Since I watched an amazing comeback game in Husker football last night, it seems appropriate that I talk about sports this week. When I first thought of that topic, I pushed it out of my mind, thinking there was nothing profound or interesting I could say about football, but after some lazy Sunday musings, I have changed my mind.
I have never been an athlete. Or anything close to one. The only two sports I have ever enjoyed are swimming and volleyball and only at the recreational level. I guess I've never had that competitive passion. Or love of running. Or any sort of coordination. Most of the time, the idea of playing basketball or tennis or even golf just makes me groan. I'd rather read or take a nice, relaxing, VERY SLOW walk.
But the spirit of watching a sport is irresistible. Last night I stood for hours on end, shouting and fist pumping and giving high fives. There is no other feeling like that. Every time Wisconsin crept toward our end zone, my heart beat against my rib cage with nervousness and when Martinez threw a pass I would practically fly off the bleachers with it. I actually ended up hugging people around me I'd never met.
Football is my favorite sport to watch, but this year I have found many others to enjoy too. I was wrapped up in the Olympics and glued to the couch during the NBA finals. And how awesome was Andy Murray's win over Djokovic at the U.S. open? Sports bring us together and lift our hearts.
I am in a reporting class right now in which I am required to read newspapers every day. And let me tell you, news, whether world, national, or local, can be very depressing. I once heard a quote by Earl Warren that stated, "
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records
people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures." I think this is true. Failures are newsworthy in most types of news, but sports are about celebrating accomplishments. I think all sports require a sense of pride and community, even if you never play a game.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Remembering
Almost everyone has been asked the question, "If you could have any super power what would it be?" And most people answer flying or invisibility or super strength or mind reading. And those are all powers I'd like, don't get me wrong. But do you want to know the power that always flashes through my mind? Super memory.
I know it sounds strange. No one wants to remember everything. But wouldn't it be nice? No more moments on that test where the answer is at the tip of your tongue but won't come out on paper. No more awkward moments with a face that you can't name. Seeing every moment with the ones you have lost in perfect detail. I wish memory was like a filing cabinet that I could go back in time and look at. But it's not. It's the most unpredictable and confounding thing in the world to me.
In the book Bitterblue by Kritin Cashore that I finished this week, the main character talked about memory. She said, "Things disappear without your permission then come back without your permission. And sometimes they came back incomplete and warped."
I will often walk around campus and see a car drive by or a lilac bush or even someone who looks a little like someone I know and a memory comes flooding back into my head out of nowhere. It's like I have all these movie reels stuck in the folds of my brain and one image or word can unlock them. But what makes them lock up in the first place? Often they are beautiful memories that I wish I had with me always but they won't. They will fade away like dreams in the morning.
I like the part of the quote that says they can come back incomplete and warped too. Memories are so easily influenced by stories others tell or meshing many memories together. Sometimes I have no idea what of my past is truly remembered and what i something my own mind constructed.
You know, I can remember what I ate for breakfast almost all through 3rd grade, but I can't even remember my breakfast from yesterday. And I have a memory of singing to Dixie Chicks in the car with my mom but I have no idea what vehicle we were riding in or if anyone else was with us. I think Maya Angelou said it best. "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel."You may be a visual learner or an auditory learner or a kinetic learner but as far as memory goes, what sticks the longest is the feelings you have. And maybe that's what matters most anyway.
I know it sounds strange. No one wants to remember everything. But wouldn't it be nice? No more moments on that test where the answer is at the tip of your tongue but won't come out on paper. No more awkward moments with a face that you can't name. Seeing every moment with the ones you have lost in perfect detail. I wish memory was like a filing cabinet that I could go back in time and look at. But it's not. It's the most unpredictable and confounding thing in the world to me.
In the book Bitterblue by Kritin Cashore that I finished this week, the main character talked about memory. She said, "Things disappear without your permission then come back without your permission. And sometimes they came back incomplete and warped."
I will often walk around campus and see a car drive by or a lilac bush or even someone who looks a little like someone I know and a memory comes flooding back into my head out of nowhere. It's like I have all these movie reels stuck in the folds of my brain and one image or word can unlock them. But what makes them lock up in the first place? Often they are beautiful memories that I wish I had with me always but they won't. They will fade away like dreams in the morning.
I like the part of the quote that says they can come back incomplete and warped too. Memories are so easily influenced by stories others tell or meshing many memories together. Sometimes I have no idea what of my past is truly remembered and what i something my own mind constructed.
You know, I can remember what I ate for breakfast almost all through 3rd grade, but I can't even remember my breakfast from yesterday. And I have a memory of singing to Dixie Chicks in the car with my mom but I have no idea what vehicle we were riding in or if anyone else was with us. I think Maya Angelou said it best. "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel."You may be a visual learner or an auditory learner or a kinetic learner but as far as memory goes, what sticks the longest is the feelings you have. And maybe that's what matters most anyway.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Celebrating Life
While last week, I felt like I had nothing to write about, this week I have an overabundance. I have watched four movies and read two books just this week and, being as I am very opinionated, I could discuss any one of them. But I think I'll touch on a few things I mused about after watching Sophie's Choice on Monday night for my honors seminar.
First of all, during the movie a writer pleads to Sophie, "Tell me the truth. I want to understand." And Sophie replies, "The truth? It does not make it easier to understand."
I immediately scribbled that down on my notebook because I knew as soon as it came out of her mouth that it was true. I hear about things going on in the world all the time that don't make sense. Sometimes reality is harder to grasp than all the fiction I read and watch in movies. I think the real people of the world make the greatest stories and, like the writer in the movie, I hope maybe I can capture that human spirit.
Next was something my honors professor said before we even watched the movie. He said, "This is a very sad movie, but I think it is also a movie celebrating life. That sounds weird but when terrible things happen, we have to find ways to appreciate life again. Look for that." And there were many scenes in the movie where I was able to feel that joy of living in between moments of sorrow. In the last line in the film, the writer says, " I let go the rage and sorrow for Sophie and Nathan... and for the many others who were but a few of the butchered and betrayed and martyred children of the Earth. When I could finally see again, I saw the first rays of daylight reflected in the murky river. This was not judgment day. Only morning; morning, excellent and fair."
So I left the seminar thinking about life and I want to end this post by sharing some times this week when I really felt like I was "living." The five most "alive" moments of the week.
1. Holding my 2 year old cousin's tiny flower petal of a hand and running through the grass as fast as her little legs would go. We were track stars.
2. Playing a game at my aunt's 50th birthday party and laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. And knowing my family was joining me.
3. Curling up on the couch and watching yet another scary movie with friends.
4. Running back to my apartment through the rain after class without a jacket.
5. Swimming at the Rec. Center until my muscles ached.
First of all, during the movie a writer pleads to Sophie, "Tell me the truth. I want to understand." And Sophie replies, "The truth? It does not make it easier to understand."
I immediately scribbled that down on my notebook because I knew as soon as it came out of her mouth that it was true. I hear about things going on in the world all the time that don't make sense. Sometimes reality is harder to grasp than all the fiction I read and watch in movies. I think the real people of the world make the greatest stories and, like the writer in the movie, I hope maybe I can capture that human spirit.
Next was something my honors professor said before we even watched the movie. He said, "This is a very sad movie, but I think it is also a movie celebrating life. That sounds weird but when terrible things happen, we have to find ways to appreciate life again. Look for that." And there were many scenes in the movie where I was able to feel that joy of living in between moments of sorrow. In the last line in the film, the writer says, " I let go the rage and sorrow for Sophie and Nathan... and for the many others who were but a few of the butchered and betrayed and martyred children of the Earth. When I could finally see again, I saw the first rays of daylight reflected in the murky river. This was not judgment day. Only morning; morning, excellent and fair."
So I left the seminar thinking about life and I want to end this post by sharing some times this week when I really felt like I was "living." The five most "alive" moments of the week.
1. Holding my 2 year old cousin's tiny flower petal of a hand and running through the grass as fast as her little legs would go. We were track stars.
2. Playing a game at my aunt's 50th birthday party and laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. And knowing my family was joining me.
3. Curling up on the couch and watching yet another scary movie with friends.
4. Running back to my apartment through the rain after class without a jacket.
5. Swimming at the Rec. Center until my muscles ached.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Hiding Herbie Husker
Decided to add a light story this week since I didn't have much inspiration. So here goes... On my birthday this year, my brother and sister got me a Herbie Husker pillow pet. Which is awesome. Husker and Pillow Pets together, what could be better? But I've found he can be a tiny bit creepy. Just look below.
But my friend Hillary seems to have found a fascination with this little guy. I've even caught her pinching his plush cheeks. This was fine until this semester when she decided to randomly hide our little pillow friend all over Sarah's and my apartment...
So if I happen to die of a heart attack in the near future, blame Hillary. Also, if Herbie happens to catch fire, blame Sarah.
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| Like on our cabinets... |
So if I happen to die of a heart attack in the near future, blame Hillary. Also, if Herbie happens to catch fire, blame Sarah.
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| Or even in our shower :/ |
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