My Stretch.

In Margaret Atwood's "Happy Endings," she gives multiple examples of possible real life scenario, each one ending with a happy ending of stability and love. At the end it is revealed, but not to much surprise, that the only ending we can be certain of is death. The beginning and ending of a life are universal, it's what you do with the time in between that makes you a unique person with accomplishments and goals. I think without even knowing it, everyone has subconscious goals that seem so ingrained in their future that achieving them is unquestionable, that might be the difference between goals and dreams. Whether it be going to college, having children, taking care of parents, traveling to certain places; we all have them. I have both goals and dreams, like most people. The things that I will accomplish with out question are going to college (at this point for wildlife biology and voice), having children (so innate for me), and becoming a smarter, more mentally developed person. My list of dreams and hopes is almost endless, some more serious than others. For example, sky diving, becoming fluent in Japanese, French and maybe something like Russian or Farci, traveling/hitchhiking across the country and world, becoming a recognized jazz/alternative singer (very unlikely) and learning a crazy instrument. Among other things, I never want to lose my childlike affinity to nature. That is hopefully what my stretch in between will consist of. If you want to leave cool comments, tell me about some of your out of the ordinary goals/dreams.

Favorite Book EVER.

That's a tough one. I can say for a fact that my favorite authors are Roald Dahl and Mitch Albom (though I haven't read one of his books in a while.) But I think that my favorite novel that I always keep somewhere nearby is Luna by Julie Anne Peters. I read early junior high so it's an easy read now but it was one of those books that I have fallen in love with, and is one of those books that I could never force myself to throw away. It about a transsexual female, Luna who is trapped inside the body of an 18 year old male, Liam. Each night he very meticulously find the perfect accessories and clothing and transforms himself into Luna. The story is told from his sister's point of view, who shares a room with him, and fully knows his secret. The whole novel reveals Luna's troubles in the past being a transsexual and the adversity she must overcome as well as her slow coming out to the world of her true being.
It was one of the first books that made a lasting impression on me and my perspective on life.

In the Beginning...

It began on a cold windy night in Eastern Japan; Sendi; 1997. My mother opened up the story of the Cat that was afraid of everything, vacuum cleaners, cars, brooms until the end when it had to face it's fears to save it's owner's baby. That was the first book I remember looking at and recognizing words with the ability to sound them out. My literacy was difficult, because I was learning how to read and write Japanese at the same time that, developmentally, I should have been learning how to read and write English. My brain had to do both at once, subsequently I was a little behind when I moved to America in first grade. But both of my parents always read to me, in both languages. I think because I had to learn to read/write both languages I was constantly stimulating that section of my brain, in part, I became a stronger linguist.