Reactions to 2nd set of essays

Mike and Erin

“Biography of a Dress”

I found it interesting that my reaction to the story and Erin’s reaction to the story were so different. I had a really hard time getting into this story. It took me forever to read and at the end I was left wondering why I had read it.  Just not one of my favorites.  

“Worlds Collide”

The author tells us what he loves about airports. We get to experience it through his eyes. I have not given a lot of thought to airports. I have been in a few but was always focused on getting where I was going and not on what was happening around me.

“Notes Toward Identifying a Body”

This was not at all what I expected when I heard the title. I was looking forward to a forensic account of identifying a dead body. The back and forth style is interesting, the piece fills like prose poetry.

Jessalyn and Jillian

“The Knife” 

The religious experience that the surgeon has in the operating room is different than the God complex that some surgeon have. He does not feel that he controls life and death, just that he aids it. He does not presume that he will make no mistakes, he is nervous about performing and wants to make sure that things go right.  

“Three Pokes” 

This thought path of a girl growing up is very relatable. The notion that the idea of something is better than the reality of it is very common.

“Cat-like” 

The use of the cats in different times of the writer’s life is a very interesting way to mark the passage of time. The fact that an animal is a running theme in someone’s life is not something that you think of normally.

Karla and Courtney

“Living like Weasels”

This story have simple, in the moment descriptions. The writer is taking inspiration from the animal. I personally have always been inspired by my first dog. She came to us from the pound on Christmas Day. She grew with us and protected us. On the Fourth of July she would have to be put on a chain or inside because she thought the fireworks would hurt us so she tried to put them out with her paws and her mouth. When our other dogs had puppies, she helped take care of them. She knew when one of us was feeling sad and would try to cheer us up. I have always wanted to be like her.

“Difficult Decisions”

This story of a day in the life of a veterinarian is eye opening. You get a glimpse into her thoughts and feelings while she is taking care of other people’s animals. You would not know that she paid for several procedures for others out of her own pocket if she did not let us know. You would just wonder why she did not have the compassion to help out just this one person and animal. You never know what someone else is thinking and going through.

“Children in the Woods”

This is a story about what disappears or changes as you age. Personally, my career goals have changed a lot from when I was a child. I wanted to be a nurse. I wanted to help people. I enjoyed watching them succeed. That goal changed when I realized just how dreadful I was at all things science related. Then I wanted to own my own business or manage a large company. I wanted to be someone important, someone big. Now I am not sure what I want to do, but I know that it is not either of these things.