•9:54 AM
Do you think you have any control over your own destiny? Or are you at the hands of fate?
I have finished Holes, by Louis Sachar. It is a children's novel, and Amazon recommends it for the nine-to-twelve-year-old age group. Caiden has taken an interest in it, and is going to read it next. Do you know how great it is to share a reading experience with your child? Don't get me wrong, it is super fun to read a story to your child, and laugh together or teach something new; but it is a whole new experience when your child hears you talking about something and wants to read it for him/herself. I hope he follows through ...
Holes has been awarded no fewer than twelve awards, and if you search the Internet, you will find that it is used in classrooms across North America. It is one of those books that has found wildly popular success for no particular reason. It is well-written and all of that; and the story is unique and imaginative. But I could not say why it has triumphed over other children's novels.
Stanley Yelnats has been wrongly convicted of stealing some shoes, and the Judge sentences him to eighteen months at Camp Green Lake. He figures it will be a great way to serve his time because, since his family is poor, Stanley has never been to summer camp. However, he quickly learns that Camp Green Lake is the not the type of camp he imagined.
The boys in the camp spend their days digging holes in the hard clay dirt. It is thought that if you force a bad boy to dig one hole every day in the hot sun, he will turn into a good boy.
Stanley quickly figures out that there is more to digging the holes than trying to reform the boys. They are looking for something. And, if you want to know what they are looking for, you will have to read the story yourself. Or, make it required reading for one of your children. They'll like it ... I promise.
According to Dictionary.com, fate is defined as that which is inevitably predetermined, or one's destiny. Did you know that "luck" is listed as synonym for fate. Luck is defined as the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities. I have never thought of luck and fate as interchangeable terms; should I?
Luck is a term used frequently in Holes. Stanley grew up being told that his family's chronic bad luck could be blamed on his "no-good-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." Can luck determine your fate? Is your fate determined by your luck? Do you think that you will end up in the same place in life, no matter which path you take? No matter what kind of luck you have?
I believe that life is series of decisions, and your path will be determined by the choices you make. And, I do think that no matter what choices you make, you will land in the same place eventually. And by "place", I am not referring to a particular location, but rather a state of mind. I was meant to have children ... I really believe that. I chose to aggressively pursue them, seeking medical intervention and understanding. However, I ended up pregnant (3 times) without the help of any medical professionals. I believe that I would have ended up pregnant whether I went through all those treatments or not. It was fate. And having children helped to shape the person I have become. Unfortunately, sometimes it is easier to see your fate in hindsight.
I believe that if I am to stand at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and gaze up at its amazing beauty because it is important for my personal journey, then it will happen. Maybe not next year, but sometime. But what are the things I am meant to do with or in my life, that I have not even thought about? Good or bad, I look forward to doing them. No, wait ... I look forward to the good because I really feel like I've had my share of bad.
In this respect, I feel that Stanley would have had the opportunity to meet Zero at some point in his life - whether it was at Camp Green Lake or somewhere else. Zero is another boy at the Camp, and the two boys' families share a sorted past. A past that must be rectified.
All the boys at Camp Green Lake have nicknames ... nobody is known by their "real" names. Stanley becomes Caveman; Hector is known as Zero. There is Zigzag, Magnet, X-Ray, Armpit, Squid. The boy who once slept on Stanley's cot was known as Barf Bag ... not the person's bed I would want to take over.
Some nicknames can be fun ... like Jonesy. When handed their team jersey, I believe all boys are also christianed with their new hockey name. It's easy to do ... just add "y" to the end of your last name ... Shawsy, Burkey, Velby. However, there have been exceptions, like the way St. Pierre became Saints; one guy was known as Chaz; still another was known as Body. Hold on ... us girls came up with that nickname; and it was more of a code name as opposed to a nickname. But still, that was how he was known. Sometimes, while watching a boring NHL game, I'll try to guess the players nicknames ... this is how the Jones' entertain themselves on a Saturday night in the dead of winter. Nicknames with a side of cold beer - you just can't buy that kind of fun, can you?
But sometimes, nicknames can be hurtful. Zero actually got his nickname because his last name was Zeroni, but everyone assumes it is because he's worthless. And because he is not very smart. When I was High School, I had a friend whose nickname was Pie ... because everyone got a piece. Ugh. She was a really good friend, and although I had absolutely nothing to do with generating this nickname, I felt ashamed of it for her. It was with great hesitancy that I used it. But you know, although it must have really hurt her, she handled it with panache. I would have cried and cried, forcing everyone to use it behind my back, giggling. But not my friend; she used the nickname herself and she made it funny. She also made it okay to use the nickname. So we ALL called her Pie. And it became just a word, like any other name; it got to the point where I didn't even think of the meaning behind it when I used it. But I'm sure she never forgot. I'm sorry I ever used it ... I should have stood by what I knew was right. But I was seventeen; what can I tell you?
I never had a nickname, except DPC ... Drug Prevention Centre. I don't recall preaching, but I must have. To be honest, I never felt pressured to try drugs; although I was given the opportunity several times. I would just politely decline and move to a different area of the party. And, I really didn't care if my friends chose not to decline ... but obviously, I must have made my feelings (on the subject) clear. I didn't take offence to the nickname, and don't think there was any maliciousness intended in using the name. The girls only used it when they were making plans that they knew I would not be interested in.
"Oh ... here comes the DPC ... we'll talk about it later ..."
It is easy to speak loud and clear about something when you are confident and/or knowledgable on the topic. When your opinion is strong. Or when your mother has preached and preached until you just believe what she has told you as fact.
I have done this to my kids, too. Never ride a motorcycle. Ever. Never, ever smoke a cigarette. Never try drugs. And, you have to nineteen to try a beer. The first two will be the easiest to enforce ...
Did you know that Stanley Yelnats is the same spelled backwards as it forwards? The fancy term for this is palindrome. I have spent a stupid amount of time trying to figure the purpose of using a palindrome. I cannot find anyone who has an answer to that question; so, I can only assume that there is no reason. Other than to make people point it out.
Maybe it was my destiny to point that out ... that there is no purpose in using a palindrome. For some reason, in my personal journey, it was important for me to learn that.
Let's hope there is more to my journey ...
Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries, is next ... looking forward to an adult story ...
I have finished Holes, by Louis Sachar. It is a children's novel, and Amazon recommends it for the nine-to-twelve-year-old age group. Caiden has taken an interest in it, and is going to read it next. Do you know how great it is to share a reading experience with your child? Don't get me wrong, it is super fun to read a story to your child, and laugh together or teach something new; but it is a whole new experience when your child hears you talking about something and wants to read it for him/herself. I hope he follows through ...
Holes has been awarded no fewer than twelve awards, and if you search the Internet, you will find that it is used in classrooms across North America. It is one of those books that has found wildly popular success for no particular reason. It is well-written and all of that; and the story is unique and imaginative. But I could not say why it has triumphed over other children's novels.
Stanley Yelnats has been wrongly convicted of stealing some shoes, and the Judge sentences him to eighteen months at Camp Green Lake. He figures it will be a great way to serve his time because, since his family is poor, Stanley has never been to summer camp. However, he quickly learns that Camp Green Lake is the not the type of camp he imagined.
The boys in the camp spend their days digging holes in the hard clay dirt. It is thought that if you force a bad boy to dig one hole every day in the hot sun, he will turn into a good boy.
Stanley quickly figures out that there is more to digging the holes than trying to reform the boys. They are looking for something. And, if you want to know what they are looking for, you will have to read the story yourself. Or, make it required reading for one of your children. They'll like it ... I promise.
According to Dictionary.com, fate is defined as that which is inevitably predetermined, or one's destiny. Did you know that "luck" is listed as synonym for fate. Luck is defined as the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities. I have never thought of luck and fate as interchangeable terms; should I?
Luck is a term used frequently in Holes. Stanley grew up being told that his family's chronic bad luck could be blamed on his "no-good-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather." Can luck determine your fate? Is your fate determined by your luck? Do you think that you will end up in the same place in life, no matter which path you take? No matter what kind of luck you have?
I believe that life is series of decisions, and your path will be determined by the choices you make. And, I do think that no matter what choices you make, you will land in the same place eventually. And by "place", I am not referring to a particular location, but rather a state of mind. I was meant to have children ... I really believe that. I chose to aggressively pursue them, seeking medical intervention and understanding. However, I ended up pregnant (3 times) without the help of any medical professionals. I believe that I would have ended up pregnant whether I went through all those treatments or not. It was fate. And having children helped to shape the person I have become. Unfortunately, sometimes it is easier to see your fate in hindsight.
I believe that if I am to stand at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and gaze up at its amazing beauty because it is important for my personal journey, then it will happen. Maybe not next year, but sometime. But what are the things I am meant to do with or in my life, that I have not even thought about? Good or bad, I look forward to doing them. No, wait ... I look forward to the good because I really feel like I've had my share of bad.
In this respect, I feel that Stanley would have had the opportunity to meet Zero at some point in his life - whether it was at Camp Green Lake or somewhere else. Zero is another boy at the Camp, and the two boys' families share a sorted past. A past that must be rectified.
All the boys at Camp Green Lake have nicknames ... nobody is known by their "real" names. Stanley becomes Caveman; Hector is known as Zero. There is Zigzag, Magnet, X-Ray, Armpit, Squid. The boy who once slept on Stanley's cot was known as Barf Bag ... not the person's bed I would want to take over.
Some nicknames can be fun ... like Jonesy. When handed their team jersey, I believe all boys are also christianed with their new hockey name. It's easy to do ... just add "y" to the end of your last name ... Shawsy, Burkey, Velby. However, there have been exceptions, like the way St. Pierre became Saints; one guy was known as Chaz; still another was known as Body. Hold on ... us girls came up with that nickname; and it was more of a code name as opposed to a nickname. But still, that was how he was known. Sometimes, while watching a boring NHL game, I'll try to guess the players nicknames ... this is how the Jones' entertain themselves on a Saturday night in the dead of winter. Nicknames with a side of cold beer - you just can't buy that kind of fun, can you?
But sometimes, nicknames can be hurtful. Zero actually got his nickname because his last name was Zeroni, but everyone assumes it is because he's worthless. And because he is not very smart. When I was High School, I had a friend whose nickname was Pie ... because everyone got a piece. Ugh. She was a really good friend, and although I had absolutely nothing to do with generating this nickname, I felt ashamed of it for her. It was with great hesitancy that I used it. But you know, although it must have really hurt her, she handled it with panache. I would have cried and cried, forcing everyone to use it behind my back, giggling. But not my friend; she used the nickname herself and she made it funny. She also made it okay to use the nickname. So we ALL called her Pie. And it became just a word, like any other name; it got to the point where I didn't even think of the meaning behind it when I used it. But I'm sure she never forgot. I'm sorry I ever used it ... I should have stood by what I knew was right. But I was seventeen; what can I tell you?I never had a nickname, except DPC ... Drug Prevention Centre. I don't recall preaching, but I must have. To be honest, I never felt pressured to try drugs; although I was given the opportunity several times. I would just politely decline and move to a different area of the party. And, I really didn't care if my friends chose not to decline ... but obviously, I must have made my feelings (on the subject) clear. I didn't take offence to the nickname, and don't think there was any maliciousness intended in using the name. The girls only used it when they were making plans that they knew I would not be interested in.
"Oh ... here comes the DPC ... we'll talk about it later ..."
It is easy to speak loud and clear about something when you are confident and/or knowledgable on the topic. When your opinion is strong. Or when your mother has preached and preached until you just believe what she has told you as fact.
I have done this to my kids, too. Never ride a motorcycle. Ever. Never, ever smoke a cigarette. Never try drugs. And, you have to nineteen to try a beer. The first two will be the easiest to enforce ...
Did you know that Stanley Yelnats is the same spelled backwards as it forwards? The fancy term for this is palindrome. I have spent a stupid amount of time trying to figure the purpose of using a palindrome. I cannot find anyone who has an answer to that question; so, I can only assume that there is no reason. Other than to make people point it out.
Maybe it was my destiny to point that out ... that there is no purpose in using a palindrome. For some reason, in my personal journey, it was important for me to learn that.
Let's hope there is more to my journey ...
Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries, is next ... looking forward to an adult story ...
1 comments:
I'll be interested in hearing if Caiden reads this book. I hope he does --- it sounds very thought-provoking. Maybe I'll borrow it when he's done!