Question 1:
Does one believe in the power of fate or that of free will? That’s a very good question because in one you play a passive role in your life, and in the other you play an active role. I think there is no one way or the other but a mix of the two forces. Fate gives you a hand of cards, and free will allows you to play the cards the way you want to.
If life was decided by fate, then we would move around like robots. If life was based on free will, then we would have everything we ever wanted in our lives. The truth is life doesn’t work that way. There are many obstacles and surprises in life, and we are free to decide how we want to approach them.
An example of this might be that life gives you a lemon ( say living with a disability), you can decide to live in a wheelchair and do nothing, or you can roll your wheelchair outside and move around in this world of your own free will.
Question 2:
Has there ever been a time in your life where it was okay to lie? Has there ever been a time where you just didn’t want to know the truth? This question presumes that people are perfect and everyone lives a moral life when that is absolutely not true. Everyone lies, and we even lie to ourselves. We lie all the time because we have been taught to avoid hurting people’s feelings, so we hold back on our feelings and tell the person what they want to hear. We also expect people to do the same for us. Somehow if the truth comes out, it feels ugly so we hide it by lying so that we don’t have to deal with something unpleasant.
As a citizen of conscience I believe that it is never okay to lie. Lying means being untruthful. I believe that many people lie to get out of something and or to avoid getting into trouble. I have lied myself to prevent conflict in my life. I remember lying once to a friend when this person wanted to try out for the basketball team. I told him not to bother, and that it was not fun at all. I also told him that practices were so difficult, and that it was basically three months of hell. But, in reality I find that when I’m playing basketball I’m having one of the best times of my life. I just didn’t want the person to get hurt if he got cut from the team. Or to basically waste his time and not play. This actually happened to me when I was playing for the freshmen team at South Hadley High School. I hated that season. The reason for this was that I hardly got any court time and spent most of the season on the bench. I knew that I was telling a lie, but in some way I felt that I was protecting my friend.
Many people say that they would rather be told the truth, yet when that happens they get angry, upset and sulk away. Whether you lie or tell the truth, there will be consequences and it is your personal choice which way you would rather go. Do you want to live a life based on truth or lies? I’d rather live with the ugly truth because then I’d know what I have to deal with and can change.
Question 3:
The Oedipus complex is that in man’s childhood, he has the desire to sleep with the mother and kill his father is based on the story of Oedipus. Oedipus didn’t know that his mother was his wife and he didn’t know that the man he killed was actually his father. Freud says that this is an unconscious feeling, which makes it difficult to understand because we would be unaware of it.
I think in general we are very protective of our mothers because they take care of us, and we don’t want anything to happened to them. We may see our fathers as threats if they take away some of the attention that our mothers give to us because we want it only for ourselves.
I think there may be some truth to this, but I don’t believe it is so hostile. We may share and not like having to do so, but we wouldn’t get rid of the other person for our own selfish desires. We share our mothers with our fathers as we do with our brothers and sisters.
Question 4:
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Antigone chooses to do what was right instead of what was easy. This is probably one of the best lessons we can learn from literature. We like to go through life making easy choices because it is easier that way. We say we take the path of easy resistance so that life doesn’t become difficult.
Yet, this is the dumbest thing to do because you sell yourself short. You don’t do what you would want to do. Antigone knew what she had to do. She believed in herself and fought for it. She risked death to bury her brother. When you believe that you are doing the right thing you should definitely stand up for what you believe in.
However, you must be sure that you have all the facts. You may believe very strongly about something and you could be wrong. For example I may believe that people should work and not live on food stamps, and I can vote or fight against this every chance I get. But I could be wrong because I wouldn’t know what its like to struggle, or what it is like to get a break in this world and may not even have any good options. I maybe be standing up for what I think is the right thing, and I could be wrong. I think you need a criteria that his higher than what we think or believe in to base our decisions on. We can’t always do what we think is right.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Siddartha Comes to America!
As soon as I saw Siddharta standing on my doorstep with his tan suitcase by his side, I knew that I needed to take him somewhere quickly to recuperate from his traumatic 18 hour flight from Mumbai, India to the United States. There was no doubt that he was tired. He looked haggard.
“Namaste,” he said as he bowed his head forward toward me. Greetings from my soul to your soul. I will be to you what Vasuveda was to me. I will listen to you, and you will listen to me.
“Namaste,” I replied with a smile on face. I picked up my suitcase and asked him to come inside.
“Dhanyivad,” he said thanking me in Hindi. This boy is respectful of others.
I tilted my head from side to side in the cultural Indian way I had learned that indicated that everything was good. We went in and headed for the dining room where an American meal I had prepared was waiting for him. He washed up and joined me there. I had grilled burgers and there were fries and a coke. He looked at his burger but didn’t touch it. He devoured the oily fries saying he was sorry that he could not eat the burger as he did not eat beef. I felt like I should have known this and offered to get him something else. He said that he was tired and would like to go rest in his room.
The next day we took a train to Niagara Falls. I knew that Siddharta needed to go to a place where the presence of nature would overawe his senses and quiet his will. Niagara Falls with its vast waterfalls and thunderous sounds made by the gushing water would be the perfect place. Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking over at water so plentiful that it could not be stopped from its natural journey down the fall, I knew Siddharta would view the scene with absolute wonder and amazement at the beauty and force of mother nature. He probably had never seen as much water in his entire life. The force of the water was so strong that it was used to provide electricity. I too stood there trying to absorb the sight of the waterfalls cascading onto the huge black rocks that were polished to a gleam by the force of the water. The mist surrounded us, and I felt as if I was being sprayed by the water even though we were a good distance away. There was a yellow boat in the river called The Maid of the Mist taking daring tourists as close to the falls as possible. I looked at Siddharta who seemed very content.
“America, good country. Very beautiful.” he said smiling as he gazed across at the falls. In truth the name of the Brahman is satya. Indeed , he who knows it enters the heavenly world each day…but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. (8) Water this plentiful, in all its splendor must be able to quench my eternal thirst. If only I could take a sip of this water, maybe then I can enter the heavenly world.
“This is a very beautiful part of America.” I said.
The river’s voice spoke to him. He learned from it, it educated and taught him. The river seemed like a god to him(146) This water like the river can give me the answers.
“I was born on the other side,” I said. “Like you, I also traveled to America.”
Your soul is the whole world. (7) Like me my friend you are making your own pilgrimage. Coming here and bringing me with you, you will be able to connect with Atman.
I thought I would take Siddharta back to Boston where he could experience one of my favorite experiences before catching his plane home from Logan Airport. I knew that no place would be better than a Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat game at TD Garden.
“ Are we going to a park?” asked Sidharta when I told him where we were going.
“ It’s called TD Garden, but it isn’t a garden,” I said. “ It’s where the Boston Celtics play basketball.” As we stood in line with the tickets that I had pre-purchased online, Siddharta looked around at the state- of- the- art sports arena. We walked up six flights of stairs to our seats. Siddharta watched excited fans fill the 19,600 seats. “Have you ever seen so many people at one event?” I asked hoping that he was as impressed by the place as I was.
Siddharta tossed his back and laughed hard. “Have you forgotten that I live in Mumbai, India, one of the most densely populated places on Earth?!” He saw people living in a childish or animal-like way, which he both loved and despised. (70)
“ In America, we like to gather together to support our teams, and we feel a really good sense of community doing it together.” I said. “ It revives our soul. We feel happy coming here as fans cheering on our favorite team. You could say we worship them as Gods,” I said jokingly. Siddharta shook his head and probably thought these are crazy Americans.
“Tell me why you like being here”, he asked noticing my happiness.
“I just love the Celtics! They’re the best team ever!” Music was playing and fans were standing up and dancing in hopes that the tv cameras would capture them on the wide screen televisions hanging from the rafters.
“Your love for the Celtics is like our love for cricket.”
Crickets? I thought. How could he compare the great game of basketball to a stupid insect.
“ Cricket is a game were we bat the ball to the post ahead, and then the players run back and forth.”
“Oh, that sounds like baseball.”
Music blasted from speakers seemingly coming from all angles. I saw Siddharta rocking himself to the beat. He looked all around and said, “ Americans love big spaces.”
“ It is huge,” I agreed. I think it is like ten stories high and something like 5oo feet long and 3oo feet wide.”
“ I still can’t understand how you Americans can waste so much space for a sport when the land could be put to better use.”
I figured that this had to be some sort of culture shock for him. It wasn’t a waste of space. It was a great use of space! I hoped that once the game started he would share in the thrill and excitement that we all felt being there. “I hope the noise isn’t bothering you?” I asked.
“It isn’t. I’m used to so much noise pollution that I can just block it out like a hum in the background.” We leaned back in our seats and enjoyed the game along with the buttery taste of our popcorn. Siddharta watched as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rondo dribbled the ball down the court to make a basket as the fans shot out of their seats shouting for joy.
“Certainly I have traveled for my pleasure.” (68) “Why not? I have become acquainted with people and new districts.” (68)
After Siddharta’s plane took off, I wondered which experience he enjoyed more- going to Niagara Falls or watching the game at TD Garden? After reflecting on the sense of peace he must have felt at such a spectacular sight at Niagara Falls, I figured he would have enjoyed watching the basketball game a lot more. The reason for this I felt, was that he was used to meditating and being in touch with his soul, and that doing so at Niagara Falls wasn’t all that different from what he did back home.
The basketball game however was something different. Remembering how talkative he was at the game, and how willing he was to compare and contrast how his life was similar to or different from life in America made me feel that being at the game made him really think. He didn’t just take the scene in and forget about it. He really thought about how Americans and Indians had a similar love of sports. He compared how Americans love space and use it freely compared to Indians who probably had to deal with limited amount of space, so they had to use it wisely. They probably didn’t eat food at their games. I think he enjoyed the experience also because he noticed how much I loved being there and how I really wanted to share that experience with him. I’m quite sure that made a bigger impression on him, and probably added to make the experience more valuable to him.
“Namaste,” he said as he bowed his head forward toward me. Greetings from my soul to your soul. I will be to you what Vasuveda was to me. I will listen to you, and you will listen to me.
“Namaste,” I replied with a smile on face. I picked up my suitcase and asked him to come inside.
“Dhanyivad,” he said thanking me in Hindi. This boy is respectful of others.
I tilted my head from side to side in the cultural Indian way I had learned that indicated that everything was good. We went in and headed for the dining room where an American meal I had prepared was waiting for him. He washed up and joined me there. I had grilled burgers and there were fries and a coke. He looked at his burger but didn’t touch it. He devoured the oily fries saying he was sorry that he could not eat the burger as he did not eat beef. I felt like I should have known this and offered to get him something else. He said that he was tired and would like to go rest in his room.
The next day we took a train to Niagara Falls. I knew that Siddharta needed to go to a place where the presence of nature would overawe his senses and quiet his will. Niagara Falls with its vast waterfalls and thunderous sounds made by the gushing water would be the perfect place. Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking over at water so plentiful that it could not be stopped from its natural journey down the fall, I knew Siddharta would view the scene with absolute wonder and amazement at the beauty and force of mother nature. He probably had never seen as much water in his entire life. The force of the water was so strong that it was used to provide electricity. I too stood there trying to absorb the sight of the waterfalls cascading onto the huge black rocks that were polished to a gleam by the force of the water. The mist surrounded us, and I felt as if I was being sprayed by the water even though we were a good distance away. There was a yellow boat in the river called The Maid of the Mist taking daring tourists as close to the falls as possible. I looked at Siddharta who seemed very content.
“America, good country. Very beautiful.” he said smiling as he gazed across at the falls. In truth the name of the Brahman is satya. Indeed , he who knows it enters the heavenly world each day…but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. (8) Water this plentiful, in all its splendor must be able to quench my eternal thirst. If only I could take a sip of this water, maybe then I can enter the heavenly world.
“This is a very beautiful part of America.” I said.
The river’s voice spoke to him. He learned from it, it educated and taught him. The river seemed like a god to him(146) This water like the river can give me the answers.
“I was born on the other side,” I said. “Like you, I also traveled to America.”
Your soul is the whole world. (7) Like me my friend you are making your own pilgrimage. Coming here and bringing me with you, you will be able to connect with Atman.
I thought I would take Siddharta back to Boston where he could experience one of my favorite experiences before catching his plane home from Logan Airport. I knew that no place would be better than a Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat game at TD Garden.
“ Are we going to a park?” asked Sidharta when I told him where we were going.
“ It’s called TD Garden, but it isn’t a garden,” I said. “ It’s where the Boston Celtics play basketball.” As we stood in line with the tickets that I had pre-purchased online, Siddharta looked around at the state- of- the- art sports arena. We walked up six flights of stairs to our seats. Siddharta watched excited fans fill the 19,600 seats. “Have you ever seen so many people at one event?” I asked hoping that he was as impressed by the place as I was.
Siddharta tossed his back and laughed hard. “Have you forgotten that I live in Mumbai, India, one of the most densely populated places on Earth?!” He saw people living in a childish or animal-like way, which he both loved and despised. (70)
“ In America, we like to gather together to support our teams, and we feel a really good sense of community doing it together.” I said. “ It revives our soul. We feel happy coming here as fans cheering on our favorite team. You could say we worship them as Gods,” I said jokingly. Siddharta shook his head and probably thought these are crazy Americans.
“Tell me why you like being here”, he asked noticing my happiness.
“I just love the Celtics! They’re the best team ever!” Music was playing and fans were standing up and dancing in hopes that the tv cameras would capture them on the wide screen televisions hanging from the rafters.
“Your love for the Celtics is like our love for cricket.”
Crickets? I thought. How could he compare the great game of basketball to a stupid insect.
“ Cricket is a game were we bat the ball to the post ahead, and then the players run back and forth.”
“Oh, that sounds like baseball.”
Music blasted from speakers seemingly coming from all angles. I saw Siddharta rocking himself to the beat. He looked all around and said, “ Americans love big spaces.”
“ It is huge,” I agreed. I think it is like ten stories high and something like 5oo feet long and 3oo feet wide.”
“ I still can’t understand how you Americans can waste so much space for a sport when the land could be put to better use.”
I figured that this had to be some sort of culture shock for him. It wasn’t a waste of space. It was a great use of space! I hoped that once the game started he would share in the thrill and excitement that we all felt being there. “I hope the noise isn’t bothering you?” I asked.
“It isn’t. I’m used to so much noise pollution that I can just block it out like a hum in the background.” We leaned back in our seats and enjoyed the game along with the buttery taste of our popcorn. Siddharta watched as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rondo dribbled the ball down the court to make a basket as the fans shot out of their seats shouting for joy.
“Certainly I have traveled for my pleasure.” (68) “Why not? I have become acquainted with people and new districts.” (68)
After Siddharta’s plane took off, I wondered which experience he enjoyed more- going to Niagara Falls or watching the game at TD Garden? After reflecting on the sense of peace he must have felt at such a spectacular sight at Niagara Falls, I figured he would have enjoyed watching the basketball game a lot more. The reason for this I felt, was that he was used to meditating and being in touch with his soul, and that doing so at Niagara Falls wasn’t all that different from what he did back home.
The basketball game however was something different. Remembering how talkative he was at the game, and how willing he was to compare and contrast how his life was similar to or different from life in America made me feel that being at the game made him really think. He didn’t just take the scene in and forget about it. He really thought about how Americans and Indians had a similar love of sports. He compared how Americans love space and use it freely compared to Indians who probably had to deal with limited amount of space, so they had to use it wisely. They probably didn’t eat food at their games. I think he enjoyed the experience also because he noticed how much I loved being there and how I really wanted to share that experience with him. I’m quite sure that made a bigger impression on him, and probably added to make the experience more valuable to him.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
How I Overcame Having Migraines
I have had to live my childhood as one that has been characterized by my having migraines. I can honestly say that I can’t remember a single school week going by in which I did not have to go visit the school nurse. Yet, I can now say that having migraines has been a blessing in my life because they were an obstacle I had to overcome which helped shaped who I am today.
Because migraines were a factor in my life that I could not control, I had to seek power by strengthening my inner recourses, so that I could find something that I could depend upon. For me that inner strength came from taking care of other people around me. By taking care of them, I felt as if I could take care of myself. I was reaching out to fix things and helping others with their problems.
Doing so helped me to change my perception of feeling frustrated and weak because I had no alternative but to give into the excruciating pain of migraines. I could now perceive of myself as strong as I could handle the responsibility of caring for others. This has given me a strong sense of importance. It has helped me to develop people skills as I play a role that focuses on the needs of other people. I like being of service, and it is why I now have 346 hours of community service. Being helpful makes me feel good about myself. A major factor that defines me is that I have a strong sense of community service and believe that we must give back to the world. I have been involved in a connections program at my school and find it very easy to gain the respect of adults around me. I have also volunteered at a hospital.
One of my all time good moments is when I here someone say, “Ziyad, that’s a great idea. I never would have thought of that.” This has the pleasant effect of making me feel that I can always come up with a better idea, the better plan in getting things done. I take pride in being a quick thinker. I like to get things done. I also feel a keen responsibility for taking charge of things to ensure that everyone does his/her assigned share, and on time.
I believe that I overcame the obstacle of having migraines when I decided I would change my focus. Instead of looking inward at my pain, I looked outward at making other people happier. Having migraines has taught me to have empathy for other people suffering. It has taught me to be humble and to think about the needs of others. It has made me consider management as a major to pursue in college in which I would be working around other people making sure that things get done right. I feel this responsibility is so engrained in me that it has now become my second nature.
Because migraines were a factor in my life that I could not control, I had to seek power by strengthening my inner recourses, so that I could find something that I could depend upon. For me that inner strength came from taking care of other people around me. By taking care of them, I felt as if I could take care of myself. I was reaching out to fix things and helping others with their problems.
Doing so helped me to change my perception of feeling frustrated and weak because I had no alternative but to give into the excruciating pain of migraines. I could now perceive of myself as strong as I could handle the responsibility of caring for others. This has given me a strong sense of importance. It has helped me to develop people skills as I play a role that focuses on the needs of other people. I like being of service, and it is why I now have 346 hours of community service. Being helpful makes me feel good about myself. A major factor that defines me is that I have a strong sense of community service and believe that we must give back to the world. I have been involved in a connections program at my school and find it very easy to gain the respect of adults around me. I have also volunteered at a hospital.
One of my all time good moments is when I here someone say, “Ziyad, that’s a great idea. I never would have thought of that.” This has the pleasant effect of making me feel that I can always come up with a better idea, the better plan in getting things done. I take pride in being a quick thinker. I like to get things done. I also feel a keen responsibility for taking charge of things to ensure that everyone does his/her assigned share, and on time.
I believe that I overcame the obstacle of having migraines when I decided I would change my focus. Instead of looking inward at my pain, I looked outward at making other people happier. Having migraines has taught me to have empathy for other people suffering. It has taught me to be humble and to think about the needs of others. It has made me consider management as a major to pursue in college in which I would be working around other people making sure that things get done right. I feel this responsibility is so engrained in me that it has now become my second nature.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Obstacles That Have Shaped Me.
1.) This essay rose to the top to me because of it resembles me the best. Shows the reader what kind of person I am and the obstacles that i have encountered and how I have overcome them.
2.) I think of the strong points in my essay is showing what defines me as a human being.
3.)Probably I need to work on organization and sentence structure.
4.) Is my conclusion powerful enough?
One of my all time good moments is when I here someone say, “Ziyad, that’s a great idea. I never would have thought of that.” this has the pleasant effect of making me feel that I can come up with a better idea, the better plan in getting things done. So I take pride in being a quick thinker. I like to get things done. I also feel a keen responsibility for taking charge of things to ensure that everyone does his/her assigned share, and on time.
A major factor that defines me is that I have a strong sense of community service and believe that we must give back to the world. I have been involved in a connections program at my school and find it very easy to gain the respect of adults around me. This has fed into my feelings of acting responsible for the needs and desires of my entire family. This is not to say that I allow them to take advantage of me being that I am very reliable and have a penchant for getting things done which of course they never fail to try to do. I know when to say no, when I feel that I’m being taken advantage of. Nevertheless, I’m not insensitive to the needs of others.
Part of this sense of responsibility stems from being the older twin and spending my life looking out for my younger brother by 16 minutes. Knowing that I was dependable. I always took responsibility for our welfare at school, outings, school trips, sports, activities or basically anytime we were away from our parents. I feel this responsibility is so engrained in me that it has become a second nature.
I have also had to live my childhood as one that has been characterized by me having had migraines. I can’t remember a school week going by in which I did not go to see the school nurse. Because of this I try to avoid pain or feed with eating food that makes me feel better. I am now working with a fitness trainer to work out and get rid of this bad habit, I’m glad to say that it has been my good fortune, to outgrow these childhood migraines.
2.) I think of the strong points in my essay is showing what defines me as a human being.
3.)Probably I need to work on organization and sentence structure.
4.) Is my conclusion powerful enough?
One of my all time good moments is when I here someone say, “Ziyad, that’s a great idea. I never would have thought of that.” this has the pleasant effect of making me feel that I can come up with a better idea, the better plan in getting things done. So I take pride in being a quick thinker. I like to get things done. I also feel a keen responsibility for taking charge of things to ensure that everyone does his/her assigned share, and on time.
A major factor that defines me is that I have a strong sense of community service and believe that we must give back to the world. I have been involved in a connections program at my school and find it very easy to gain the respect of adults around me. This has fed into my feelings of acting responsible for the needs and desires of my entire family. This is not to say that I allow them to take advantage of me being that I am very reliable and have a penchant for getting things done which of course they never fail to try to do. I know when to say no, when I feel that I’m being taken advantage of. Nevertheless, I’m not insensitive to the needs of others.
Part of this sense of responsibility stems from being the older twin and spending my life looking out for my younger brother by 16 minutes. Knowing that I was dependable. I always took responsibility for our welfare at school, outings, school trips, sports, activities or basically anytime we were away from our parents. I feel this responsibility is so engrained in me that it has become a second nature.
I have also had to live my childhood as one that has been characterized by me having had migraines. I can’t remember a school week going by in which I did not go to see the school nurse. Because of this I try to avoid pain or feed with eating food that makes me feel better. I am now working with a fitness trainer to work out and get rid of this bad habit, I’m glad to say that it has been my good fortune, to outgrow these childhood migraines.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Job 3
“ It was not a matter of live o die… And it will always be that way.” (O’Brian 133)
This passage stands out as an insightful identifier because it explains what happens at war and what was Tim O’Brian’s experience of killing a man. The realization is he didn’t really need to kill the man as his life did not depend on it. Tim has pulled the cap of the grenade and by then had no option but to throw it. He did and a man died.
Tim says, “and it will always be that way.”(O’Brian 133) He says that because there is nothing that can change what happened. He doesn’t express regret or guilt. He is just resigned to the idea that this is what happens in war.
“There was no music…’why’s she dancing?” (O’Brian 134)
Again this passage supports the theme that what happens in a war just doesn’t make sense. A girl is dancing even though we find out that her house burned down and her family is dead. There was no music is an insightful identifier that there was nothing to dance to, just as there is no reason for the girl to dance. It makes no sense. This supports the theme that you cant explain the strange things that happens at war.
That isn’t to say that if there was music and the girl was dancing it would make sense. It means there was no reason to dance and the music is a metaphor for the reason.
“I did not look on my work as therapy. But that nonetheless help to clarify and explain.” (O’Brian 158)
I chose this passage because I thought it was an insightful identifier to how the author was able to write the book. By writing about what happened to all of them. O’Brian was able to document what needed to be known and understood and once they were on paper. He could start letting go of these stories. It was therapy for him to write them down.
O’Brian says, “ By telling stories, you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself.” (O’Brian) This shows how he could deal with his memories so that he could go on with his life. Norman Bowker wasn’t able to let go of his memories as Tim was. I think that writing the stories was very significant to understanding the book was written.
“Briefly he stopped and watches the clouds… The rain was the war and you had to fight it.”(O’Brian)
O’Brian writes another insightful identifier that is a metaphor for the war. In this text the war is compared to the rain. The rain wouldn’t let you up just like you cant take a break from the war. You just have to deal with it as you would the rain with all its inconveniences.
Another realization could be that there is something positive with lots of rain like plants growing, so maybe something positive also came out of the war.
“Azar kept shaking his head… You’ve got to admit, its pure world class irony”
An insightful identifier is that O’Brian is always writing about the irony of their situation. In this passage he refers to them, “ Wasted in the waste.” (O’Brian 165) By this he keeps repeating this idea that not only was the war like being in shit, but they actually were in real shit in that the field where they were camping in was used as toilet.
Being in the war stunk, and the place they were in the war’s stunk. This is the irony that O’Brian was referring to. The deep meaning is that this was a shifty war to have to be in.
This passage stands out as an insightful identifier because it explains what happens at war and what was Tim O’Brian’s experience of killing a man. The realization is he didn’t really need to kill the man as his life did not depend on it. Tim has pulled the cap of the grenade and by then had no option but to throw it. He did and a man died.
Tim says, “and it will always be that way.”(O’Brian 133) He says that because there is nothing that can change what happened. He doesn’t express regret or guilt. He is just resigned to the idea that this is what happens in war.
“There was no music…’why’s she dancing?” (O’Brian 134)
Again this passage supports the theme that what happens in a war just doesn’t make sense. A girl is dancing even though we find out that her house burned down and her family is dead. There was no music is an insightful identifier that there was nothing to dance to, just as there is no reason for the girl to dance. It makes no sense. This supports the theme that you cant explain the strange things that happens at war.
That isn’t to say that if there was music and the girl was dancing it would make sense. It means there was no reason to dance and the music is a metaphor for the reason.
“I did not look on my work as therapy. But that nonetheless help to clarify and explain.” (O’Brian 158)
I chose this passage because I thought it was an insightful identifier to how the author was able to write the book. By writing about what happened to all of them. O’Brian was able to document what needed to be known and understood and once they were on paper. He could start letting go of these stories. It was therapy for him to write them down.
O’Brian says, “ By telling stories, you objectify your own experience. You separate it from yourself.” (O’Brian) This shows how he could deal with his memories so that he could go on with his life. Norman Bowker wasn’t able to let go of his memories as Tim was. I think that writing the stories was very significant to understanding the book was written.
“Briefly he stopped and watches the clouds… The rain was the war and you had to fight it.”(O’Brian)
O’Brian writes another insightful identifier that is a metaphor for the war. In this text the war is compared to the rain. The rain wouldn’t let you up just like you cant take a break from the war. You just have to deal with it as you would the rain with all its inconveniences.
Another realization could be that there is something positive with lots of rain like plants growing, so maybe something positive also came out of the war.
“Azar kept shaking his head… You’ve got to admit, its pure world class irony”
An insightful identifier is that O’Brian is always writing about the irony of their situation. In this passage he refers to them, “ Wasted in the waste.” (O’Brian 165) By this he keeps repeating this idea that not only was the war like being in shit, but they actually were in real shit in that the field where they were camping in was used as toilet.
Being in the war stunk, and the place they were in the war’s stunk. This is the irony that O’Brian was referring to. The deep meaning is that this was a shifty war to have to be in.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Job 2.
1. “It wasn’t a question of deceit. Just the opposite: he wanted to heat up the truth, to make it burn so hot that you would feel exactly what he felt. For Rat Kiley, I think, facts were formed by sensation… multiplying by maybe.” (O’Brian 89-90)
This text creates a mood for understanding Rat Kiley’s version of the truth through the sense of humor of Tim O’Brian. Tim makes Rat’s stories sound like exaggeration but not the lying type but the type that is blown our of proportion because that is how he experiences it.
O’Brian uses words like heat up the truth and make it burn so hot. I noticed these words because you never associate heat with the truth, but the author wants you to feel that truth is full of hot air and is unbelievable. I also thought it was very funny that he comes up with a math formula subtracting superlatives, finding a square root of an absolute and multiplying by maybe. O’Brian creates a mood of amusement at Rat Kiley’s stories.
2. “Near the end of the third week… but then weren’t they all?” (O’Brian 104-105)
The author’s choice of phrases like: seemed to accept, restless gloom, at the edge of, shoulders hunched, blue eyes opaques, and seemed to disappear, create the mood that someone is present physically, but emotionally they’re somewhere else. You feel that something is wrong. He also says a haunted look, partly terror, partly rapture, caught in that no man’s land- these words all create a mood that there is something trouble Mary-
Anne.
By using these words and expressions, O’Brian paints a sad picture of Mary Anne’s mood. The reader can understand how Mary-Anne is feeling and that helps the reader to have pathos for her sadness. He says, “ Just a child, blond and innocent,”(O’Brian 105) This sentence sounds like a description of a sweet little girl so the reader feels that she has been hurt by someone stronger than her.
3. “Across the room a dozen candles… but the high voice was Mary Anne’s.” (O’Brian 109-110)
With this text the author creates a mysterious, spooky mood. He has candles burning, echo sounds, and music that is described as tribal. He describes a smell from some exotic smokehouse to make it smell foreign and not belonging there. He also says a powerful stench to make it sound like it stinks. The smell is described as paralyzing your lungs- strong words to indicate a shocking smell. It is thick and numbing. The stink of the kill. He uses words like decayed, skin dangled, stacks of bones -all description that give you the creeps.
The author goes on to use capital letters, “ ASSEMBLE YOUR OWN GOOK!! FREE SALMPLE KIT!!.”(O’Brian 110) He uses capital letters and exclamation marks in twos and threes to grab the readers attention. He also says, “ The images came in a swirl Rat said, and there was no way you could process it all.” (O’Brian 110) This lets the reader feel that the situation was overwhelming.
4.“ It was his one eccentricity, The panty hose,… and let the magic do its work.” (O’Brian 117-118)
This text creates a mood of disbelief that the pantyhose of Henry Dobbins’s girlfriend was considered by him to have powers to protect him from danger. The author describes this as properties of a good luck charm, and the way an infant sleeps with a flannel blanket which creates a mood that the pantyhose makes Henry feel safe. He uses words like secure and peaceful. It is a talisman. It is like body armor.
This description of a soldier creating a ritual of wrapping a girl’s pantyhose which is a feminine object is unexpected but the truth of what happens makes the reader question this doubt. Maybe it was able to keep him from being hurt. “Dobbins was invulnerable. Never wounded, never a scratch.” (O’Brian 118) The author creates a mood of believing in the power of the pantyhose.
5.“ Oh man, you fuckin’ trashed that fucker… this particular individual gets A-plus.” (O’Brian 125-126)
This text creates a mood of having to describe something in which you cant even find the right words to describe them. Azar is trying to describe the man that Kiowa had killed. The body is so badly destroyed, but the author describes it in words that just don’t belong with describing a person who has been killed.
The author uses words liked Shredded fucking Wheat, oatmeal, and Rice Krispies. These are names of breakfast cereals that have no similarities at all with a person that has been destroyed. Breakfast cereals are words of a fresh start at the beginning of the day and not the end of a life. The author also says, “ On the dead test, this particular individual gets A- plus.” (O’Brian 126)The reader is left wondering who says something like that to describe a man who is killed. The mood is that the death of this man doesn’t even matter.
This text creates a mood for understanding Rat Kiley’s version of the truth through the sense of humor of Tim O’Brian. Tim makes Rat’s stories sound like exaggeration but not the lying type but the type that is blown our of proportion because that is how he experiences it.
O’Brian uses words like heat up the truth and make it burn so hot. I noticed these words because you never associate heat with the truth, but the author wants you to feel that truth is full of hot air and is unbelievable. I also thought it was very funny that he comes up with a math formula subtracting superlatives, finding a square root of an absolute and multiplying by maybe. O’Brian creates a mood of amusement at Rat Kiley’s stories.
2. “Near the end of the third week… but then weren’t they all?” (O’Brian 104-105)
The author’s choice of phrases like: seemed to accept, restless gloom, at the edge of, shoulders hunched, blue eyes opaques, and seemed to disappear, create the mood that someone is present physically, but emotionally they’re somewhere else. You feel that something is wrong. He also says a haunted look, partly terror, partly rapture, caught in that no man’s land- these words all create a mood that there is something trouble Mary-
Anne.
By using these words and expressions, O’Brian paints a sad picture of Mary Anne’s mood. The reader can understand how Mary-Anne is feeling and that helps the reader to have pathos for her sadness. He says, “ Just a child, blond and innocent,”(O’Brian 105) This sentence sounds like a description of a sweet little girl so the reader feels that she has been hurt by someone stronger than her.
3. “Across the room a dozen candles… but the high voice was Mary Anne’s.” (O’Brian 109-110)
With this text the author creates a mysterious, spooky mood. He has candles burning, echo sounds, and music that is described as tribal. He describes a smell from some exotic smokehouse to make it smell foreign and not belonging there. He also says a powerful stench to make it sound like it stinks. The smell is described as paralyzing your lungs- strong words to indicate a shocking smell. It is thick and numbing. The stink of the kill. He uses words like decayed, skin dangled, stacks of bones -all description that give you the creeps.
The author goes on to use capital letters, “ ASSEMBLE YOUR OWN GOOK!! FREE SALMPLE KIT!!.”(O’Brian 110) He uses capital letters and exclamation marks in twos and threes to grab the readers attention. He also says, “ The images came in a swirl Rat said, and there was no way you could process it all.” (O’Brian 110) This lets the reader feel that the situation was overwhelming.
4.“ It was his one eccentricity, The panty hose,… and let the magic do its work.” (O’Brian 117-118)
This text creates a mood of disbelief that the pantyhose of Henry Dobbins’s girlfriend was considered by him to have powers to protect him from danger. The author describes this as properties of a good luck charm, and the way an infant sleeps with a flannel blanket which creates a mood that the pantyhose makes Henry feel safe. He uses words like secure and peaceful. It is a talisman. It is like body armor.
This description of a soldier creating a ritual of wrapping a girl’s pantyhose which is a feminine object is unexpected but the truth of what happens makes the reader question this doubt. Maybe it was able to keep him from being hurt. “Dobbins was invulnerable. Never wounded, never a scratch.” (O’Brian 118) The author creates a mood of believing in the power of the pantyhose.
5.“ Oh man, you fuckin’ trashed that fucker… this particular individual gets A-plus.” (O’Brian 125-126)
This text creates a mood of having to describe something in which you cant even find the right words to describe them. Azar is trying to describe the man that Kiowa had killed. The body is so badly destroyed, but the author describes it in words that just don’t belong with describing a person who has been killed.
The author uses words liked Shredded fucking Wheat, oatmeal, and Rice Krispies. These are names of breakfast cereals that have no similarities at all with a person that has been destroyed. Breakfast cereals are words of a fresh start at the beginning of the day and not the end of a life. The author also says, “ On the dead test, this particular individual gets A- plus.” (O’Brian 126)The reader is left wondering who says something like that to describe a man who is killed. The mood is that the death of this man doesn’t even matter.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Thing They Carried.
1.“The draft notice arrived on June 17, 1968.…. to a smoldering self-pity, then to numbness. “ ( O’Brian 41-42)
This reading shows a point in which time stood still for Tim O’Brian. He had just received his draft notice, and it felt as if his life was ending. His first reaction was denial. There must have been a mistake. “I was too good for this war. Too smart, too compassionate, too everything. It couldn’t happen.”(O’Brian 41) I believe Tim O’Brian felt an inner rage so great that he felt blood flood into his eyes and a howl that was dying to come out. A million reasons for why he shouldn’t be drafted were bouncing around in his head as he faces this enormous problem that he has no power to avoid.
O’Brian can remember time and setting clearly. It was June 17th 1968, afternoon and humid. He had just come back from playing golf only to find disaster waiting for him. The author reveals the thought process and his feelings of rage, self-pity and numbness.
2. Beyond all this, or at the very center… taking aim at another human being.(O’Brian 44)
In this text, O’Brian is thinking about dying. He shows his fear of dying. He describes it using the word “raw” which shows how painful thinking about death is to him. He is aware of driving up Main Street, passing the courthouse and the Ben Franklin store and feeling very afraid of going to a war in which he could die.
O’Brian tries to imagine what it would be like to be in Vietnam and how he thinks he may react to being there and being forced to kill an enemy. He says, “taking aim at another human being,”(O’Brian 44) This reveals his feelings about taking another life, the life of a person. His epiphany is the realization that he cannot do this.
3. “At one point, I remember Elroy put down his maul…..the problem had gone beyond discussion.“ (O’Brian 51)
This text reveals the character of Elroy Berdahl, an eighty-one year old man that O’Brian met at Tip Top Lodge. Elroy says a lot more with his expressions than the words he says. He appears to be a wise man considering Tim’s situation and understanding that it was better to listen than to speak. Elroy seems to understand Tim’s problem without having to ask any questions.
I think that Elroy was giving serious thought to Tim’s problem, and the reason that he was at the lodge. Elroy realizes that you cannot force decisions but that you have to wait for the person to sort things out until he comes to his own conclusion. Elroy reacts to his setting by acting patient and natural like the nature around him.
4. “In any circumstance…. for two pr three hours he simply sat there.” (O’Brian 62-63)
In this text, Dave Jensen seems to be encountering a problem in which he couldn’t trust anyone. “His realization is that he didn’t feel safe. “No safe ground: enemies everywhere.” ( O’Brian 63) Dave seems to feel threatened by Strunk coming after him seeking revenge. Dave acts paranoid and interacts with his setting by staying on the perimeter, away from everyone.
The author reveals that Dave felt tense, skittish and under strain. He showed avoidance and strange behavior of hearing noises or threats that were not there. This reveals his disturbed and paranoid behavior Dave eventually goes nuts and fires at them with live ammunition which shows that he has lost control.
5. “He stepped back and shot it….. Pupils shiny black and dumb.”( O’Brian 78-79)
This text best shows how Rat expressed his grief over the death of his best friend Curt Lemon who died when he stepped on a booby-trap. Rat is carefully and calmly killing an innocent water buffalo one shot at a time. One shot wasn’t enough. He didn’t feel like killing. He needed to destroy something.
Rat showed how he dealt with this huge conflict of death. His realization was that he needed to hurt as much as he felt hurt. He wanted to cause as much pain as he felt. The way he would whisper to the animal and then shoot him showed how cold and cruel he could be.
This reading shows a point in which time stood still for Tim O’Brian. He had just received his draft notice, and it felt as if his life was ending. His first reaction was denial. There must have been a mistake. “I was too good for this war. Too smart, too compassionate, too everything. It couldn’t happen.”(O’Brian 41) I believe Tim O’Brian felt an inner rage so great that he felt blood flood into his eyes and a howl that was dying to come out. A million reasons for why he shouldn’t be drafted were bouncing around in his head as he faces this enormous problem that he has no power to avoid.
O’Brian can remember time and setting clearly. It was June 17th 1968, afternoon and humid. He had just come back from playing golf only to find disaster waiting for him. The author reveals the thought process and his feelings of rage, self-pity and numbness.
2. Beyond all this, or at the very center… taking aim at another human being.(O’Brian 44)
In this text, O’Brian is thinking about dying. He shows his fear of dying. He describes it using the word “raw” which shows how painful thinking about death is to him. He is aware of driving up Main Street, passing the courthouse and the Ben Franklin store and feeling very afraid of going to a war in which he could die.
O’Brian tries to imagine what it would be like to be in Vietnam and how he thinks he may react to being there and being forced to kill an enemy. He says, “taking aim at another human being,”(O’Brian 44) This reveals his feelings about taking another life, the life of a person. His epiphany is the realization that he cannot do this.
3. “At one point, I remember Elroy put down his maul…..the problem had gone beyond discussion.“ (O’Brian 51)
This text reveals the character of Elroy Berdahl, an eighty-one year old man that O’Brian met at Tip Top Lodge. Elroy says a lot more with his expressions than the words he says. He appears to be a wise man considering Tim’s situation and understanding that it was better to listen than to speak. Elroy seems to understand Tim’s problem without having to ask any questions.
I think that Elroy was giving serious thought to Tim’s problem, and the reason that he was at the lodge. Elroy realizes that you cannot force decisions but that you have to wait for the person to sort things out until he comes to his own conclusion. Elroy reacts to his setting by acting patient and natural like the nature around him.
4. “In any circumstance…. for two pr three hours he simply sat there.” (O’Brian 62-63)
In this text, Dave Jensen seems to be encountering a problem in which he couldn’t trust anyone. “His realization is that he didn’t feel safe. “No safe ground: enemies everywhere.” ( O’Brian 63) Dave seems to feel threatened by Strunk coming after him seeking revenge. Dave acts paranoid and interacts with his setting by staying on the perimeter, away from everyone.
The author reveals that Dave felt tense, skittish and under strain. He showed avoidance and strange behavior of hearing noises or threats that were not there. This reveals his disturbed and paranoid behavior Dave eventually goes nuts and fires at them with live ammunition which shows that he has lost control.
5. “He stepped back and shot it….. Pupils shiny black and dumb.”( O’Brian 78-79)
This text best shows how Rat expressed his grief over the death of his best friend Curt Lemon who died when he stepped on a booby-trap. Rat is carefully and calmly killing an innocent water buffalo one shot at a time. One shot wasn’t enough. He didn’t feel like killing. He needed to destroy something.
Rat showed how he dealt with this huge conflict of death. His realization was that he needed to hurt as much as he felt hurt. He wanted to cause as much pain as he felt. The way he would whisper to the animal and then shoot him showed how cold and cruel he could be.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Assignment #2, Love(27-30); Spin(31-38)
I learned that being in love isn’t easy and that you could love someone who wouldn’t love you back. I felt sorry when Jimmy Cross confessed his feelings to Martha. Her reaction was that she was rather cold and didn’t seem to care about him at all. I’m sure that was very hurtful.
I pictured in my head Martha at that college reunion in 1979. She trained as a nurse but didn’t care too much about it. She hadn’t gotten married, so I pictured her as kind of lost and detached from people. When Jimmy told her he loved her, she didn’t seem to care. I picture Martha as a person who has deadened her emotions.
I couldn’t believe that Azar could be so indifferent in his attitude about seeing a kid with only one leg to the point that he could make a cruel joke about it. He cracked a joke that the reason the boy had lost his leg was because the person who shot him had run out of the ammo otherwise they would have blown both legs off a little kid. I couldn’t believe that Azar could think like that. It made me realize that the war had stripped him of his humanity.
I like the way the writer is honest about his feelings and doesn’t try to make everyone look like war heroes. I think the way the writer describes instances of memory as he remembers them, and not as long stories. The way he writes makes the reader aware of the pain of his memories and how much he needs to hold on to these memories to make it all feel real.
Assignment #1, The Things They Carried (1-26).
1.)
The tangible item that I would bring would be a large, plastic tarp. I would prefer that it be of camouflage colors and not be the typical bright neon blue color which would be sure to attract attention. An olive green color would be most ideal.
The reason for this would be that having a tarp would be a very effective way of protecting myself and others from the elements. It would provide safe shelter from the weather, rain and heat. It would also protect us from evil blood- sucking mosquitoes. The tarp would be useful in allowing us to sleep in a dry spot. The tarp could also be useful in carrying or dragging along other items.
Bringing a tarp would be important to me because I would be prepared and protected from mother nature that could demoralize and defeat me if I had to sleep in a cold or soaking wet environment . Vietnam is known for its tropical weather, which means there would be a lot of rainfall to deal with. Having this tarp would make me feel warm and safe which would be vital for my well being in such a hostile environment.
2.)
The intangible item that I would bring would be the slogan Carpe diem, which translated from Latin means seize the day. I consider it to be a slogan because I would use the force of its meaning to make the most out of every day. I am there for a mission and I better do my job to the best of my ability.
This slogan of seizing the day would energize me to do my absolute best. By thinking this way, I wouldn’t be thinking. oh god how many days am I going to be stuck here. Instead I would be thinking, I’ve got to kill or capture as many enemies as possible. Thinking positively makes all the difference. It would force me to act instead of reacting to the war situation. This should ensure the best results.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Talking to Strangers
(Friday Night Lights, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
Christopher stepped on to the train. It was a fancy train with deep blue and yellow checkered seats. The floor was a charcoal colored linoleum that was the same color as Mrs. Shears’s curtains. There were 11 people in the train carriage to London. The only empty seat was next to a big black guy with one leg bandaged up and a crutch by his side. On his other foot was a black Nike shoe with a white swoosh on both sides. Christopher didn't want to sit next to a stranger, but it was the only seat left. He hoped that the black guy wouldn’t touch him because he hated to be touched by strangers. If he touched him, Christopher would scream. Christopher had never seen a black guy before, so he checked him out, up and down, taking in his appearance as he sat down beside him.
“Dude, you’re staring at the best running back in the history of Permian High School,” said Boobie. “ I’m Boobie Miles.”
Christopher looked at Boobie and asked, “ Why do you run backwards? Is that for a special type of race?”
“Don’t you watch football man?” asked Boobie shaking his head. “ Is it an English thing? Who the heck runs backwards?”
Christopher looked at Boobie’s leg that was all bandaged up. “I can’t imagine anyone being the best at running with a bad leg What happened to you? He asked.
“ I got tackled bad. They smashed my knee.”
“I don’t like smashed up bananas. They’re yellow. I don't like yellow.” Christopher did a search through his memory and remembered seeing a smashed up car. It was red. “ I saw 4 yellow cars which made it a Black day, even though I saw a red car. But it was smashed,” he said
Boobie looked at Christopher and shook his head. “You’re a strange kid,” he said. “How old are you ? Fifteen?” guessed Boobie. “My fans are about your age.”
“My age is 15 years and 3 months and 5 days,” answered Christopher.
“Whatever, “ replied Boobie.
“What’s the number on your jersey?” Asked Christopher.
“My jersey number is 35.”Said Boobie proudly.
“I don’t like the number 35. It’s a cardinal number. I only like prime numbers. 35 is not a prime number.”
“What are you taking about? 35 is the best number ever! 35 will go down in history as being the best number in history!”
Christopher couldn't understand how a number could go down in history. He didn't understand what that meant. He didn’t say anything .“ I don’t like the number 35. 37 is better. Change it to 37.”
“I don’t know if they’ll let me. I came to London to see this really good doctor famous for arthroscopic surgery because we don't have any good doctors in Odessa,“ sighed Boobie. “I’ve got to get my knee fixed up, so I can play again.”
“ Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Arthroscopic procedures can be performed either to evaluate or treat many orthopedic conditions including torn floating cartilage, torn surface cartilage, ACL reconstruction and trimming damaged cartilage.” Added Christopher.
“How do you know that man? Are you a walking encyclopedia or something?” asked Boobie.
“ I read it on Wikipedia. I have a photographic memory,” said Christopher. “Good luck with your surgery.”
“Thanks kid. Hey, this is my stop. Got to go,” said Boobie. “Take it easy man. Nice talking to you.” Boobie limped off the train.
Christopher looked out the window and saw the sign for Kilburn Park. It was 5:00. He didn’t know what the black football player, Boobie Miles said he was supposed to take easy.
Christopher stepped on to the train. It was a fancy train with deep blue and yellow checkered seats. The floor was a charcoal colored linoleum that was the same color as Mrs. Shears’s curtains. There were 11 people in the train carriage to London. The only empty seat was next to a big black guy with one leg bandaged up and a crutch by his side. On his other foot was a black Nike shoe with a white swoosh on both sides. Christopher didn't want to sit next to a stranger, but it was the only seat left. He hoped that the black guy wouldn’t touch him because he hated to be touched by strangers. If he touched him, Christopher would scream. Christopher had never seen a black guy before, so he checked him out, up and down, taking in his appearance as he sat down beside him.
“Dude, you’re staring at the best running back in the history of Permian High School,” said Boobie. “ I’m Boobie Miles.”
Christopher looked at Boobie and asked, “ Why do you run backwards? Is that for a special type of race?”
“Don’t you watch football man?” asked Boobie shaking his head. “ Is it an English thing? Who the heck runs backwards?”
Christopher looked at Boobie’s leg that was all bandaged up. “I can’t imagine anyone being the best at running with a bad leg What happened to you? He asked.
“ I got tackled bad. They smashed my knee.”
“I don’t like smashed up bananas. They’re yellow. I don't like yellow.” Christopher did a search through his memory and remembered seeing a smashed up car. It was red. “ I saw 4 yellow cars which made it a Black day, even though I saw a red car. But it was smashed,” he said
Boobie looked at Christopher and shook his head. “You’re a strange kid,” he said. “How old are you ? Fifteen?” guessed Boobie. “My fans are about your age.”
“My age is 15 years and 3 months and 5 days,” answered Christopher.
“Whatever, “ replied Boobie.
“What’s the number on your jersey?” Asked Christopher.
“My jersey number is 35.”Said Boobie proudly.
“I don’t like the number 35. It’s a cardinal number. I only like prime numbers. 35 is not a prime number.”
“What are you taking about? 35 is the best number ever! 35 will go down in history as being the best number in history!”
Christopher couldn't understand how a number could go down in history. He didn't understand what that meant. He didn’t say anything .“ I don’t like the number 35. 37 is better. Change it to 37.”
“I don’t know if they’ll let me. I came to London to see this really good doctor famous for arthroscopic surgery because we don't have any good doctors in Odessa,“ sighed Boobie. “I’ve got to get my knee fixed up, so I can play again.”
“ Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Arthroscopic procedures can be performed either to evaluate or treat many orthopedic conditions including torn floating cartilage, torn surface cartilage, ACL reconstruction and trimming damaged cartilage.” Added Christopher.
“How do you know that man? Are you a walking encyclopedia or something?” asked Boobie.
“ I read it on Wikipedia. I have a photographic memory,” said Christopher. “Good luck with your surgery.”
“Thanks kid. Hey, this is my stop. Got to go,” said Boobie. “Take it easy man. Nice talking to you.” Boobie limped off the train.
Christopher looked out the window and saw the sign for Kilburn Park. It was 5:00. He didn’t know what the black football player, Boobie Miles said he was supposed to take easy.
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