In+The+Real+World

 


 * Melissa's Thoughts: **

In first grade, we had the task of making our own bald eagle for a presentation. I was very excited to be a part of this and worked hard all on my own to make this. The day came for us all to bring our eagles, and I was so upset because mine looked worse than everyone else's. The whole day I felt as though I had done a terrible job and actually was embarrassed by my eagle. When I got home, I cried to my parents explaining the fact that mine was terrible, and at that point they solved the problem. I learned later that night that all the other students had their parents make it for them, that's why theirs looked so good. At that moment I relaxed because I had worked on this myself, didn't have my parents do my work. 

Although this is a fairly insignificant event in my past, it stands out to me even today. These kids have to do things all on their own, and many times get let down by this fact. This is just a simple aspect of my life where I have felt let down in the midst of all my own hard work. The way I felt in this situation can slightly relate to the way that these children feel fairly often in the lives they are living. **

Cate's Thoughts: **

Freshman year I had worked so hard to make varsity swimming. I was so so excited. My whole life my grandpa was always talking about how great of an athlete my younger cousin was. I finally thought that he would be proud of what I had done athletically. When I called him up to tell him he said good job and everything, but then he started talking about my cousin and how well he was doing in soccer. I was so crushed. My accomplishment felt meaningless and stupid compared to "a real sport" like soccer. Even this year when I made varsity cross country along with varsity swimming, my cousin making junior varsity soccer seemed more important. Only recently did I realize that I didn't need my grandpa to be proud of me in order for my accomplishments to be official. I now focus on what I want and can be proud of myself rather than relying on somebody else for praise. This relates to //The Glass Castle// because Jeanette and all the other children eventually had to find their own forms of happiness, and had to stop relying on their parents for their emotional and physical needs. 

**Jordan’s Thoughts:** After reading the part where Jeannette and all their siblings struggle to find the strength to turn down their parents when they need a place to stay in New York City it reminded me of not one specific person, but a type of person I personally struggle with daily. They type of person that takes advantage of the love you may have for them. The wrong they do seems miniscule in comparison to the little things they do that seem to take your breath away. In your eyes they’re perfect and although they may hurt you, you forgive them, because without even begging or speaking, they promise you more. The reason I believe these empty promises is because I want to believe them, I want them to be sorry more than they actually are. All the kids forgive their parents because they want more, and their trust has been used against them. When the parents mooch of them and refuse to make a change the kids still accept their words as truth despite the lack of physical proof of what they say. Reading about their dad’s empty promises of a better tomorrow reminds me of my own tribulations, and how you have to let people fall on their own otherwise they’ll always be dragging you down in attempts to stay up.

This song reminds me of times and people in my life who have let me down. People who promise to do better and try harder and only end up pushing me farther down a lonely hole. The song is about how a little bit of love gives you frail hope of something better. It reminds me of how I hold on to tiny slivers of love and convince myself that they make up for larger let downs. It proves that //**sometimes it takes more strength to let go than it does to hold on. **// __Skinny Love__ by Bon Iver Come on skinny love just last the year Pour a little salt we were never here My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

I tell my love to wreck it all Cut out all the ropes and let me fall My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Right in the moment this order's tall

I told you to be patient I told you to be fine I told you to be balanced I told you to be kind In the morning I'll be with you But it wI'll be holding all the tickets And you'll be owning all the fines

Come on skinny love what happened here Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

I told you to be patient I told you to be fine I told you to be balanced I told you to be kind Now all your love is wasted? Then who the hell was I? Now I'm breaking at the britches And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind? ill be a different "kind" I'll be holding all the tickets And you'll be owning all the fines

Come on skinny love what happened here Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

I told you to be patient I told you to be fine I told you to be balanced I told you to be kind Now all your love is wasted? Then who the hell was I? Now I'm breaking at the britches And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind?