Review Of A Child In Time By Ian Mcewan Essays - Ian McEwan, McEwans

Review Of A Child In Time By Ian Mcewan Although most remembered for his earlier work, The Cement Garden, McEwan's more recent work of fiction, A Child In Time, offers a very different perspective into the theme of childhood - this time an adult's understanding of a juvenile world. The novel has been highly critically acclaimed since its first publication, and despite its disjointed prose style and at times ambiguous thread of McEwan's plot, it consistently proves a popular literary work nearly five years later. The book offers insight into one man's progress through the stages of grief, as he mourns the loss of his only child, an eight-year old named Kate. As the protagonist, Stephen seeks to understand his loss, he turns towards science and philosophy to understand the very nature of time and understand where he and his now dysfunctional family unit have altered so drastically with time's passing. McEwan has clearly succeeded in creating an atmosphere of childhood as seen through an adults eyes - the simplistic beauty of his description of Kate's relationship with her father is portrayed with extreme realism and the family unit's degeneration is charted with absolute clarity of detail throughout. Despite the lucidity of Mc Ewan's narrative voice, the plot sometimes delves into the improbable. As readers we witness the slightly dubious transition of Charles Darke, (one of the protagonist's colleagues), from respected mentor to overgrown schoolboy. Although certainly not a dramatic twist to the plot, it does come over as being a somewhat extravagant change and slightly superfluous to the overall plot. McEwan has also developed his tale around a series of flashbacks and jumbled memories; which, although rather effective in conveying the subjective viewpoint of his characters, makes for a slightly confusing read. Despite this lapse is structural style, the novel is certainly technically adept and philosophically questioning, often enquiring into fundamental questions concerning the very nature of time within a very realistic framework. McEwan seamlessly switches from tense emotional drama to highly scientific, explorative language. This not only superbly demonstrates the writer's skill, but effectively contrasts the homeliness of family life against stark objectivity of time. Stephen's flashbacks of his lost child are expressed with such an unnervingly realistic edge, the reader cannot help but sympathize deeply with his plight. One particularly memorable stage of the novel involves Stephen desperately searching a local school where he believes the lost child will be found. This incident seems decidedly inspired by the classic film, Don't Look Now - a red raincoat is glimpsed in the distance fuelling the futile hope that the lost child may at last be found. Although thematically similar to several of his previous works, Ian McEwan has lifted his narrative style into something far more involving and experimental. Although the jargon-laden language used in some place in the novel requires more sustained concentration for the less-scientifically minded reader, the book will nevertheless prove popular with both existing fans of McEwan and newer readers alike. McEwan has once again proven himself to be one of the most original English writers to emerge in recent years, and this eerie tale may well prove to be unmissable. English Essays

Free Essays on Why Blacks Would Be Religious During Slavery

"Why Blacks would be religious during slavery" Religion has always been a strong factor in the Black community. Many of us have grown up knowing and worshipping our Christian God. What many fail to realize is that this has not always been the case. In Africa, before the Middle Passage, natives practiced many different religions and were very spiritual. While being brought forcibly from their homeland, Africans were also forcibly removed from their religion. Former practices were not allowed and the spirits of the slaves were constantly tried and consistently broken. When the slaves were encouraged to, and finally adopted the religion of their masters, it was for a variety of different reasons. Everyone needs something to believe in, something which gives hope. If you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. Slaves lived in such poor conditions with no hopes of differing circumstances, to have religion, and believe that there is a purpose to life and situations in it gives people the motivation to survive. Religion was also an outlet to the everyday toilsome work that the slave life consisted of. Sundays at church and gathering for meetings at the "bottoms" allowed for rest, fellowship, and togetherness. One of the more important concepts religion allowed for, was an avenue by which slaves could communicate with each other. By singing religious hymns, that held underlying meanings, slaves could deliver and receive important messages without the master suspecting foul play. Faith is a powerful weapon against people and a life set against someone . Without religion, slaves would have had very little to believe in and very few to trust.... Free Essays on Why Blacks Would Be Religious During Slavery Free Essays on Why Blacks Would Be Religious During Slavery "Why Blacks would be religious during slavery" Religion has always been a strong factor in the Black community. Many of us have grown up knowing and worshipping our Christian God. What many fail to realize is that this has not always been the case. In Africa, before the Middle Passage, natives practiced many different religions and were very spiritual. While being brought forcibly from their homeland, Africans were also forcibly removed from their religion. Former practices were not allowed and the spirits of the slaves were constantly tried and consistently broken. When the slaves were encouraged to, and finally adopted the religion of their masters, it was for a variety of different reasons. Everyone needs something to believe in, something which gives hope. If you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. Slaves lived in such poor conditions with no hopes of differing circumstances, to have religion, and believe that there is a purpose to life and situations in it gives people the motivation to survive. Religion was also an outlet to the everyday toilsome work that the slave life consisted of. Sundays at church and gathering for meetings at the "bottoms" allowed for rest, fellowship, and togetherness. One of the more important concepts religion allowed for, was an avenue by which slaves could communicate with each other. By singing religious hymns, that held underlying meanings, slaves could deliver and receive important messages without the master suspecting foul play. Faith is a powerful weapon against people and a life set against someone . Without religion, slaves would have had very little to believe in and very few to trust....

Book of Hours - Illuminated Prayer Book for the Wealthy

Book of Hours - Illuminated Prayer Book for the Wealthy A book of hours was a prayer book containing appropriate prayers for specific hours of the day, days of the week, months, and seasons. Books of hours were usually beautifully illuminated, and some of the more notable ones are among the finest works of medieval art in existence. Origin and history   Initially, books of hours were produced by scribes in monasteries for use by their fellow monks. Monastics divided their day into eight segments, or hours, of prayer: Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Compline, and Vespers. A monk would set a book of hours on a lectern or table and read from it aloud at each of these hours; the books were therefore fairly large in format. The earliest known monastic books of hours were created in the 13th century. By the 14th century, smaller, portable books of hours with less complex liturgical systems were being produced for use by individuals. By the 15th century, these lay books of hours were so popular they outnumbered all other types of illuminated manuscript. Because the artwork was so splendid, books of hours were too expensive for all but the wealthiest of patrons: royalty, nobility, and occasionally very wealthy merchants or artisans. Contents Books of hours would vary according to the preferences of their owners, but they always began with a liturgical calendar; that is, a list of feast days in chronological order, as well as a method of calculating the date of Easter. Some included a multi-year almanac. Often books of hours included the seven Penitential Psalms, as well as any of a wide variety of other prayers devoted to favorite saints or personal issues. Frequently, books of hours featured a cycle of prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary. illustrations Each section of prayers was accompanied by an illustration to help the reader meditate on the subject. Most often, these illustrations depicted biblical scenes or saints, but sometimes simple scenes from rural life or displays of royal splendor were included, as were the occasional portraits of the patrons who ordered the books. Calendar pages often depicted signs of the Zodiac. It wasnt uncommon for the owners coat of arms to be incorporated, as well. Pages that were largely text were often framed with or highlighted by foliage or symbolic motifs. The illustrations of books of hours and other manuscripts are sometimes called miniatures. This is not because the pictures are small; in fact, some could take up the entire page of an oversized book. Rather, the word miniature has its origins in the Latin miniare, to rubricate or to illuminate, and thus refers to written pages, or manuscripts. Production   Monastic books of hours were produced, as were most other illuminated manuscripts, by monks in a scriptorium. However, when books of hours became popular among the laity, a system of professional publication evolved. Scribes would write the text in one place, artists would paint the illustrations in another, and the two products were put together in a bookbinders hall. When a patron ordered a book of hours to be made, he could select his favorite prayers and subjects for illustration. In the later middle ages, it was also possible to purchase a pre-produced, generic book of hours in a stationers shop. Materials   Books of hours, like other medieval manuscripts, were written on parchment (sheepskin) or vellum (calfskin), specially treated to receive ink and paint. The writing surface was invariably lined to help the scribe write neatly and evenly; this was usually done by an assistant. By the time books of hours became popular, the inks used in manuscripts were almost always iron gall ink, made from the gallnuts on oak trees where wasp larvae were laid. This could be tinted different colors through the use of various minerals. Ink was applied with a quill pen a feather, cut to a sharp point and dipped in a jar of ink. A wide variety of minerals, plants, and chemicals were used to tint paints for the illustrations. The color sources were mixed with arabic or tragacinth gum as a binding agent. The most vivid and expensive mineral used in paint was Lapis Lazuli, a blue gemstone with gold flecks which in the Middle Ages was found only in present-day Afghanistan. Gold and silver leaf were also used to marvelous effect. The brilliant use of the precious metals achieved gave illumination its name. Significance to Medieval Art Books of hours offered artists the opportunity to display their skill to the best of their abilities. Depending on the wealth of the patron, the finest materials were used in order to achieve the richest and most vivid colors. Over the centuries of the book formats popularity, art style evolved into a more natural, vibrant form, and the structure of the illuminated page changed to allow more expression on the part of the illuminators. Now known as Gothic illumination, the works produced in the 13th through 15th centuries by clerical and secular artists alike would influence other art styles, such as stained glass, as well as the art that would follow in the Renaissance movements. Notable Book of Hours By far the most famous and splendid Book of Hours ever produced is Les Trà ¨s Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, produced in the 15th century.

Organised Crime in Films 'City Of God' Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Organised Crime in Films 'City Of God' - Essay Example ThÐ µ moviÐ µ shows how thÐ µ rÐ µlativÐ µ frÐ µquÐ µncy of juvÐ µnilÐ µ gun usÐ µ and possÐ µssion, whÐ µn combinÐ µd with thÐ µ abovÐ µmÐ µntionÐ µd situations, complicatÐ µs thÐ µ futurÐ µ furthÐ µr, and all of thÐ µsÐ µ situations togÐ µthÐ µr form organizÐ µd crimÐ µ as a sort of culturÐ µ of dÐ µlinquÐ µncy that prÐ µsÐ µnts a dangÐ µr for thosÐ µ juvÐ µnilÐ µs who do not havÐ µ morÐ µ fulfilling ways with which to occupy thÐ µir timÐ µ. So many pÐ µoplÐ µ comÐ µ to thÐ µ wrong conclusions about juvÐ µnilÐ µs and automatically assumÐ µ that thÐ µy don’t want to do productivÐ µ activitiÐ µs such as sports and clubs, but would rathÐ µr join a gang. This may bÐ µ wrong in thÐ µ long run, bÐ µcausÐ µ of problÐ µms of accÐ µss to thÐ µsÐ µ morÐ µ productivÐ µ activitiÐ µs in somÐ µ arÐ µas. Making thÐ µsÐ µ activitiÐ µs and organizations availablÐ µ to a widÐ µr rangÐ µ of studÐ µnts could producÐ µ signi ficant bulwarks against thÐ µ downward spiral into thÐ µ abovÐ µmÐ µntionÐ µd pattÐ µrns of dÐ µstructivÐ µ bÐ µhavior, chiÐ µf among thÐ µm bÐ µing gang violÐ µncÐ µ. This typÐ µ of â€Å"violÐ µncÐ µ oftÐ µn rÐ µsults from a complÐ µx intÐ µraction of Ð µnvironmÐ µntal, social, and psychological factors such as thÐ µ lÐ µarnÐ µd bÐ µhavior of rÐ µsponding to conflict with violÐ µncÐ µ, thÐ µ Ð µffÐ µcts of drugs or alcohol, thÐ µ prÐ µsÐ µncÐ µ of wÐ µapons, thÐ µ absÐ µncÐ µ of positivÐ µ family rÐ µlationships and adult supÐ µrvision† (PosnÐ µr, 1998). Many juvÐ µnilÐ µs who do not havÐ µ positivÐ µ family rÐ µlationships and structurÐ µd timÐ µ undÐ µr supÐ µrvision during thÐ µir hours away from school may sÐ µÃ µ that by pursuing positivÐ µ Ð µxtracurricular activitiÐ µs that accÐ µntuatÐ µ thÐ µir futurÐ µs rathÐ µr than throwing thÐ µir futurÐ µs away by indulging in pattÐ µrns of organizÐ µd crimÐ µ mÐ µmbÐ µrship such as gangs, violÐ µncÐ µ, and drugs, thÐ µy may put thÐ µmsÐ µlvÐ µs into a situation in which thÐ µsÐ µ positivÐ µ rÐ µlationships supÐ µrvision arÐ µ sÐ µÃ µn as positivÐ µ and prÐ µsÐ µnt and productivÐ µ in thÐ µir

The American War in Viet Nam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The American War in Viet Nam - Term Paper Example Despite their active involvement, people from Australia were anxious about the country’s involvement in the war. It is noteworthy that various novels and other cultural texts focus on Australia’s involvement in the war and its consequences. An example of a book that talks about Australia’s participation in the war is â€Å"The Things They Carried† by Tim O’Bien. This book contains short stories that talks about the country’s involvement while criticizing the complex political web that led to both America’s and Australia’s participation while featuring O’Brien and his fellow soldiers (O’Brien 18). The author has explained the roles of politics in the war while focusing on the soldiers who participated in the war. The initial chapter in the book talks about soldiers from Australia and American carrying weapons in literary way. The book contains well-researched information with the main source being the experiences of the author during the Vietnam War. Based on the author’s arguments in the book, the book is against the soldier’s participation in the war. The author describes the emotional pains and burdens carried by the soldiers in form of weapons thr oughout the war. It makes the audience identify with the soldiers’ suffering instead of focusing on their positions in the war. According to the author, the country got involved in the war because it lacked enough information and was misled by other countries such as the US and Vietnam. Through the book, the audience realizes how the soldiers were caught up in a complicated political game during the war. The author explains how the Australian soldiers were alienated during the war (O’Brien 18). In the later chapters, the book seems to accuse the country’s governments and the public for betraying the soldiers. The book pictures the real event in the country during the war. For instance, through the book, the audience realized how soldier were being manipulated in

The Process Of Socialization English Language Essay

The Process Of Socialization English Language Essay Some of a persons behaviour is natural while most of the behaviour is learnt. When a child comes in the world, he/she is gradually moulded in society into a social being and learns social ways of acting and feeling. His/her existence in the society becomes impossible without this process. This process of moulding and shaping the personality of the human infant is called socialization. In general Socialization is a social training by which every society prescribes its own ways and means of giving social training to its new born members so that they may develop their own personality. 1. MEANING OF SOCIALIZATION Socialization is often referred to as the transmission of culture, the process by which people learn the rules and practices of social groups. Just as we learn a game by playing it, so we learn life by engaging in it. Socialization is definitely a matter of learning and not of biological inheritance. People become what they are by socialization. Through the process of socialization the individual becomes a social person and attains personality. Socialization is the process whereby the individual acquires the conventional patterns of human behaviour. Every person tries to adjust himself/herself to the condition and environment predominantly determined by the society of which he/she is a member. If he/she fails to do so, he/she becomes a social deviant and is brought back into the line by the efforts of the group of which he/she is a member. This process is knows as socialization. It is the opposite of individualization. 2. THE PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION Socialization is a process of transforming the human animal into a human being, of converting the biological being into a social being. It is said that the working of the process of socialization starts long before the child is born. The direct socialization begins only after birth. Factors of the Process of Socialization There are four factors of this process of learning. These are imitation, suggestion, identification and language. Imitation: Imitation is copying of the actions of another by an individual. In imitation the person imitating performs exactly the same activity as the one being performed before him. It is the main factor in the process of socialization of the child. Through imitation a child learns many social behaviour patterns. Language and pronunciation are acquired by the child only through imitation. Suggestion: McDougall defines suggestion as the process of communication resulting in the acceptance with conviction of the communicated proposition in the absence of logically adequate grounds for its acceptance. Suggestion is the process of communicating information which has no logical or self-evident basis. It may be conveyed through language, pictures or some other similar medium. Suggestion influences not only behaviour with others but also ones own private and individual behaviour. Identification: A child cannot make any distinction between his/her organism and environment in his/her early age. At that time most of his/her actions are random of which he/she is not conscious. As the child grows in age, he/she comes to know of the nature of things which satisfy his/her needs and such things become the object of his/her identification. The speed and area of identification increase with the growth in age and through identification the child becomes sociable. Language: As we all know, language is the medium of social intercourse and the means of cultural transmission. At first a child utters syllables having no meaning but gradually the child comes to learn his/her mother-tongue. The language moulds the personality of the individual from infancy. Theories of Socialization The heart of socialization is the development of the self. Gardner Murphy has defined self as the individual as known to the individual. The self of a person is what he/she consciously or unconsciously conceives himself/herself to be. There are mainly three important theories to explain the development of self. 3. AGENCIES OF SOCIALIZATION The process of socialization is operative throughout life. What a child is going to be is more important than what he is. It is socialization which turns the child into a useful member of the society and gives him/her social maturity. The chief agencies of socialization are the following: The Family: The process of socialization begins for every one of us in the family. They are not only closely related to the child but physically also they are nearer to the child than others. The child learns respect for persons in authority. The environment of a family influences the growth of a child. Of the parents it is the mother who first begins the process of socialization. The School: The school is the second agency of socialization. The education the child gets in the school moulds hi/her ideas and attitudes. Education is of great importance in socialization. The communication they receive from their teachers help to socialize them and to make them finally mature members of their societies. The Playmates or Friends: The relation between a child and his/her playmates is one of equality. It is based on cooperation and mutual understanding. The child acquires something from his/her friends and playmates which he cannot acquire from parents. From the friends the child acquires cooperative morality and some of the informal aspects of culture like fashions, fads, crazes, modes of gratification and forbidden knowledge. The knowledge of such things is necessary from the social point of view. The Church: Though in modern society the importance of religion has diminished, yet it continues to mould our beliefs and ways of life. When a child sees his/her parents going to the temple and performing religious ceremonies, he/she listens to the religious sermons which may determine his course of life and shape his ideas. The State: The state makes laws for the people and lays down the modes of conduct expected of them. If people fail to adjust their behaviour in accordance with the laws of the state, they may be punished for such failure. Hence the state also moulds our behaviour. 4. ELEMENTS OF SOCIALIZATION There are there elements which play their part in the socialization process of the individual, they are: The physical and psychological heritage of the individual. The environment in which he is born, and Culture in which he is because of the action and interaction between these elements. 5. ROLE OF SOCIALIZATION Socialization is the most important factor in personality development. Some importances of socialization are listed below: Socialization converts a person, the biological being into a person, the social being. Socialization contributes to the development of personality. It helps to become disciplined. It helps to enact different roles. It provides the knowledge of skills. It helps to develop right aspiration in life. It contributes of the stability of the social order. Socialization helps to reduce social distance. It provides scope for building the bright future. It helps the transmission of culture. 6. SOCIALIZATION OF ADULTS Socialization is a life-long process. At no point in the life of a person it comes to an end. The socialization of adults is easier than the socialization of children. The socialization of adults can be a prolonged and a tough process. This is particularly so when the skills to be learnt are complex and the responsibilities of the role are heavy. Generally adult socialization is designed to help the person gain specific skills. 7. INDIVIDUALIZATION Generally speaking, individualization is the opposite of socialization. It is that social process which tends to make the individuals more or less independent of their own. Individualization is the process in which people come to know themselves and acquire the sense of inner responsibility. Socialization brings people into relation with others; individualization makes him autonomous or self-determining. It is the process carried through by the individual and the society, and is primarily a mental process which is being spread through the prevailing ideas. Aspects of Individualization Mannheim has distinguished four main aspects of individualization. These aspects are: Individualization as a process of learning different from other people: The external differentiation of individuals leads to the formation of new groups. The people isolated from other people develop different types of personality. Individualization on the level of new forms of self regarding attitudes: The individualization comes to feels himself/herself as superior and separate from others and evaluates himself/herself in high terms. The person begins to regard his/her life and character as unique. Individualization through objects: Some people have a fixed feeling towards certain people and objects. Many factors influence the individual choice such as wealth or the process of modern production and distribution. Family conditions also shape the wishes of the individual. Individualization as a kind of deepening into ourselves: The feeling of solitary can develop a feeling of privacy and partial isolation in an individual. It leads to introspection which is again another from of individualization. 8. CONCLUSION The importance of socialized attitudes cannot be minimized in a society. A person with socialized attitudes would no do any work which is socially harmful. A socialized citizen would place human welfare above his individual gain. He would put human values above all else. Modern society has still to solve some basic problems of socialization at all stages of childhood and youth. The improvement of socialization offers one of the greatest possibilities for the future alteration of human nature and human society.

My Best Friends

Leah YoungYoung 1 2/14/13 Essay#2 English 101 My Best Friends There’s really no great way to start my story other than with the truth. I was 31 and living in a tiny apartment in one of the worst neighborhoods in Louisville. I was on my second divorce and third abusive relationship. Between me making excuses for bruises and the women my then husband was seeing while I was working, life for me was a sad one. I woke up one morning and decided I had to leave. I packed all I could, filed an EPO and waited for him to be served. I then moved my family into my cousin’s house while still paying rent on my apartment.It took an entire month to go back to my apartment. I’ll never forget that feeling while walking back to my apartment for the first time. I felt the heat as if there was a knife at my back as I walked down that sidewalk, as if someone was staring me down. Every time I heard something that fear would set in, and believe me fear itself is a powerful thing. At thi s point I had no companionship and I knew I needed it. I had all I needed otherwise, I had my own place, my kids and had found Jesus. I wanted companionship, unconditional love but had no interest in dating being the market for a quality man was small.Besides I was nowhere close to being ready for a relationship, so I decided I would get a dog. I got online and posted to my friends if they knew anyone that had a small dog that needed a good home. An adoption agency was suggested so I started browsing. I applied for a few but they were already taken and Young 2 the only one that was available I didn’t think anyone would adopt. Another friend of mine gave me the number to a temporary rescue for dogs. I called them and she said there was a small dog that was going to be put down if no one adopted him, so I agreed to pick him up the next morning.I had no idea what he looked like, only that his name was Biscuit. The next day I went to the rescue and there he was the dog I said â⠂¬Å"no one would adopt†. Everyone wanted a full breed so they were adopted quickly leaving Biscuit, â€Å"The Ugly Duckling†. When I first saw him I chuckled seeing his funny build. He is one half Dachshund (wiener dog) and half Chihuahua, both breeds love to bark. He had his ears perked up looking like satellites, his eyes matched his coat, his legs are short and stocky, long body and his face is a cross of both breeds, he is called a Chiweenie.As I watched Biscuit playing with the other dogs, I just fell in love. After I played with him for 30 minutes, watched him drag toys out to share with his pals and the wagging of his tail when I first picked him up. It was then decided that he was a perfect fit for me being the oddball, so I brought him home and that night he jumped right in the bed and snuggled with me under the blankets. (Biscuit, age unknown 2012) Young 3 After a week with Biscuit I felt that unconditional love I’ve needed for years, filling that void in my life. I went and saved his precious life, and he made mine a happier one.His unconditional love makes my quality of life far better than what it was. I was now happy in my little apartment. This was the first time I was just me and had to learn who I was again. Having Biscuit in my life helped me in doing so. Taking him for walks gave me time to think about what I wanted to get out of life. I thought to myself, there has to be more than this. I want to have a nice home, go back to school and live a happy life alone or not. I didn’t need a companion, none other than my dog and my family. One cold day in January it was snowing and couldn’t be more than 15 degrees outside.Biscuit needed to go out, so I put our coats on and took him for a stroll. While walking him I heard a whimpering noise and started looking around. After about five minutes, I saw this little Chihuahua with ice on her ears and could see her ribs as she shivered in the freezing cold. I called for he r and she ran to me, so I put her little body inside my coat and took her home. I put out notice of dog found and decided if no one claimed her within a month, I would keep her. My daughter fell in love and named her Princess. Princess immediately took to our family as if she belonged.Within weeks, I had her back to health. She’s a short haired, light brown Chihuahua and by far the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Her temperament is so loveable and offers love to anyone whether they want it or not. She’ll wear clothes, play, does cute dances when I come home and on a funny note stuffed elephants are boyfriends to her. A month went by and no one claimed her. By this time, we had bonded and I had two dogs to cuddle up next to me. Needless to say I’ve spoiled them rotten. Princess became my second best friend. My little Chihuahua has made a huge impact Young 4 on our family.Her love is so genuine and comforting, there’s just nothing like it. I have fallen in love with her and treat her and Biscuit as if they are my kids. Both of them help comfort us when we have rough days. I believe in fate and don’t think it was by chance that these two dogs entered our lives. We all suffered some form of abuse. Biscuit came from a puppy mill being locked in a cage, Princess was left freezing and may have died had I not found her, and my kids and I suffered from abuse and broken homes. I believe we needed each other and it’s a match made in heaven. (Princess 2012, age unknown)Together these two dogs and my family have been through so much. They have bonded as well and do make life easier to deal with. When I’m sick and laying in bed they seem to know. They always greet me with wagging tails and a toy ready to play as I walk in the door. When I was faced with the possiblility that I may have to find my babies a new home, it broke my heart. I had to flee our apartment for safety reasons and save for a new place, I had no where to keep my dogs. My family stepped up and my cousin allowed Princess to stay with me at her house, while my brother allowed Biscuit to live with him.The bond I have with my dogs is different from one I have with a Young 5 human companion. My dogs don’t judge me, they love me no matter what and always are happy to see me. Leaving the apartment turned out to be a blessing. I had to save for several months and live in an apartment with a total of nine people. I took on different roles in the house to do my part. Going from my own three bedroom apartment to a twin size bed I shared with Princess on the floor and everything I own locked in a storage unit, was very hard. I had to be humble and prayed every night just to get me through.After I had saved enough money, I started searching for a new home. It took four long months to save enough money to move. I had been searching for a home that was big enough so that every child would have their own room, an office for me and a basement with a fenced back yard for the dogs that I could afford. If I hadn’t started looking when I did, I may never have fell in love with my third best friend, Will. He has been a friend of the family for many years, but I hadn’t gotten to know him well, I only heard so many good things about him. It was at the hospital when his neice Kendra was born when we first had met.I thought then he may have been interested just by the way he looked at me and the way I felt when he hugged me for the first time. It had been over a year and a half since I actually felt anything for anyone. It took a year of off and on meetings and it wasn’t until his neice’s first birthday that the connection was established. He kept making eye contact with me and conversation that kept me smiling from ear to ear. I got that warm feeling inside I had hoped to feel someday. At that point I let go and put him in God’s hands, I let God decide if it were meant to be.Two weeks had went past since the birthday party and just by chance or act of God we happened to run into each other at the store. We had a good conversation I Young 6 thought wouldn’t end, nor did I want it to. The way he looked at me with those eyes of kindness, want and the feeling of my heart thumping as every word left his mouth, it was then I knew my feelings were valid and it just may be meant to happen. I had mentioned that I would be moving in a few weeks and ask if maybe he could help since he had a truck, of course he agreed. I finally found my current house that fit all my needs and turned out to be in his neighborhood.I didn’t have Will’s phone number and needed help moving. The only way to get was to go to his house, I knew that’s what I had to do. I’ve never been so nervous in all my life as I pulled down his street and thought I was gonna to hurl walking up those steps to his door. As I knocked, my heart was in my throat. He answered the door and gre eted me with his smile I had missed and thought about for weeks. He gladly gave me his number and said to call when I was ready. I called him and we set a time for him to move my things. As he pulled in to pick me up, my heart was pounding and I had butterflies in my stomach.We had good conversation on the way to the storage and after all was done, he decided to take me on a tour of the neighborhood showing me all the ends and outs. I thought, well I won’t get lost when walking Biscuit and Princess. When he finally took me home, I was a little sad because I didn’t want the night to end. However, he did get to meet my dogs and their opinion mattered a great deal. They are loyal and have been here far before he exsisted to me and they liked him. Turns out he left his dolly there so I knew he had to come back to get it, and that he did.My heart fluttered as he got his things, that night I took a shot and ask if it would be okay if I called him. Later that night we talked for at least an hour, laughing and enjoying good conversation as I sat on my porch with my dogs cuddled beside me. The next night he came over to set up my washer and dryer. I ask if he wanted to Young 7 watch a movie and as we watched Daredevil, he leaned over and kissed me for the first time. It was the most amazing feeling I had ever felt. Right then I felt that he was the one I had been waiting for so long. He called the next afternoon and ask me out on our first real date. Our date was to little pizza place and I love pizza! The conversation and date went so well, we decided to make a weekend of it. We’ve seen each other almost everyday for the past year and a half since our first kiss. On November 23, 2012 he ask me to be his wife and I happily accepted his proposal. We’ve become best friends that love each other unconditional the way my dogs love me. No matter what it is, I know I can talk to him and not risk judgement. We have so many similar interest and have fun doing nothing at all. The future is untold as life brings about changes, but I believe I have found my best friends that I will love the rest of my life. Will and I at Van Halen concert, 2012) I’ve been down a long, broken road that lead me to some of the happiest times and saddest times in my life. For once, I now feel complete and found three best Young 8 friends that will give me a lifetime of memories. I know that through ups and downs they will be there for as long as God allows. I was once a broken woman struggling through illness, loss of loved ones, hopelessness and lived a sad, lonely life. Through prayer, patience, self disipline and a few best friends I’m now a happy woman that has gained a new family, a true love and best friends I’ll love forever.