Skies

Dear Whoever You Might Be,
   
      I just finished (literally, just finished) reading Olive Schreiner's novel The Story of an African Farm. This story is nothing like I expected, and to be honest, I am still not sure what to think of it. It touched me, it moved me, it frustrated me, it humored me. I do not want to go into great depths of detail regarding this story, but I will advise you all to read it if you have the time.
      The reason I bring this up is because I came across a quote about halfway through the novel which stuck with me until the end. It reminded me of something, but I couldn't remember what. Then I pulled out my little notebook filled with quotes that I find in books and like and write down. Yes, I have a notebook filled with quotes that I come across and like in books that I read. Anyways, I was flipping through and scanning my compilation of quotes to try and find what this particular one reminded me of -I found two answers, and I am thrilled with both.
      For your reading pleasure, here are the quotes:

• "And so, it comes to pass at last, that whereas the sky was at first a small blue rag stretched out over us, and so low that our hands might touch it, pressing on us, it raises itself into an immeasurable blue arch over our heads, and we begin to live again" ---The Story of an African Farm
• "A large red drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going" ---The Grapes of Wrath
• "And while I was writing to you, clouds covered up the sky. As if someone has wiped everything off the school blackboard with a dirty rag and there's nothing left but white streaks" ---The Light and the Dark

Hopefully you see the connections where I did. If not, it is in the descriptions of the sky having to do with rags. Blue rag. Bloody rag. Dirty rag. Apparently I really like quotes that describe the sky in such a way. I don't want ramble about these quotes and the beauty I find in them and the literary connections that span from the 19th century (African Farm) to the 21st century (Light and Dark). Rather, I would like to just leave those quotes for you, my readers, to marinate with. To open your imagination to. To, hopefully, enjoy as I have enjoyed.


                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                       Me

Falling Through

Dear Whoever You Might Be,


      You know how people find themselves in certain times of "obsession" over something? It  usually occurs closest to New Years -people dedicate themselves to something new and exciting. Diets! Workouts! Hobbies! Etc.! For little kids, these kinds of obsessions can occur multiple times a year. Legos! Art! Barbies! It's like spending a certain amount of time completely dedicated to something, completely consumed by it both mentally and financially. I know I went through way too many of these phases. A few years of hardcore Pokémon card collecting. A few years of wanting to be a geologist and collecting gems from the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. A few years of me wanting to be an "artist" and collecting paint brushes more than actually painting. This happens as an adult too, even if it may not be an obsession over something potentially "life changing." People -and I include myself in this category- binge watch Netflix. Go through stages of gardening. Of exercising. Of baking.  Of making the bed every morning. Of going to bed before midnight.
      The list goes on and on.
      There is a reason, though, that these things are considered "phases" -it's because they don't last. And in the intermediate periods, a lull tends to set in. A lazy, sleepy, often apathetic mood settles over the ambition and motivation that drove you toward something for however long. This happens to me in regards to blogging.
      I go through periods of dedication. Of creative ideas that need nothing more than to be typed out and published onto the world of high-speed internet. To share my ideas of books, art, shopping, etc., regardless of who may or may not actually read and/or care. But then sometimes I get lazy. I start to think "Oh, I'll just blog tomorrow." Then the next day comes and I think "Oh well...tomorrow." This happens over and over again until "tomorrow" turns into almost three months later.... Oops.
      I could apologize, like I usually do, for falling through with my blogging. But I don't think I will this time, because I'm sure that if you look at your calendars and see that it is already March 15, you will not blame me for the time that has passed since my last post. I mean fricks and fracks people! It is already MARCH 15!!! The Ides of March has arrived, and I cannot believe it.
      I'll try to write more... I mean, I do have tons of things that I want to write about. But I will not guarantee swiftness, nor completeness, nor even goodness. All I can guarantee is that this phase, like many, will come and go as it please. And I must do what I can with the time that I have.
 
                                                                    Sincerely,
                                                                             Me