10 Years Back

In fine sister bonding, I dug out an early assignment to my English 1A class to show Suzi who's started her illustrious Merced College career this week. I'd run across the other day when weeding out old college papers and the post-it-note from the teacher caught my eye. It ran as follows:

8-21-03 (yes, I'm dating myself)

"Nicole,

Welcome to Merced College. You may need awhile to feel settled in as you make the transition from high school. Anyone who voluntarily reads Ivanhoe must really love to read!

Thanks for your comments."

(Suzi says Ivanhoe has to go in italics 'cause its the name of a book. Truthfully I forgot MLA format as soon as I possibly could. My poor English teacher would weep).

Naturally, this made me curious to what I actually wrote, and why in the world I mentioned Ivanhoe. I mean I like the book, but unless I had just been reading it, I have no idea why I would mention it. Sadly, I still have no idea because I don't have the answers to the actual survey, however assignment it was stuck to had some interesting, entertaining answers of it's own.

For those who didn't know me at that time, here is a glimpse of Nicole Alvernaz, barely 18, at the beginning of her college education, typed word for word. I even left the spelling the same.

6. Make a list of at least ten things that you are curious about:

I am curious of what my major is, how my grades will be in college, and will I attend a four year university.  If I do continue my education where will [I] continue it.

I am curious to know when I will finally get my licence. I wonder what color my parents are going to paint the knew car. 

I desire to know how car engines and other things work.

I am curious about what went on in my grandfathers life.

Sometimes I wonder what goes on in my baby sisters head. [That would have been Heidi].

Most of all I am curious to know what my next meal will be. 

It's nice to know, that no matter the passage of time, some things remain the same. I know the answer to some of these questions, others I may have given up on, like Heidi's head, but I still can't spell and I still wonder about food. 

Copy Cat

http://godlovesleila.blogspot.com/2013/08/life-stinks-by-nicole.html

Dang right I'm being a copy cat. Since I wrote it I can re-post it. But for those of you who already have seen this, which is most of you, an extra nugget.

A quote for digestion, told to Roy Hobbs in The Natural. “I believe we live two lives. The one we learn with and the one we live with after that.” 

My Blog is Making Me Face Palm

I hate to say this, and they will probably hate me if they ever find out, but some of my brethren are anime freaks. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Despite what some of them try to claim in ridiculous fashion that, “they’ve seen the least, and they don’t know what you’re talking about…”

The bug apparently bit in college, I’m not sure what started it, but it became very infections. When I found out I said “WHAT?!?” I’ve never desired to watch it; the drawings themselves made me dislike it and the few random episodes I watched with a friend I didn’t really appreciate. I mean it was ok, but not really my cup of tea.

But as time went my siblings started nagging me to watch it, I didn’t want to, but they were inviting me in so, in solidarity, decided to give it a try. I wouldn’t call myself a “fan”, (of course some may say I’m simply in denial), but true confession, I’ve actually found myself enjoying it some. (Insert face palm here). 

I have now seen enough episodes that I understand why people like it. It’s because if you can get past the drawings and silliness, anime has a lot of depth to at least the ones I’ve seen. (Unfortunately some of the series are very long. Very, very long, unending as it were, like the Wheel of Time, but it does allow for a lot of character development).

Most of the characters have pain somewhere in their back story. You may not know it at first, they may be the “privileged” or “lucky” one when first introduced; an “antagonist” to the main character who’s trying to overcome the crazy odds, (the main character always has something tragic in their story). But as the tale unfolds, you learn most characters have pain. The stories are generally along these lines: No family, a loved one has died, they are ostracized in fear, they never felt loved, they’ve failed to live up to expectations, they’ve become cynical and jaded, they are rejected, want revenge for the hurt, they have no talent and just aren’t quite good enough.  

They are trying to find somewhere they fit in, to be accepted, and that’s the other half of the show. Someone reaching out to them, making them feel valued. Whether it’s a bad guy who twists that affection and warps the person (usually as a child) or the hero reaching out and “rescuing” people from the darkness and solitude.

In essence, anime depicts living in community with people who care about you despite your quirks, (and some of characters have some really, really annoying, borderline disturbing quirks), who you might fight with, but when push comes to shove they’ve got your back, who challenge you to excellence and encourage you to go beyond your breaking point to get stronger.  

It’s a reminder of people’s stories may not be what you think. Everyone has baggage they carry with them, some is just darker than others. People crave community; everyone wants to be accepted. In short, it’s a picture of “the Church”. 

Don't believe me, I can't blame you. But I can challenge you, watch a few episodes and see. You might be surprised at what you discover. 

Oh and for the record, if you do try it and don't like it it's ok, really. In this I will support you fully.