(Week 5) The Lucky One

One movie that I saw just recently was "The Lucky One" based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. 

"U.S. Marine Sergeant Logan Thibault (Efron) returns from his third tour of duty in Iraq, with the one thing he credits with keeping him alive—a photograph he found of a woman he doesn't even know. Learning her name is Beth (Schilling) and where she lives, he shows up at her door, and ends up taking a job at her family-run local kennel. Despite her initial mistrust and the complications in her life, a romance develops between them, giving Logan hope that Beth could be much more than his good luck charm."

Logan cherishes the picture of Beth so much because he saw it lying in the dust and went to go pick it up. As he was looking at it, a mortar attack destroys the area he had been sitting in before and those who were in that area. After tirelessly asking around to try to find the owner of the picture, he keeps it for himself and regards Beth as his guardian angel.
He returns home to live with his sister in Colorado, but decides to walk all the way to Louisiana because of a local landmark shown in Beth's picture. By asking around, he finds out where Beth lives, but cannot gather the courage to tell her about the picture so she thinks that he is there to apply for a job at her dog kennel.
By working hard,being respectful, and spending time with her son Ben, Logan earns Beth's respect and the two become romantically involved, yet Logan still cannot tell her about the picture. When he is finally able to tell her about it, she develops a strong hate for Logan, but still deeply loves him.

I won't give away any more of the story line, just in case you want to see it for yourself. I love this movie so much because of Logan's character. He so hard working and honest (aside from telling Beth about the picture.) The kind of man who is gentle, quiet, and strong despite all the horrors he witnessed at war.

(Week 4) Memoir

I really struggled with this memoir because the only idea I could think of was to write about a time in my life that was not pleasant. I did not want to go back to that or be forced to write about that just because I couldn't think of anything else to write. I didn't want to open old wounds that I'm trying to heal and I think I got stuck on that. I was feeling sorry for myself that I was going to have a sad memoir because I didn't want that time period to be the summary of my life or my personality.

Luckily I spent a lot of time reflecting on the great things in my life and I realized that I had an awesome childhood. I spent so much time with my cousins and my grandparents that I have tons of stories! It's unbelievable how one bad memory can override your most joyful moments so that you have to dig to pull those moments of happiness back.

I'm about two pages into my memoir draft that is due
TOMORROW, but I know it will work out now because I definitely don't have a shortage of things to write about. I'm also going to try not to stress out too much about this first draft because, like "Shitty First Drafts" said, sometimes you just have to get it out on paper and worry about revising it later.

(Week 3) Barney and Brittany...

I don't remember very much about pre-school, in fact I can only remember about four or five things that happened in that entire year, but even those are foggy. But, there is one incident that I will probably never forget since it's been sixteen years and I still remember it.

I don't think I played with wooden blocks very often, but for some reason I wanted to on this day and it didn't turn out very well. I remember being on the carpet all by myself trying to build a very tall tower, straight up with a single column of the medium sized blocks. It was looking pretty good as I sat back to admire it, but that sense of pride didn't last too long. A bossy girl who was a little bigger and taller than I was with wild, dirty blonde hair approached my tower carrying a purple and green Barney puzzle cover. She didn't say anything to me or even to herself, she just knocked it down with one swing. A was very upset simply because she knocked my tower over and I had worked so hard on it, but that really wasn't the worst part. The blocks tilted my way and littered the carpet all around me. The corner of one of the blocks fell so hard on my thumb that it turned black and blue under my nail almost instantly.
I remember crying, but not because it hurt so bad. I cried mostly because I had to stand next to my teacher as she tried to coax Little Miss Rough-and Tough to apologize to me and she wouldn't. I remember trying to understand why she thought it was ok to ignore what she had done. I tried to understand why she acted the way she did and why her mom ignored it as well when she came to pick up her daughter that afternoon and the teacher told her what had happened.
It's sad to say this, but looking back, I don't think I ever forgave her while she was at our school. I just tried to stay away from her as much as Icame. possibly could. She went to a different school two years later and sometimes I still wonder what kind of person she became.

(Week 2) It's Been a While...

If I'm being entirely honest, I have to say that I haven't read any books that weren't required since High School. It's really too bad because I do love reading, but rather than relaxing with a book I often find myself choosing extra sleep or catching up with friends,when I'm not working or doing homework.
When I was in High School my class had to read The Giver by Lois Lowry. I loved this book because the main character, Jonas, was such an emotionally connected person and I very much relate to that. I also thought it was so interesting that Lowry created an entire "community" in such a way that, while I was reading, I felt like I had lived there my whole life. I thought it depicted a utopia based community very well as far as the consistently beautiful weather, but it also had some very unique characteristics. One of the characteristics that I found interesting was the fact that a loud speaker would constantly remind the community members of the rules if they were doing something wrong. When I began reading the book I thought I might like to live there, but once I heard that I wasn't so sure. I would feel awful if my faults were announced to the whole town!
This book really intrigued me so I looked up some other books by Louis Lowry and I noticed that I actually read one of his books when I was in Grade School and it was one of my favorites! The book that I read was called "Number the Stars." The next book I hope to read is, "Gathering Blue." I have heard that it is a wonderful book and since I already know that I like two of Louis Lowry's books, I am anxious to see if I will enjoy this one as well!

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

by Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back
Of the wind and floats downstream
Till the current ends and dips his wing
In the orange suns rays
And dares to claim the sky.

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage
Can seldom see through his bars of rage
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
Of things unknown but longed for still
And his tune is heard on the distant hill for
The caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
And the trade winds soft through
The sighing trees
And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright
Lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams
His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
His wings are clipped and his feet are tied
So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with
A fearful trill of things unknown
But longed for still and his
Tune is heard on the distant hill
For the caged bird sings of freedom.