Standing in the doorway of four month old Eula Lisa Eady Riley's bedroom were her parents Joseph and Martha Scribbner. Joseph and Martha had never intended on ever watching their baby die, nor had they intended on feeling happy about it. But, as the flames of the fire curled up Eula’s crib like vines, they both hoped and anticipated their baby’s death. The fire stroked Eula’s soft cheeks ever so lightly as her cries became spasms of screams for someone, anyone to put out the burning fire that was threatening to take her life. Help would not come for Eula, her parents wanted her to die. Her death would bring them happiness. Joseph and Martha knew they should feel a little guilty for being so glad that their baby was dying as they watched helplessly, but they didn’t. They felt no remorse really, of course considering the cold state that they were in, it would be hard for them to feel anything.
For Joseph and Martha, it had been love at first sight. After only dating for a total of four months, Joseph asked for Martha's hand. Because they had been together only a short amount of time, Martha had not yet told Joseph that she was not able to have children. Martha had planned to put off this treacherous news for fear that if Joseph knew that she could not bear him a child, then Joseph may not want to marry her. Promptly after they were united in marriage, Joseph tried to descreatly coax Martha into having children. After discussing the matter for some time, Martha was able to convince her beloved husband that they should take in a poor child who was sadly unappreciated and overturned to the government. This led Joseph to believe that his wife was a saint sent down to him from above. As newlyweds, Joseph and Martha searched together for the perfect child. After months of searching through orphanages, they were not able to find the child that they wanted. None of the children that they met showed any significant signs of being at all discourteous, discivilized, or unrefined. Actually, most of the children were polite, and affable in their gestures. Although these children represented the qualities that most parents would want their child to have to live up to today's expectations of a perfect child, none of those children felt like Joseph and Martha's children.
When the search began for their child, the light on their candle of hope was stronger than ever, but as the search went on that flame began to flicker.
Months after giving up hope, their continuous prayers were answered. Martha's unwedded sister Mary, who was young and naïve, just informed the happy couple that she wanted Joseph and Martha to adopt her unborn child.
“I can hardly take care of myself, how am I supposed to take care of another human being?” Mary questioned Martha.
Ecstatic, Martha practically knocked her husband down as she flung into his arms after he returned home to tell him the astounding news.
“Joseph! Joseph! A miracle has happened! My sister Mary is pregnant! She does not feel like she will be able to give her the care she will need, and she knows that we have wanted a child for so long, so she wants us to adopt her!”
“Her, it's a girl? I am going to have a daughter? This is wonderful news! Our prayers have been answered!”
Months later Mary's daughter Eula Riley was born. Joseph and Martha took her home with smiles that seem pasted on their faces. Joseph and Martha thought that their marriage was perfect when it was just the two of them, they completed each other. But, they never knew they were missing something until they were given something to miss. With Eula, their lives were now complete. They thought that nothing would ever make them happier, well, that is, until now.
Joseph and Martha were not saddened by the fact that the world would never know Eula. The sadness that they should have felt was overruled by the feelings of relief for themselves.
“Yes, she's dying Joseph, I can barely hear her now, she's dying!” Martha happily chanted.
“I know Martha, I know this couldn't have worked out any better!” said Joseph.
They just wanted the crying to cease, and after a few more seconds, they got their wish as the flames enveloped Eula completely. Happiness flooded over them now as new cries suddenly erupted from the baby that Martha is now clenching tightly to her body. Joseph and Martha awe at how the fire had not flawed Eula, she was not burned, she was perfect. Of course, Joseph and Martha should have known Eula would look the same because when they were burned in the fire and turned into ghosts, they looked the same as well. Now the family, complete again, ascended into heaven.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Compare and Contrast Essay
Shockingly, in all three folklores, Coyote and Wishpoosh, Mississippi Mosquitoes, and Bloody Mary, unrealistic events are what make up these strange stories. In the story, Coyote and Wishpoosh, examples of greed are demonstrated by one of the characters, but, the greed ultimately boils down to a “fight to the death” battle between the two. Coyote defeating Wishpoosh, he creates many tribes from Wishpoosh's organism. Throughout these stories, new creations will be made, landforms and virtues.
In the story, Coyote and Wishpoosh, the story is based on greed and creation. Wishpoosh, a giant beaver, was greedy and would not allow anyone, or anything, to come to his lake. This act contributed to the start of the fued between Wishpoosh and Coyote, because Coyote went to kill Wishpoosh because of Wishpoosh's greed. When Coyote decided to stand up to Wishpoosh, and attack him in an attempt to kill him, many new land features are made. After Coyote killed Wishpoosh, he used different parts of his organism to make tribes. Although the obvious virtue in this folklore revolves around greed, but I also think that another virtue is involved. If you stand up for what you believe in, good things can come from that.
The story of Bloody Mary is a story that haunts many with it's witch-craft and betrayal. In this folklore, Bloody Mary is outcasted by the rest of the village. Although rumors and stories are made up about Bloody Mary, no one dared to confront her. As suspicions are raised, all fingers point to Bloody Mary, so the village attacks her, killing her. Bloody Mary and Coyote and Wishpoosh both have similarities in their external conflicts.
Mississippi Mosquitoes is based on stubbornness. A man visiting Mississippi decided to talk a walk along the Mississippi River. Although he was warned not to go, he was hard headed and decided to proceed with his plans, despite the warning. Is it better to trust your own instincts, or to trust in others? Heading down the Mississippi, the man heard a whirling sound. Looking back, he saw two giant mosquitoes hovering above him. The two mosquitoes snatched him off of the ground and flew away with him as they contemplated his death. Thrashing out at the mosquitoes, they lost their grip and dropped him in the river. As he floated along the river, he finally came upon a riverboat. Climbing out of the river, he left Mississippi and never went back. If the man had only listened to the warnings that were given to him, then maybe he would have enjoyed his stay in Mississippi. This story makes me wonder about how many opportunities that we pass up because we don't listen to what people have to say around us.
As we see, one can interpret many virtues throughout each folklore. Greed, stubbornness, deceit, and revenge. Do we really know our history and how landforms and features were created? Do judge people on what they believe or how they act? Do we pass up every day opportunities because of our stubbornness of not listening to others and doing things our own way? All three of these stories will leave you with these questions that will make you wonder about how you are living your life.
In the story, Coyote and Wishpoosh, the story is based on greed and creation. Wishpoosh, a giant beaver, was greedy and would not allow anyone, or anything, to come to his lake. This act contributed to the start of the fued between Wishpoosh and Coyote, because Coyote went to kill Wishpoosh because of Wishpoosh's greed. When Coyote decided to stand up to Wishpoosh, and attack him in an attempt to kill him, many new land features are made. After Coyote killed Wishpoosh, he used different parts of his organism to make tribes. Although the obvious virtue in this folklore revolves around greed, but I also think that another virtue is involved. If you stand up for what you believe in, good things can come from that.
The story of Bloody Mary is a story that haunts many with it's witch-craft and betrayal. In this folklore, Bloody Mary is outcasted by the rest of the village. Although rumors and stories are made up about Bloody Mary, no one dared to confront her. As suspicions are raised, all fingers point to Bloody Mary, so the village attacks her, killing her. Bloody Mary and Coyote and Wishpoosh both have similarities in their external conflicts.
Mississippi Mosquitoes is based on stubbornness. A man visiting Mississippi decided to talk a walk along the Mississippi River. Although he was warned not to go, he was hard headed and decided to proceed with his plans, despite the warning. Is it better to trust your own instincts, or to trust in others? Heading down the Mississippi, the man heard a whirling sound. Looking back, he saw two giant mosquitoes hovering above him. The two mosquitoes snatched him off of the ground and flew away with him as they contemplated his death. Thrashing out at the mosquitoes, they lost their grip and dropped him in the river. As he floated along the river, he finally came upon a riverboat. Climbing out of the river, he left Mississippi and never went back. If the man had only listened to the warnings that were given to him, then maybe he would have enjoyed his stay in Mississippi. This story makes me wonder about how many opportunities that we pass up because we don't listen to what people have to say around us.
As we see, one can interpret many virtues throughout each folklore. Greed, stubbornness, deceit, and revenge. Do we really know our history and how landforms and features were created? Do judge people on what they believe or how they act? Do we pass up every day opportunities because of our stubbornness of not listening to others and doing things our own way? All three of these stories will leave you with these questions that will make you wonder about how you are living your life.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Mass Similarity
I know that I have judged people numerous times in my head, thinking that I knew who they were, when all of a sudden, something changed and they turned out not to be who I had made them out ot be, but totally different. Have you ever seen someone being victimized by bullying, but said nothing, or worse, laughed and taunted, or even worse, joined in?
Nineteen Minutes is an amazing book that will grab your attention from the very beginning and will never let go. After reading this book, you become so much more aware of the things that take place around you on a daily bases that you had either not seen, or ignored. This is one of those books that makes you want to stand up for the little guy and make a difference.
Throughout her life Josie Cormier has always been expected to live up to other people's standards. She puts on a plastic face every morning for all of the other people in the student body who are in on the masquerade. Strutting her glamorous mask down the hallway, people make their own judgments about her, along with the kids who are considered dorks for not joining in on the party. So, because Peter Houghton flaunts his inner self, rather than some manufactured mask made up by society, he is ridiculed and taunted. Because Peter was smaller and more dainty than the ones who bullied him, he would always fall back into the shadows after his daily dose of humiliation and ridicule. But, after things go too far, everything will change as the bulldogs are now suddenly scrounging away from the underdog in fear that would send a chill right through them...literally.
After reading this book, I have unfortunately had to come to terms with the fact that I have been guilty of judging someone for reasons that should not even be taken into account when settling on what kind of person they are. You don't have to be a member of the 'masquerade' to be judged or judge. Whether you are someone that flaunts a plastic image, or someone who flaunts your inner self, you are judged, but you also judge. Sometimes I wonder if everyone realizes that they are constantly being watched to see if they will mess up and flaw their reputation, popular or not. There is a common saying that the 'masquerade' members commonly use, which basically says that someone under them aren't like them. Well, that is an unfortunate lie. Although I understand that it might seem like I am trying to coax you into believing that everyone is one in the same. This is not the case because I believe that everyone is their own person. But, if you were to combine all of the groups, you would find one mass similarity. Everyone judges other people, as well as everyone has other people who judge them.
Nineteen Minutes is an amazing book that will grab your attention from the very beginning and will never let go. After reading this book, you become so much more aware of the things that take place around you on a daily bases that you had either not seen, or ignored. This is one of those books that makes you want to stand up for the little guy and make a difference.
Throughout her life Josie Cormier has always been expected to live up to other people's standards. She puts on a plastic face every morning for all of the other people in the student body who are in on the masquerade. Strutting her glamorous mask down the hallway, people make their own judgments about her, along with the kids who are considered dorks for not joining in on the party. So, because Peter Houghton flaunts his inner self, rather than some manufactured mask made up by society, he is ridiculed and taunted. Because Peter was smaller and more dainty than the ones who bullied him, he would always fall back into the shadows after his daily dose of humiliation and ridicule. But, after things go too far, everything will change as the bulldogs are now suddenly scrounging away from the underdog in fear that would send a chill right through them...literally.
After reading this book, I have unfortunately had to come to terms with the fact that I have been guilty of judging someone for reasons that should not even be taken into account when settling on what kind of person they are. You don't have to be a member of the 'masquerade' to be judged or judge. Whether you are someone that flaunts a plastic image, or someone who flaunts your inner self, you are judged, but you also judge. Sometimes I wonder if everyone realizes that they are constantly being watched to see if they will mess up and flaw their reputation, popular or not. There is a common saying that the 'masquerade' members commonly use, which basically says that someone under them aren't like them. Well, that is an unfortunate lie. Although I understand that it might seem like I am trying to coax you into believing that everyone is one in the same. This is not the case because I believe that everyone is their own person. But, if you were to combine all of the groups, you would find one mass similarity. Everyone judges other people, as well as everyone has other people who judge them.
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