Family

  Family is a pair or group of people who will surpass their own respective limits for one another. These people will stick together no matter what. They don't need to be the people you're related to through your bloodline, but the people you're related to because of how much time you spend with one another. If someone is feeling down, you go to your family. If you're feeling great, you do the same. Most lives revolve around families. And among around the whole world, no two families are the same. That's what makes them great, they have their similarities, but they all still have their differences. It's also important to remember there's no perfect family. In Betty Smith's novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and the essay named "Stone Soup" written by Barbara Kingsolver, both authors do a great job in their efforts to showcase the meaning and purpose of family.

  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn emphasizes the importance and how necessary family is. A great example of how Betty Smith introduces this is the following quote. "'I heard some neighbors whispering. They said you won't look at your father because he wasn't a good father to you.' 'He was a good father,' Francie said fiercely. (Smith 288)" Right before this conversation took place, the children's beloved father died. This scene takes place at the funeral soon after. The typical ideal version of a father that the public sees is far from their father, Johnny Nolan. He was a highly affected from his addiction to alcohol. Through this, these kids looked past that and loved him just as they would if he was a perfect man. That's a special lesson for all families, to love your family no matter what. The book also writes this conversation between pregnant mother and daughter. "'Do you like me, Mama?' ' I'd be a funny person, wouldn't I, if I didn't like my children.' (Smith 330)" This conversation may seem like just a normal family talk, but it was important to the young lady. She thinks that her mother doesn't love her as much as her brother, which is true, so this meant a lot to her. All families should know how important each member is and how they are all a team and need to cooperate and work together.

  

  The essay Stone Soup written by Barbara Kingsolver really captures the importance of family and understanding each other through the tough times. The accomplished writer wrote "Families change, and remain the same. (Kingsolver, 2)" That phrase is essential to have a happy family. Over time, things change, and families have to deal with that and work it out as a whole. The critically acclaimed author also states "To judge a family's value by its tidy symmetry is to purchase a book for its cover. (Kingsolver, 19)" This means that it doesn't matter what the cultural norm is of your time. To hastily react to a family who do things differently and label them as "weird" or a "bad" family is completely irrational. Kingsolver truly writes the meaning of family in Stone Soup.

  All through life, family can guide you to your next stop on your next journey.  Good or bad, you can always come to them for help or advice, and you should return the favor when the time comes. You should love your family no matter what they are going through or what they've done to you. Working through problems is something you have to deal with as a family. Remember, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or says is the right way to do something, because life is different for everyone. Family is the thing that keeps everyone going.

  

Sacredness of the Ordinary

Baseball, to many, is boring. But to me, it's a compelling mind game with endless strategies and game plans. Never have I met someone who really enjoys the sport like I do. As long as I can remember, I've been a fanatic. Playing or viewing, it doesn't matter, it's just something I love. I'd call my self a fan of the ballgame in general. But, most of all, I am a through and through a Boston Red Sox fan.

The past couple years I've really developed my enthusiasm for the great game. So many people don't see the same thing I see. "It's too long" or "It's boring" is something good number of people say. I couldn't tell you what draws me to a fairly unpopular sport in today's youth. In my eyes, it is the least boring sport. You could get lost in all of the possibilities and crucial decisions in each game that is played. So many options I like to think of how great and challenging it would be to coach or work in the front office of a professional team.

This passion of mine is taken from my dad. I'm not sure where he gets his love of the game from, but I'm glad he's passed this on. Too bad he had to wait around 40 years to get the pleasure of viewing his hometown hero 2004 Red Sox take home the championship. He always tells me how lucky I am to be able to see the dynasty they have put on the last decade or so. Missing a Sox game is like a sin for us, but we keep each other updated, even through the rough times of recent.

I don't remember much of my early years of my baseball career. One thing I remember is saying that I wanted to be a professional player in 1st grade. Also, I remember that I didn't really enjoy it until I was 10 or 11 years old. That was when I started making improvements with my swing. It always seemed like I was on the worst team in little league. A few years ago my team didn't even have a win throughout the whole season. If that's not unlucky, I don't know what is. I just had to get used to it, and it really didn't bother me too much back then.

Now, here I am, wondering where all of the scouts are at my games. Don't they know I am making the MLB? In all seriousness, I still play baseball in the spring and really just try to have fun and try hard when I play nowadays. It pains me every time I strike out, knowing exactly what I did wrong and how I need to fix that for the next at-bat.

When I watch a game, I see it differently than most would. I look at it in more of a complex way. There is more than meets the eye. I like to think ahead and predict what the next move is, like in a pinch hit or a bunt situation. I guess I see some Sacredness in the Ordinary.