "ones" who left Omelas. I interpreted this specific scene as the "ones" began to realize the corruptness of Omelas and sought after something more fulfilling in life that could save them from this. I compare this with Christians in how we live in such a corrupt world and many non believers are constantly looking for something to heal or save them from the horrible things going on around them. That's when they leave the evil behind them and search for the One who can save them. They go on a journey searching until they finally find the very thing that can release them from all of this. Christ.

I'm still very curious about this boy, though. I don't know how he plays into the whole story and it's kind of aggrivating. I'm hoping tomorrow in class I can get a better idea of who he is and maybe that will help in my interpretation of him within the story.

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

I honestly don't even know where to start. I enjoy fictional stories, but this one was interesting and weird. To me, this story was about someone who was weary and life had quite literally knocked him down. I think it's awful that, even though it was strange, to treat this man with wings like an animal. Clearly he was human too, just different. A lot of people today treat those who are "different" as in mentally handicapped, obese, or just weird as someone not to be touched. To only look at and talk about and be seen as a circus act. Just like this man with wings, though, they have different attributes about them that we don't have. In this case, a man has wings. I found myself sort of envying this man because even though people mocked him and hurt him and treated him like an animal, it didn't seem to bring him down. He did what he had to do to survive and in the end he was able to leave and go somewhere he wasn't treated like that. Elisenda, however, was happy he had left. I hate to say this, but I have seen people have no remorse when someone handicapped or "different" dies or gets hurt. They almost think of it as it was coming to them eventually. That somehow they brought it upon themselves. I think that's how Elisenda felt. So basically what I got out of this story was to not underestimate those who seem to be different around us. They too have a soul and feelings and we should respect that and treat them as equals. This is all I could really get out of this story. I could be completely wrong in my interpretation of it. I'm sure by next class, though, my eyes will be opened to a whole new meaning of the story.

Wind

The wind and I aren't so different ya know

We both are constantly moving different directions

Either tending to a new cause

Or being the cause of something new

Sometimes the wind turns into a storm

As do my troubles like a whirlwind in my own head

Leaving destruction in the process of my own deficiency

Wanting so much to be still like the eye of the storm

Everything is still there

Chaos is going on around it,

But inside is calm, unafraid,

Everything I wish I could be

And then, there are times when the wind stops

There's nothing to rustle the trees but squirrels

Very rarely does this happen, though

For in my life even the squirrels cause my mind to rustle

The greatest thing the wind does is blow

Not only blowing the trees and windmills

But standing outside with nothing else around

My mind troubled and my heart heavy

I let the wind take it all away

It takes my troubles as far as it will take it

I went to Lake Bonny Park and stayed for at least 45 minutes.

Circle B Bar Reserve

Going to this nature reserve was really a thrill for me. I was so excited to go and it was more than what I expected. Even though it wasn't bright and sunny outside, I still liked the ominous feel the cloudy skies and thunder in the background gave. I really enjoyed how we were able to get out and walk around the field and pick the grasses that were invasive to the rest of the vegetation. I also liked how we got to sit outside and read through "State of the Planet". It really brought it to life for me. Especially when some of the things he said like the wind whipping when it actually was outside was pretty cool. I think my favorite part, though, was when we got to walk around on our own and kind of meditate and just be aware of God's creation and how amazingly they work together. I enjoyed watching the fish the most try and swim up the small current, maneuvering their bodies through the moss and shrubbery. They just did it over and over again like it was new each time. From reading your notes on nature and poetry, I think I was finally able to slow down and actually slow down, be present in the moment, pay attention to things I wouldn't normally have done, have a sense of awe, and be aware of the loving spirit of God in plants and animals that we take for granted every day. And actually, going to this reserve has made me interested in wanting to look up and know different plants and animals that not many people know about. I had no idea this place even existed, but not that I do I definitely want to take advantage of it and visit and volunteer and bring others to hopefully enjoy and experience the things I did or something new.

Othello

I went to watch Othello

State of the Planet

I was definitely looking forward to reading this poem because I love nature and the different events of nature and all the many colors within nature. And even though I didn't fully understand everything about this poem, it was really beautiful at times. Some lines I really liked were "It turns out they are electricity having sex in an infinite variety of permutations, Plato's yearning halves of a severed being multiplied in all the ways that all the shapes on earth are multiple, complex." I'm not so sure what all of this means and it wasn't so "beautiful", I guess you could say, but I just liked the words he used to define what it is exactly what he's talking about. (I'm assuming I'll be learning more about it in class tomorrow.) A line that I did find beautiful was "The great trees in that forest house ten thousands of kinds of beetle, reptiles no human eyes has ever seen changing color on the hot, green, hardly changing leaves whenever a faint breeze stirs them." When reading this particular line, I imagined enormous trees with the most interesting and unreal kinds of insects and reptiles that can only be imagined. Another line I enjoyed was, "But soon enough we'd have fashioned sexy little earrings from the feathers, highlighted out cheekbones by rubbings from the rock, and made a spear from the sinewey wood of the tree." I liked this because it made me realize something; we take inanimate objects such as a rock and make them beneficial to our lives. This makes me wonder why and who thought to do this? Why take something so meaningless and make it something used for beauty? This is probably the first nature poem I have ever read that has made me question nature.

I like that in this poem a lot of things are open for interpretation, like the line I just talked about. It leaves room for the mind to wander and imagine new things. I find that fun and consuming of my thoughts. I'm very excited to unfold more about this poem in class tomorrow.

AFI and "The Boys Next Door"

The reading of the play definitely informed me for my experience at AFI and vice versa. It was kind of funny because I would catch myself comparing the people I met to the characters in the play. For example, I pictured our guide (I forgot her name) as Jack. I wondered if she was becoming burnt out or if she still found it fulfilling in helping the mentally handicapped. When it was time to mingle with the clients I sat with a guy named Wilbur. He was probably in his early 60's with glasses. He didn't seem to be mentally retarded, but he was different. He reminded me a lot of Arnold in the story. J.B reminded me of Lucien. You couldn't really understand J.B. when he spoke, but I could tell he had a sweet spirit about him just like Lucien. Jason reminded me most of Norman. Mostly because he had a girlfriend and their personalities seem to sort of fit and he was very sweet to ladies (including myself ha ha). Lastly, there was Skip. He was mostly like Barry. No one informed me, but I figured out he was schizophrenic. I sat by him during our reading time and I noticed he kept talking to himself. I didn't figure it out until he laughed at something he seemed to "hear" from someone else that he was schizophrenic. I had never met a schizophrenic before, but I couldn't stop watching him and just "study" him I guess. I found it fascinating really. Going to AFI almost jump started my heart for a love for these people. They all seem to be so happy considering their circumstances. Thinking back on it now, my heart just goes out to them and I want to go back if only to talk with them some more. All in all, I want to thank you Professor Corrigan for taking us here. It's opened my eyes and my heart and I could only ask to hopefully go back one day.

"The Spirit of God Hovered"

I really enjoyed reading this. Mainly because it challenged me and has made me think about something I have never thought about. The spirituality of the disabled. It’s like I know about them and that they’re “different”, but I’ve never taken the time to really ponder on how they feel about God or their part in the church or if they even know any better? I think it’s so hard to completely understand a disabled person because a lot of the times they can’t completely understand themselves. So how are they to understand the things of the Bible and what Jesus teaches us how to be? A disabled person can’t always live their life according to God’s plan because how are they supposed to know what that plan is if they can’t even always think rationally? Should they be treated as adults with the minds of children or of adults? I guess it depends on the type of disability, but still. I’ve been called to teach, but not ESE. Or at least not yet. Reading this, however, has made me more aware and has given me a desire in my heart to want to help and be helped by the mentally handicapped. Reading this has definitely made me aware of the fact there is NO ONE helping the mentally handicapped or letting them help others within the church. It’s like we see them as this incurable disease, when in fact they could be the very antidote we need. It’s so hard in a world full of looking, acting, and just being perfect that anything different form that is looked over, including in the church. It’s sad really. I really like what the community of L’Arche has done and what Mike Rakes attempted to do but couldn’t. This makes me wonder why we’re so selfish? Why doesn’t our heart reach out for families like Dr. Fettke? Or maybe it does but we’re just too lazy or have other things to do to be able to do something about it? I, for one, want to make a conscious effort to bless and be blessed by these interesting people. I think they have such a completely different view of life that by getting to know them and talk with them as best as I can will be able to help me in my own life and to hopefully pass that on to others.

The Boys Next Door-Act II

After the activity we did last class, I got into this play so much more. I guess actually having to portray the characters kind of made it come alive for me and more real. So when I went into reading the second act I was more engaged and actually played out the characters in my head, rather than just reading it. I actually laughed a lot in this act. I think once you (Mr. Corrigan) said it was okay to laugh at what the characters said and did I was just cracking up at them. I even teared up at part when Barry’s dad hit him. That was so sad to me and I couldn’t help but feel his pain. Not because my dad hit me, but because I was just so into the character. I really enjoyed the part where Lucien was made into this sophisticated man expressing how he felt as a mentally handicapped person. It was like he was trapped in this body with no way out. If you think about us, a lot of us feel this way too. We feel trapped sometimes with no way out. We try to do things on our own, but they don’t seem to make sense or come out right. I think that’s where God comes in and can redefine us and make us new to where we realize we’re trapped and it isn’t who we truly are. Only through Him can we be who we are meant to be. So my opinion of this play has definitely changed from my first reading of Act I. I honestly think if it wasn’t for the activity and you (Mr. Corrigan) giving us notes and explaining the play better I wouldn’t have really gotten into this play and enjoyed it like I did. So thanks for that. I will probably read this play again as a matter of a fact.

The Boys Next Door-Act I

Well, I can say that I definitely called it from the beginning that the boys were mentally handicapped. They were definitely different and that was the only thing that made sense to me. It's kind of hard to remember which character is which so I have to keep going back and reminding myself who's who. It's still taken me a bit to get into this play too. I'm still not fully consumed in it yet, but I'm hoping it'll start getting a little more interesting. Or maybe more clear. It's really just not clear as to where this story is going or what the exact point of it is, but i'm still being open minded about it. One thing I depicted from the story is how it's funny that even though they're mentally handicapped they're not so different from "normal" people. They have worries, wants, love, anger, and happiness. The big difference, I noticed, is their conversations and every day lives. Each character is different in their understanding of things, but their conversations are so simple. Sometimes not even making sense, but they all get along and understand each other. It's like they're living in their own little world. And even though their conversation is so simple, their lifestyle is so difficult. They don't know what it's like to be on their own and to really work for something they want or to get a job or start a family. Their trials in life seem so small compared to most, but I would still never wish to be like that no matter how little their disappointments in life are. I'll admit, I'm still not sure what it is exactly I'm supposed to get out of this, but I've only read half of the play so I'm looking forward to finishing it.

Sonny's Blues

First off, this is definitely one of my most favorite pieces of literature we've had to read in class so far. I could actually relate in a way. I've had to watch my oldest brother go through things because of drugs that I would never wish on anyone. Like Sonny, he's a kind and smart guy who could do so many things in life, but for some reason chose to "kill himself". I found sad how Sonny explained the feeling and reason behind using heroin. I pray this wasn't the reason for my brother using meth and other drugs. It was like he used it because there was no other way around it. Almost as if it chose him instead of him choosing it. Isabel kind of reminded me of myself because even though I would know my brother was high on nights he'd come to visit I would pretend as if nothing happened and just show him love and try to just talk to him about life. In a sense, Sonny's brother reminded me of myself too. I want so bad to "save" my brother and to never let him fall back into the drugs again (considering he's out of it), but I've had to move on with my own life too. I feel as if when I see him again he'll be a completely different person, just like Sonny was to his brother. There are times I've wanted to scream at my brother for doing what he's doing to himself and to his daughters, but I know it won't solve anything. I believe in the end Sonny cleaned up. He may not have gotten completely away from the people and the night life, but the drugs, I think he kept away from has much as he can. At least I'd like to think so. It makes me feel like if Sonny could then my brother can too.

Painting of Joel

"A Grief Observed" Chapters 3-4/Cemetery

Going to the cemetery this morning was better than I expected. Not that I went in with low expectations, I just didn't think I would get out of it what I did. Walking around for 40 minutes brought to light things about the dead I had never really thought of. I thought about things like, these people all had lives and all that's left to their life is a name and date on a tombstone. And on that tombstone is a dash between their birth and death. That dash represents their life. I couldn't help but think, "Wow, that's what I'm going to be remembered as...a dash."

In reading the last two chapters I kept going back and forth from anger to sadness. As he was thinking of H throughout his writing, I thought of my mom while reading this. Reading what he thought opened up a lot in me of what I thought, but had never said out loud. It made me angry to wonder why God would do this. Why wouldn't he at least let her live a little longer so I could have more memories of her. I was six, but I still had an inkling of knowledge that she may not be here forever. As did C.S. Lewis. It's really not fair to take a parent from a child is it? Or even a wife from a husband? I know God has His reasons that we don't understand, but can't He at least help us out with understanding it? It felt nice reading this because it was like talking to someone who knows how I feel. He understands that no matter how long after the death, there will still be times of sadness. However, it will also get easier to not be angry all of the time and think of the good times. In the end, even though I didn't get all the answers I wish I could, (I don't think he did either) I know for sure God is in control and one day I will find out why death had to happen like this.

C.S. Lewis "A Grief Observed" Chap. 1-2

Well, this is a very depressing book to read. It's really interesting, though. I can relate to it in some ways because my mother died 13 years ago. And yes, I've grieved many times over her death, but I've never even thought to take the time to actually observe it. I'm almost afraid to because I feel like I'd become obsessed with it rather than moving on. This book is kind of opening my eyes, but I'm still a little skeptical of it, for now.
If I was to relate these first two chapters to any of the other texts I've read, I'd have to say it relates to "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" and " This Blessed House" the most. Mainly because they both have to do with relationships.
It relates to "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" because they both talk about being in love and the different diversities of it. There are times of absolute love and other times of anger and resentment. I think at times C.S. Lewis loved H with all his heart, but resented God for her having cancer.
"This Blessed House" relates to this story because, even though Sanjeev wasn't the greatest guy, he made sacrifices for Twinkle, just like C.S. Lewis made sacrifices for his wife. Agreed, it wasn't fair that he had to go through the things he did and suffer along with her as well as Sanjeev suffered with Twinkle with the annoying things she did, but all in all there was love there.
I'm probably going to have to go back a couple of times and re-read this book. I'm just having a hard time writing about it and comparing with other because I think I'm going to have to get on a "deeper" level when read this.

The Book of Joel-Images

In Chapter 1 of the Book of Joel, it talks about starvation and drought. It says:
To You, O LORD, I cry;
For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness
And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.
Even the beasts of the field pant for You;
For the water brooks are dried up
And fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
When I read this I had a vivid image in my mind of blazing fire everywhere. Wherever it goes it's consuming what's around it. It's burning pastures and trees and animals and all of the water is dried up. It's not a pretty picture to imagine, but it definitely stands out.
In Chapter 2, it talks about the Day of the Lord. It says:

"I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
"The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
"And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Will be delivered;
While reading this, I imagined blood, fire, and smoke in the sky. The sun was the fire and then turned black as smoke while the moon turned red as blood. Even though this doesn't sound like a very appealing image, it's exciting because I know when this happens that the Lord has come and those who are saved will be delivered.
My favorite image is in Chapter 3 where it talks about Judah being blessed. It says:

And in that day
The mountains will drip with sweet wine,
And the hills will flow with milk,
And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water;
And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD
To water the valley of Shittim.
I imagined beautiful green mountains dripping with waterfalls of sweet, red wine. Then hills flowing with milk down its sides. And every brook that was dry was filled with the clearest and most blue water ever. And where the house of the Lord is there's the most exotic and beautiful stream that watered the deslote valley of Shittim.

The Book of Joel

I actually found it kind of difficult to find a beautiful line in the poem. Most of it just talked about destruction and starvation and drought. Not until I got to the end was when I found something that sounded beautiful. It's when it talks about Judah being blessed. 

And in that day

The mountains will drip with sweet wine,

And the hills will flow with milk,

And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water;

And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD

To water the valley of Shittim.

Egypt will become a waste,

And Edom will become a desolate wilderness,

Because of the violence done to the sons of Judah,

In whose land they have shed innocent blood.

Reading the first part aloud sounded so beautiful to me because not only hearing it was beautiful, but imagining this scenery in my head was beautiful. It sounds like a place I would love to spend for the rest of my life. Somewhere with mountains and springs is exactly how I'd love to live. I looked up what Shittim looks like and it's actually not a very appealing place. However it has these trees with Shittim wood and it take the whole look of this dry valley and makes it somewhat beautiful. In the second part of the poem it talks about Egypt becoming waste and other places being desolate and what not. It reminds of the Shittim tree because it's like while everything around it erodes and falls away, these trees stay beautiful and grow. So comparing this to the first part of the poem is kinda of like Judah is the tree and Egypt and Edom is the valley and eroding rocks around the tree. I just thought the use of Shittim fits in perfect with the poem.

A Story about the Body

For such a short story I found this story having a lot of meaning to it. I'm glad I read it three times because the first time I was dumbfounded. For one, this story shows me how shallow guys can be. It's amazing how great he thought she was at the beginning of the story then once he found out she didn't have breasts his interest in her completely went away. Sure, it sucks for him in a sexual way, but there is so much more to his lady or any lady for that matter than her breasts! With the way he described her in the beginning you would think he was in love with her. Except when you're in love with someone it doesn't matter if they don't have all of the qualities you're looking for. I think the point of her leaving a bowl with rose petals with bees in the bottom was a representation of what he thought of her. He loved how she looked on the outside and everything about her work. But once he got passed all that and found something personal about her and didn't like it he saw her like he saw those dead bees. Even though this was written 22 years ago, it can relate to today too. A lot of guys will see what they like, but once that girl opens up to them and gets personal they leave and move on to the next fling they can get. Of course not all guys are like this, but many are. So in a way, guys and girls can relate to this story. Almost every girl has told a guy they want to be with him and he agrees, but once she opens up to him and he finds something he doesn't like he runs. And almost every guy has liked a girl but once he found something that wasn't adequate enough for him he dropped it like a hot potato.

My Short Story-Love In The Subway

It’s half past two. Not many people are roaming around the subways at this time of the night. Well, not the “normal” kind anyways, especially in New York. There is one man in particular, though.  His name is Landon. He’s a young, up-coming lawyer who gets barely enough pay to keep his lights on. He hopes to get a bonus after the late night at the office he just had. Normally, he takes a cab home, but for some reason there were no cabs when he got out of the office. So he has to take the subway. He hates the subway. The way it smells, looks, and mainly the hippies and hobos who have ruined their lives due to alcohol and drugs. He sees his reflection in the windows of the subway train as it passes by and wonders, “Am I just like them?” Sure he was a nice looking guy with a clean shaven face, wearing a suit that makes him look more prestigious than he really is. That was only his outward appearance, though. On the inside he was like those hippies and hobos in the sense he was addicted to something. Not to alcohol, drugs, or porn. He was addicted to finding true love. He grew up with brothers and sisters who found love early in life and are living happily with their nice houses and cars and children who make straight A’s. Normally, this would make someone happy, but for Landon this makes him angry. Only because that’s what he longs for most in life. All of his life he has searched for the one just knowing and believing she would be coming into his life any day. Now, he was nearly 30 with nothing more than his dog, Ferrari, to keep him company. As he contemplates all of this in his mind, he turns to put his briefcase down and there she is. The most magnificent of a being he has ever seen. Images shoot through his mind of them together. All of the way from dating, to marriage, to having a family, to growing old together. Even though it seems ridiculous to even imagine those things, he can’t help it. He has this feeling inside he has never felt before; a longing for someone. He begins to study her from a distance. Her long blonde, slightly curled hair, her v-neck t-shirt that fit her body just right, her jeans that formed around every curve, her western boots that seemed to be worn in, and best of all is that she’s alone. He doesn’t notice a ring on her finger either. He isn’t close enough to get too detailed pictures of her face and height, but he wants to. Just as he is about to make his way closer to her, the subway train pulls up. He prays she gets on. She picks up her bag and walks onto the train. He hurries on, trying to sit close, but not too close so she doesn’t notice him looking at her. She takes out her iPod and beings listening to some music. Slowly, his mind begins to wonder and he then starts to daydream about her. He imagines her horseback riding or surfing or even cooking a meal for the both of them. He finally comes back into reality and has this profound confidence to go and sit by her. Right as he’s about to, she gets a phone call. She sets her iPod down and talks for almost 20 minutes. He knosw he is getting close to his destination and fears he doesn’t have much longer with her. The intercom comes on and announces the next stop. He feels like his heart is in his stomach. There was maybe a minute left before the stop. He prays like he’s never prayed before. He hopes she’ll at least get off the phone long enough for him to catch her name. Instead, she continues to keep talking. The train stops, she gets up, grabs her bag, and walks out the door. Just as the door closes she gets off the phone, turns around, and looks him straight in the eyes. He feels frozen. He doesn’t know whether to wave or look away. He then notices a distressed look on her face. The train begins to move again and all he can do is sit there and watch everything that could’ve been become smaller and smaller. Landon began to wonder, “Why did she look so distressed?” What was going through her head as she was staring at me?”  A million questions are running through his mind. Then, it hit him. He looked over and saw her iPod laying there on the seat. He walks over and picks it up. It was a fairly new one with a blue cover on it. He notices his heart is beating out of his chest. He can’t believe he actually has something that could draw them together. But how?  iPod’s don’t have names and phone numbers in them. He starts fiddling with it anyways looking through all of her music, account, and some pictures here and there. There’s a leap in his heart when he sees different artists that he too likes. She has a picture of her and an older woman he thinks to be her mom. Her teeth are beautifully straight and white. Her face is flawless and her eyes are as blue as the sky itself. After minutes of finding nothing to link him to her, he decides to take the cover off. He feels something rough on the back. He flips it over and there it is. Property of Lily Buchanan was etched in the metal of the iPod. He can’t believe his eyes. Her name is just as beautiful as she is. He knew this had to be it. Everything is linking up some perfectly. He normally wouldn’t say he believes in love at first sight. His view has been drastically changed. On a night that seemed impossible to be happy with, he believes he finally found the one thing he has looked and waited for his whole life. True love.

This Blessed House-Character Analysis of Twinkle

a) Twinkle is a very pretty, young Indian woman, who likes to get dressed up and look good. Her face was very girlish looking and had untroubled eyes. Her name in itself shows she's a fun girl. In the story it states she loved to wear high heels, some that were three inches and leopard print. This shows that she's fun and likes to be seen. It also said that she wore some black stirrup pants and a yellow chenille sweater. So she can still look cute dressing down too. It also says that she had an appointment for a manicure and pedicure before the party so she doesn't like to just dress good, but look good all the way around. What she wears to the party is also described as very elegant and classy, but fun at the same time. Twinkle definitely has a sense of style.
b) "Guess what I found", was the first thing Twinkle said in the story. By this first statement, it proved to me that she was a fun girl, not wanting to just tell Sanjeev what it is she found, but to play a game with him to figure it out. When she says, "I would feel terrible throwing them away," shows that she is also a very caring person. Even to people she doesn't know. Twinkle also made compromises with Sanjeev by telling him she would hide her new "treasures" behind the door or out of the way in the lawn. Twinkle also did not have the same taste in music as Sanjeev did because when he was listening to his music she told him to turn it off because it was putting her to sleep. Twinkle also proved that she doesn't care what people think by constantly asking Sanjeev why he always cares what people think because clearly she doesn't care. I also noticed that Twinkle is very outgoing and definitely a people person. She knows how to start a conversation and to keep guests entertained with different stories she would tell and what not.
c) Twinkle definitely likes to smoke. She's constantly smoking throughout the story. Usually, smoking is a release of stress and other things. So I assume her smoking was a way of just letting her troubles go. Twinkle also likes to tease Sanjeev. I noticed this by the way she carried herself the times when she would squeeze his leg or his arm. She likes to read when she's bored, but also talk to her girlfriends on the phone. I think this shows she's easily entertained. She's also very carefree because she leaves clothes at the front of her closet, would read whatever magazine, and listen to whatever song on the radio. She gets excited by the little things in life. Like when Sanjeev always refilled her glass when they would go out together. As fun loving and carefree as she is though, she likes to read things like Sonnets and German films and was getting her masters degree. So Twinkle was also very intelligent. Even though she was not the greatest in the kitchen, she came up with a dish on her own and it even tasted good. This shows she's creative too. I also think that Twinkle liked to keep her emotions to her since she cried once in the story and that was the only time Sanjeev had ever seen her cry. I don't think she was crying just because of statue, but it had built up and that was the final straw. Twinkle also shows leadership. She took it upon herself to entertain the guests and get them interested in something they probably wouldn't normally be interested in. But by her enthusiasm she got them excited and they followed her wherever she went.
d) Sanjeev responded to Twinkle in many ways. In one instance, he would dote on her and how they met. In another he showed how much he cared by doing little things for her. Including holding her while she cried and compromising with her. On the other hand, he talked a lot about how annoying she was and would belittle her throughout the whole story. When the party guests arrived they ended up adoring Twinkle. They were with her the whole time and stayed by her side through her endeavors of finding a new "treasure". I can't decide if it made him jealous or even more annoyed. To me, it didn't seem that he truly loved her by the way he talked about her and to her.
e) The only thoughts that were shown was about Sanjeev and what he thought about Twinkle. The story didn't share hardly any of Twinkles' thoughts. Only about how much Sanjeev thought of Twinkle.
All in all, I think Twinkle has the whole package, minus the being organized and tidy part.

This Blessed House

I always seem to look for the "love" parts in stories and the main part I got was that opposites attract. Clearly Sanjeev and Twinkle were two completely different people brought together by fate. The way they met, I think, was the only way they could've met because of how different they are. Sanjeev is very particular, immaculate, and knows what he wants in life. As for Twinkle, she's very carefree and fun, yet studious. Even though not many people nowadays get married after only knowing each other for 4 months, but it still relates for some people today. Many people get married without really knowing each other. Some will live happily ever after and some will end in divorce. In this case, it was more of a either or could happen. They went through some difficult times already. No matter how small their arguments could've been, to them they were big issues. It seemed that they tried to work them out, but Sanjeev was so stubborn and it was really annoying because Twinkle was so sweet. Even though at first Sanjeev wasn't very understanding, I think most men could learn from him because once he realized this really was important to Twinkle, he compromised with her. But that was only at first, in the end, he was just angry on the inside and wanted nothing to do with any of it. Compromise plays a huge part in a relationship. Twinkle wasn't very sensitive to his feelings either, though. She wanted all the "Christian" things around and she wasn't going to put them up until she had her way. I thought that was a little selfish, but I think she had good reasons behind it. I don't know how long Sanjeev and Twinkle will be together, especially since Sanjeev was already questioning whether he truly loved her or not, but they made it through their first big fight and that showed a lot. It's funny to see how big of opposites can still be attracted to each other and be able to work things out because of love. In this case though, I don't know if their kind of love can withstand each other. Sanjeev doesn't seem willing to work anything out and will remain bitter until he does. All in all, I thought this way a good story and I enjoyed reading it.

What Do We Talk A When We Talk About Love pg 53-64

Unlike some other people I've talked to, I really enjoyed reading this story. There was nothing very exciting or something tragic that happened to any of the characters, but to me it was real. Just some friends sitting around talking about stuff they probably won't even remember talking about later. Mainly because they had been drinking, but also because they're the type of friends who can sit around and talk aimlessly about anything. I think Mel and Terri had a strange kind of love, but love no doubt. In a weird way they were almost still stuck on their previous marriages. At least Terri was. Personally, I don't think the type of "love" Terri and Ed had was true love. That's just not how you love someone. Terri and Mel's love, although kind of annoying and abnormal, was still love in itself. They're the type of couple who can fight and bicker, but can still know in the end they love each other. I like Nick and Laura's love the most. Even though they're pretty much still newly weds, they have that absolute love. They're the kind of couple who don't even have to say anything but know they love each other just by looking at each other, or by kissing a hand like Nick did.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I thought it was a little jumpy. That would be my only complaint, though. The end was a little confusing, but it left me thinking and kind of making up my own rendition of what happened. I think they sat there until night fell, in somewhat of a stupor, contemplating what was just talked about. I think they sat there wondering about love and about the kind of love they had with their spouses. Eventually, they just got up and went out to dinner without another word about the conversation. That's just my interpretation, though.

Reading for Transformation...

Out of the three assignments I read, I decided to write about "Reading for Transformation through the Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins" by Francis X. McAloon SJ. This was honestly the only one I found the least boring. However, it could be because I read it when it was stormy and gloomy outside so I was already feeling a little down and not very excited to read. Nevertheless, I did find this piece pretty interesting. I really liked how he took on the daily practice of lectio divina. Usually if I don't understand a poem, I don't take the time to sit and try to understand it. Mainly because I didn't know of any other way to read it to help understand it. I like this method of understanding a poem or any piece of literature really. I know I get frustrated many times with trying to figure something out or get a "deeper" view of it, but can't. I think doing this lectio divina is an interesting way of doing just that. I also like how McAloon talked about the transformation of reading a poem. I've never really thought about being transformed by reading a poem in this kind of way. He said, "In such instances, we not only read for information and aesthetic pleasure, we also engage in a sort of reading for transformation..." Another interpretation of poems used in prayer focused on the world of the text, the world behind the text, and the world before the text. I found that the of part was explaining unclear references, opening the door to perplexing diction, and uncovering intense imagery. The behind part was to clarify and challenge our biasness about a poet's situation. And the  before part made way for the option of new self-awareness. Francis McAloon just really opened my eyes to new ways of interpreting poems and being transformed. I really enjoyed this.

"Active Reading of Literature" pages 5-23

     I can definitely relate to the statement, what you get out of what you read is determined by how you read. If I am to go into reading a piece of literature with a bad attitude I will have a bad connection with what I read. If I go into reading something with high hopes and good expectations, more than likely I'll come out of that reading satisfied. A lot of times I do make the mistake of reading certain books, i.e. certain college criteria like "Kingdom Education", with low expectations because it's not something I look forward to reading and start with the attitude of wanting to just skim through the book and don't care if I get anything out of it. However, I know that's not the way I'm supposed to read a book, whether I think I will find it interesting or not. Using Nicholas Sparks' books as an example, I always buy his books because I know I will love what I'm going to read. I have never read one of his book unsatisfied or felt like there could've been more to it. Because of this I go into reading his books with excitement and the knowledge that I will probably love his new work. The statement, what you get out of what you read is determined by how you read can also be related to how we read the Bible. I know for me, I'll sometimes read the Bible expecting to have some kind of revelation from God in a verse I was just meant to read at that very moment in time. Obviously, I can't read God's Word expecting this every time I open the Book or many times I'll come out of it unsatisfied and possibly be mad at God for not giving me this "revelation". However, I also cannot go into reading His Word as just a checklist off my daily "To Do List". If I do that, then I'll never encounter God in a new way.

Literacy Profile

     My earliest memories of literature would have to be from my toddler years. I remember many bedtime stories and nursery rhymes, such as, Three Blind Mice, Rock-A-Bye Baby, and The Three Little Pigs. There's one book I remember in particular that I won't ever forget. It was called I'll Love You Forever. There was a line in there that I even say to my nieces. It says, "I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." It's just one of those stories that will always stick with me. My most recent memory of literature I read was The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. He is by far my favorite author, as I'm sure he is to most women. This particular book is about two neighbors who at first were not very fond of each other, but eventually fell in love. The whole point of it being called The Choice is towards the end when the husband has to make a very important choice that could kill or keep his wife alive. I've read almost all of his books and am starting on his latest one call Safe Haven. The most significant literary text I've ever read would have to be McGrath's book of The Basic Readings. I read this in my Survey of Christian Theology class and it has changed my view about the church, the Trinity, and many other topics related to God and His creation. My thoughts on Professor Corrigan's essay about this course was pleasing. I think he has a good insight into literature and how it should be read to be of more meaning. Also, he gave good directions for the course and what he expects of us. I think it is all fair assignments and, even though it's going to be a lot of work, I know I'm going to get a lot more out of this course than what I originally intended, which is a good thing.