Ernest Hemingway

I found some quotes that really reminded me of things said or read in class. Ernest Hemingway said,

"All our words from loose using have lost their edge."
This reminded me of the uslessness of words in emotional situations. Taylor talked of how her students were able to explain epiphanies better than she (or I for that matter) was able to. When trying to explain something such as epiphany or love or anything important in life, we have trouble explaining how we feel. Sometimes, when thinking of perfection too long we lose even the imperfect explaination. As English Literature students, especially ones about to graduate, we realize how pointless words can be. Words, like all things created by humanity, are flawed. The sooner this is realized, the less intellegent we become (I'm only kind of joking here). Ignorance is useful. By knowing more we become less satisfied with what is said and therefore say less.

Here is another quote I found by Hemingway:

"As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary."

We learned in Huraun and the Sea of Stories how important heroes are. The job of a hero is to bring hope and salvation to others. The acts of heroisism aren't something one can grow out of or grow old of. Neither is it something that one can plan. I was at a bar the other day (shocker) and a girl came crying in the bathroom. There were plenty of other girls in the bathroom and I remember thinking, I hope no one is mean to her. Movies have done such an aweful job of portraying women. It is more often than not that women tend to be the villians. However, unlike the movies, in this instance three fourths of the girls went and asked if everything was okay, and the rest were wondering if they could help out without being overbearing. Weither that girl was comforted or not doesn't erase the fact that everyone there wanted to help. It is the job of others who might be having a good day to help those who are experiencing the opposite. Heroes are an important factor in our everyday life. Just as for Huroun in a world of depression he had to find a hero to look up to. In Huroun's case, it was his father, which is a good place to start.

So, why did I bring up Ernest Hemingway when he was nowhere near our subject of conversation. Well, as some of you might know, Ernest Hemingway's son lives in Bozeman. He comes in for dinner quite a bit at the place I work. I was waiting on him and his wife and their two guest the other day when their guest asked me my major. I told him, English Literature and that I was actually a big fan of Mr. Hemingway's father. Mr. Hemingway then replied, "Oh, really, you never told me that." I said "Yes, I didn't want to be bothersom," or something of that nature. He then asked, "Well, what is your favorite novel." I thought about it and told him, "A Farewell to Arms." He smiled and said, "Me too."

I thought that I had just had one of the most privelaged conversations in my whole life. So, ordinarily, I wanted to share it with my bloggers.

The Remembered Gate

We were asked to find a 20 minute lifetime in 4 Quartets. I decided to take my specific section that I was given in the Capstone class and find one in there. I chose the passage that says,

"We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time."

This passage is very important to the concept of the 4 Quartets in its entirety. In East Coker, Eliot says "Old men make great explorers, Here and there does not matter, We must be still and still moving" Eliot's belief that our lives consist of constant exploration is one of knowledge and learning. A person, even an old man, will never stop learning because the world is filled with infinite amounts of knowledge. Thus, old men make great explorers because of their ability to appreciate silence and the knowledge which can be found in the present moment. The younger we are the more we want to travel to new places and conquer new goals. Eliot knows that it doesn't take a different setting to discover to unknown or have an epiphany. Rather the places which a person grew up are never fully known because they're not looked for (another Eliot quote). This is exactly what Eliot is trying to explain in the passage I picked. Only in death will a person arrive to a remembered place, a place that is similar to birth where a person is completely helpless and weak. Unlike birth an older wiser person will understand their place for the first time. In a hospital bed lying and waiting for death a person is fixed between the past and future. Thinking always of better times while anticipating their new adventure in death. It's in those last hours where one can experience a lifetime when they're thinking of all their good and bad moments, yet still carrying the wisdom that their old age granted them.

My List

Here is a list of all the dogs I know whether living or dead and some which I do not yet know but who exist, I am sure, somewhere, non the less. There's Maddie, Patty, Dottie, and dirty Dawn. As well as Rosie Posy beloved mother and friend, Smelly Ellie the king of the job site, Finnius Maximus Maridius, Ella Bella, Barefoot the condemned, and Ginger the Innocent, there's Brandy Wine Bridge, Ruby wants a hamburger, and Jezebel the traitor, Jolene the seductress, Tricks, Kinder Kinderoo, Clara, Coda, and of course, Blinky, Slinky, and Sunny Bunny. Not to mention, Chewy my favorite, Ryder the marker of territories, Nalie Polly Pocket Pooch, Bentley whose home is a 1971 VW van, Diesel the fatstick, Peter snow falls on the ciders, and my future dog Bilbo Baggins the Explorer. Speaking of snow....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhfK98f5S00

Here is a link from Forrest Gump that has my favorite low-brow list. It's when Bubba Gump is telling Forrest just how many kinds of shrimp there is. Enjoy.

Groundhog's Day

We were asked to tell about our groundhog's day, but I will just tell about the part of my day that I really tried to appreciate. A friend and I went hiking at Bridger along the ridge. Although I don't care for hiking mostly because it's hard work, the view is always worth it and the ride down, of course. I took some pictures so hopefully everyone can enjoy it as well.

This picture is looking out eastward from the ridge towards the Crazy's.

This is looking southward at Slushman's.