-McCallister Dodds
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
I have one more final in Macroeconomics tomorrow and a 7 page paper on philosophy due Friday! I am so stressed and tired I just wanted to take a break and write up another blog entry. So here it goes...
In my English course this semester we had to read a book called The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls. It is about this amazing woman, Jeannette Walls, who basically goes through hell, well maybe not hell, but a lot more than people could eat on their plate as a young girl. Basically, this lady of such great perseverance was able to withstand her abnormal yet traumatizing years as a child. She pretty much grew up taking care of herself and her family. Although she had two parents they were nowhere close to being the father-mother parental figures most kids have. Instead, the roles were flipped, Jeannette played the mother and father figure while her parents portrayed the role of a little kid with their irresponsibility and immaturity. It is amazing to read about the strength of this lady who overcome such a tough childhood. The quote above says, "Real strength is not just a condition of one's muscle, but a tenderness in one's spirit." Jeannette's strength comes from her heart, and her spirit. She really illustrated a clear image of her strong spirit through her courage to keep going in life. The other quote I felt really portrayed Jeannette as well. The fear of living everyday and having to provide for herself and her family is daunting. But surviving the experience and each day really provided her the strength, courage, and confidence to keep pushing herself in life. Most kids would be shitting in their pants if you ask me, I know I would. She faced this fear, this horror, and realized that what doesn't kill her makes her stronger. Any bump in the road, or any obstacle isn't great enough for this resilient woman to overcome.
Although it is like a girly book I really enjoyed reading it. The book made me realize how thankful I should be for the life I am living and the opportunities I have been given. It really made me appreciate my life more and the people in it especially my mother and father. Thanks mom and dad, I Love You! With that said, I hope that you get around to reading the book, but if not here is a interview with Jeannette Walls about her life and the book. Hope you like it!
EDIT...
I found this on a site that gives more detail of Jeannette Walls' life to help you really grasp what she went through and the book. Make sure you get around to reading the book! Enjoy!
From the jacket...
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.
What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.
For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story.
