Dylan

I'd say someone I respect very much is my big brother, Dylan. He is two years older than me so he is 20. He's living right now with his girlfriend in Logan Square and working as a bike messenger. When we were kids we played together all the time but as he entered the tortured age of 13 he wanted nothing to do with his little sister, so we grew apart. It's not like we fought or anything. In fact, I cant remember a single time where we physically hit each other. We just didn't speak to one another. We were just two kids living in the same house.That started to change when i started high school.


My tastes in everything up until that point were what was popular. I dressed how television told me to and I listened to whatever music was topping the charts. The problem was, however, that because I was never actually enjoying this lifestyle, I followed the crowd improperly and was teased because of it. For some reason, I suppose I'll never know why, Dylan started being my friend again. He started showing me the music he was listening to and even gave me a bunch of clothes. I worshipped my big brother and followed every step he took. (Except being a fantastic musician, he can play the guitar like a maniac but I've never come close to matching his talent in music.) Through him I really found myself. My confidence soared, and it was my brother who made me believe that what other people said about me was meaningless. He Played a huge part in shaping who I am today.

Another reason why I admire my brother is because he really lives his life the way he wants to. After high school he didn't go to college. Instead he moved to Madison where he rode his bike everywhere and met his wonderful girlfriend who he has been with for quite some time now. The summer they met they both hopped on their bicycles and rode across the country to Portland, Oregon. The way he yearns to live every second of his life amazes me. I love the way he appreciates the short life he's been given and refuses to waste a single second. I can only hope that one day I can adopt the same philosophy that he has, and find contentment.



-Grace

Blog Post #1

In our first unit we take a look at our selves and our influences. For this post I am going to ask you about someone you respect. This can be someone famous, a friend, a family member, whoever you respect and have learned from and been shaped by. In 150 or more words, tell everyone about the person you chose and why you chose them. This is due before class on Monday.

My person would probably be Gary Snyder. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet, but I think I respect him more for the way he lives his life. I know a little of how he lives because he writes a lot of essays and those are my favorites. He is a Zen Buddhist and lives a life of simplicity and contemplation. He tries to live in balance with his community and the land. I strive for a similar kind of life. Snyder works at building communities. He is a strong believer in sustainability, not taking any more energy than you give. I know I do not always live up to this, but I hope to, and strive to. Often who we are is who we have been taught to be. We learn from our family, friends, and a myriad of others. Snyder is someone I would like to emulate both in his writing and his life. Here is a poem by him that I particularly enjoy.

Riprap

Lay down these words
Before your mind like rocks.
placed solid, by hands
In choice of place, set
Before the body of the mind
in space and time:
Solidity of bark, leaf, or wall
riprap of things:
Cobble of milky way.
straying planets,
These poems, people,
lost ponies with
Dragging saddles --
and rocky sure-foot trails.
The worlds like an endless
four-dimensional
Game of Go.
ants and pebbles
In the thin loam, each rock a word
a creek-washed stone
Granite: ingrained
with torment of fire and weight
Crystal and sediment linked hot
all change, in thoughts,
As well as things.

Welcome!!

Good to have you here! We will use this blog to respond to a variety of questions and to each other. I am looking forward to the semester and I can't wait to get started!