Hello everyone! Well, I just finished the Heretics and am on to Sharper your knife.....I know, I am behind; life has been busy, and this is the first chance I have gotten to get on here. I don't think I have much to add that hasn't been said already....Heretics was definitely not a very uplifting book, however it was very interesting (and sad) to see how people lived back then. There are so many luxuries we take for granted today that our grandparents and ancestors before us wouldn't dream of. This was a hard one for me to pick up, and I didn't look forward to reading it like some of the others, but once I start a book I feel compelled to finish it for some reason, except for Marge...I had no problem dropping her...(oops, sorry Linda picked this one! I stand corrected Kay!!) I guess I have to see what happens at the end....
So onto Sharper Your Knife; even though I think everyone has started Francaise now; it is much lighter, but I am with Kerry on her curiousity of how these people do it financially?? I think it's awesome that Kathleen dropped the corporate job and went on to chase her dream, but for some people it just wouldn't be possible....life, family, bills, all get in the way. I admire her for her courage to do so! Especially when the teachers were jerks! I love that she recalls playing restaurant as a child, and has known her passion her entire life. Well more to come. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Only 8 Days away!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
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6 comments:
Knowing one's passion...being true to it is the only way to live an authentic life, even if it means sacrifice. Most of us do not have the courage to do what Kathleen did. She cashed in her retirement funds and probably depended on her boyfriend/husband for support. I got the impression he might have had a lucrative career (except when he took time off to live in Paris!). She was lucky in that regard.
I think the group is pretty much unanimous as to "Heretic's Daughter". Powerful story, but grim.
When something is your passion, and the doors of life open up for you (getting fired)...nothing gets in your way! Keep in mind, she was living in a metro area...no car, no car payments, no car insurance. Renting an apartment...no house payments, no insurance on the house. Living in metro Paris seems like it would have little overhead, apart from the apartment lease, food, and school. Well, and it is Paris. My point being, that it might not have been as expensive as one might think.
Hats off to Kathleen to not let the seemingly heavy obligations of life, money, family, and bills, get in her way. Who knows, she could have been selling puppets on the side like in The Year of the Goat! :)
Welcome to the blog Annelle!
Obligations are only "seemingly" heavy in the absence of responsibility. If one's circumstances allow the pursuit of a passion with little or no risk to oneself or others it is certainly enviable. Katherine's circumstances thus far are unclear to me, but she seems to have been a person of relative means with nothing holding her back. I am speaking as a person of modest means and numerous responsibilities. While it would be possible, it would be irresponsible, and would likely require putting loved ones at risk and/or relying on welfare handouts or hefty loans! I suppose it would be easier for me to be idealistic towards the story if I had not yet felt the weight of personal responsibility.
What a great discussion you three have going!!! Let me add my 2 cents.
"At Risk" BE CAREFUL!!!
One must be quite wise to determine what is really risky in their lives. Sometimes what appears to be the "responsible, adult, reliable" course, actually caries heavy risks. We often disregard, or reject what might have been quite a responsible and wise choice when it appears to have been the "wild" choice or the choice that is more "out of the box", or fun, or "risky". We are usually content to think that that choice would have turned out badly because it appeared less responsible or adult or mainstream or Christian or politically correct. Maybe our safe, reliable and responsible choices are actually the risky ones. They often leave us high and dry as human beings. We are left with shadows. Shadows of lives never lived that may, if we are not onto them, haunt us for our lifetimes. And haunt our children's lives and even their children's lives. Dreams deferred, as Langston Hughes said, often carry health and happiness risks that are very destructive. It's just a destruction that is familiar and accepted by our society. (Heart trouble, alcoholism, ulcers, mental and physical abuse, drug use, disrespect for others, intolerance, depression, the list goes on and on)
One must think around, up, down and sideways about risk.
I have to go feed the goats now... I'll be back. Linda
I'm back.
So, if you want to be a world class phtographer, go do it. If you want to be a marine biologist, go for it. If you want to be a writer, write. Everyday, check with yourself. Ask yourself if you are in the right place, with the right people, doing the right things. If you say yes... you are one of the really lucky ones. If you say no, you need to (as they said in the bean field) "Get to pickin!"
Each of our lives is a work in progress. The "pickin'" seems to just go on and on. What we might have lived for when we were 25 is hooie to us now. What we would have treasured last year, seems foolish and petty this year. Who we loved in high school may or may not still look attractive to us now. Passions shift and morph. Being true to them is a full time job. Knowing what they are is the first,extremely difficult task.
I propose that over the next month, we all add a "My Passions" entry to the blog. I bet even the people we know (like our daughters) may surprise us with their entries.
Isn't this Blog great??? And, Kay, I think your new haircut that Goonie gave you makes you look incredibly like Collette!!
"Life is a banquet and most poor sons of bitches are starving to death!"
A little movie trivia for a snowy afternoon. And, this famous Broadway, and movie quote, seems to sum up the message. LIVE!!
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