Of dogs and people
I've had the pleasure of re-reading Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men with my youngest son. He's only just turned 12, and I know I won't have many moments like this left with him. (It's been years since the oldest has snuggled up to me to read To Kill a Mockingbird.) Both books have their uncomfortable moments: if you've read the books, you know the word I'm talking about. It did give us a good opportunity to talk about racism and how language has been used to diminish and demoralize people. Ultimately, both stories are simply wonderful.
Next, we borrowed the dvd from our local library and watched it as a family. TeenGuy abandoned the Xbox to sit with us. I expected I'd be in tears at the end of the film, when George has to make a painful decision: track Lenny down and turn him in to the authorities (placing him in a situation that he cannot comprehend and leaving him at the mercy of untold cruelties), or put a gun to Lenny's head and pull the trigger.
What got me, however, was the actor who played Candy, the one-handed ranch worker. The morning after his dog is shot by Carlson, Candy is outside feeding the chickens. He knows his dog is dead. After all, he agreed that it was time: the dog was old, he smelled, he was sick and in pain. Still, out of habit, he looks around for the fellow.
That broke my heart. It reminded me of how lost I felt when we had to put our little mutt Heidi to sleep. In unguarded moments I looked for her. Rationally, I knew she was dead. I was there when the vet made the injection. But I longed for her presence, against all rationality. I still do.
So, I broke into sobs and had to leave the room for awhile. The menfolk waited patiently. And at the end of the movie, I sat dry-eyed while Sport buried his head into my neck, crying silently at the loss of innocent Lenny.
10 comments:
Thanks for letting us peer into what I'm sure will be a treasured family moment. I was reminded of a time when my father had to take our wounded collie to the vet to put her down. When he returned I saw my dad as I had never seen him before. He was totally broken. My relationship with my dad changed that day because he let down his guard for just a moment and became human to me. It wouldn't be the last time, but it was the first.
omg!!!!! i'm sobbing!!!!! they still cry at 12. eight more years at least. my sully is too good at sucking it up now. =/ what a priceless, precious moment for any mother.
You are such an insightful person. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. While reading about TeenGuy I have a slight understanding because at times when I look at DQ I see a young woman. It is quite disconcerting at times to see this beautiful young woman and think I once held her as a baby. Where did all the time go?
GOOD WRITEUP
I just read both books in class, amazing books! it was also ucomfortable to say the word so our class agreed that we would say blank instead of ****** because that word is very offensive to all races. I just wanted to say thank you for speaking to your child about this :)
Your book reviews are excellent John Steinbeck and Harper Lee would have been proud of you.Bravo!!!!!
Raymond.
Toronto is a diverse and vibrant cosmopolitan of the world. It has throngs of tourists visiting because of its unique culture, architecture, festivals and the entertainment it offers. Book your Toronto Flights with Crystal Travel and enjoy your holiday in this vibrant city.
Cheap Flights Tickets | Cheap Flights to Miami | Cheap flights to Los Angeles
Newports Cigarettesfour: Circumvention risk It is known that "reveres Nepal attains Canada" the micro movie "the language road" the plan through a series of conformity dissemination in less than 2 month-long promoted times, attracted has surpassed 80,000 The strip user publishes own "the language road" the plan Newport Cigarettes;
"The language road" the plan has surpassed Newport Cigarettes Website results in the google search key word, demonstrated the conformity dissemination has formed formidable Media influence Newport Coupons; In the socialized platform, "reveres Nepal to attain Canada" the whisky official micro less than 2000 bean or sweet potato starch noodles to Cheap Newports rapidly abundantly before the active political line to the close Cheap Newport Cigarettes people , disseminated in the time to be related the video frequency micro abundantly always to retransmit has surpassed 20,000 times, the cover crowd has surpassed 5,000,000, the micro abundant platform as well as the exterior platform always broadcast the quantity to surpass 10,000,000 times Newport Cigarettes.
Obviously, " Marlboro Lights Nepal attained Canada" the micro movie Newport Cigarettes "the language road" the plan coverage Newport Cigarettes Official Website, the influence, the dissemination strength to obtain the quite big success. However, The tobacco brand as a result of own particularity, is impossible to look like the foreign wine class brand to carry on great writer's conformity dissemination like this, in the marketing the tobacco brand needs at "the micro movie" Must dodge the risk, the discrete conduct, argues vigorously the risk falls lowly.
In brief, regarding "the micro Discount Cigarettes With Virginia Stamp" this kind is the advertisement, but the non-advertisement, is a movie but the non-movie, is situated between the advertisement and movie's new thing, tobacco brand Might as well may hold the point of view which studies to attempt Newports, can perhaps for the tobacco brand dissemination unexpected Newports Cigarettes Website.
YouTube Video Marketing services is necessary for your videos. It helps to get rank on first page at YouTube and get ample amount of visitors on your videos. YouTube video marketing services
Great post and thanks for share.I appreciate your post. Please check out my site BT password reset
Post a Comment