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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Atticus Is the Man

I have finished To Kill A Mockingbird for the very first, but not the last, time. It was required reading, but it didn't feel like it to me. Normal required reading is considered dusty, dull, and old. But this story really struck a chord with me. I don't suppose I'm the first, since it wouldn't be required reading if it hadn't at some point. But, required or not, I loved this book. My favorite character was Atticus.

He's the man.

I sat there reading, thinking, "This guy is so smart. Man, this guy is smart. So smart." I mean, I can't imagine saying things like that off the top of my head! So poignant, yet so true.

Maybe it's just the manhood thing. Atticus is a real man. He is emotional, you can tell, but isn't afraid to hide it. He admits he's getting old. He's honest with his children. He's strong, but doesn't boast it, only using it when he needs to. He does the dirty work. He is self-controlled. He's smart. He knows he's a man.

This is coming from a teenage girl's point of view, but wouldn't it be nice if all men were like Atticus? Stepping up, taking initiative, being men, yet not over-doing it. I'm pretty sure that, if anything, men want to be like Atticus, somebody so respected for the right reasons, deep down inside.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

I Love It

I am in a play. And I love it, let me tell you. I can't get enough of it. Why?

  • The excitement of auditions. They really are pretty great. "Ooh, she's pretty good. Naw, they won't make it. Oh, I did terrible! No, you did just fine. He'd be good as so-and-so..." Nerve-wracking but way fun.
  • The leap your heart gets when you see the cast list. Surprise for some, shock for others. "Guess who I got? Yes, I did! Who are you? Really?! I can't believe it!"
  • Rehearsals. Continuous laughing, line-checking, stumbling, more laughing, bumbling, yelling, and more laughing.
  • Dress rehearsals. "You should have your lines down by now! Speak up! Man, I messed that up bad. Set changes need to be quicker! Um...can you help me with my makeup? This doesn't fit. I hate this lipstick!" One of the best parts.
  • Pre-show antics. It's a secret world of it's own. All kinds of games and laughs and makeup-fixing.
  • The actual performance. "Oh, the audience liked that part. Whoops, skipped a line. Nice job, guys. He's ad-libbing a lot. Wish me luck. Break a leg!"
  • The applause.