Paper Covers Rock – Jean Thompson

Jean Thompson b. 1950

I really enjoy story rich in details. It has to be the reason why Oates dropped this story in. The story was like eating a nice ripe juicy slice of watermelon in August.

I could hear the conversations; feel the touches between the characters, the glances, the inner thoughts and the shallow breaths exhaled by the main character as she struggled against her lover and herself. I could feel the tension as characters met and dueled silently with sharp eyes.

I reflected back on old relationships as a result of this story. Both relationships I have had with girls (romantic) and the friendships I have had (male and female).

I had a nice circle of friends growing up and continue to have a small but close circle today. I am quite satisfied.

Girlfriends. I didn’t play the field, but through high school I had a steady stream of relationships and 2 years of college (last two) allowed me the time to deal with the opposite sex. I think that all the past relationships I have had have allowed we to be an effective husband. I have been able to take the good from the bad and apply it today. I’ve done pretty well at not making the same mistake twice.

Jean Thompson seems to have done well for herself as a writer.

Score 8 out of 10.

The Eye – Paul Bowles

Paul Bowles December 30, 1910 – November 18, 1999

One can find quite a lot of information on Paul Bowles. I recognized his name from the research done on his wife Jane after her inclusion in BASS 1978.

This was an interesting story and I think it appealed to the readers of 1979. I would thank that a majority of the readers of BASS in the 1970’s would be familiar with Morocco and that it still had the exotic spice surrounding it left over from the Beats. Not to mention Ginsburg’s time there and Leary drawing attention to North Africa.

This story was interesting in that it gave me a chance to gain wisdom once again to the differing cultures that we have in this world but a the same time, basic human desires and behaviors cross all of the potential barriers that we think of existing between the worlds.

Underneath it all, we are human.

I really don’t have much else to say about this story. It hasn’t stirred any particular passions in me. I will say though that I really like the photo that precedes this post and I have included a photo of Paul and Jane below that I am quite taken with.

Score 7 out of 10

Trip in a Summer Dress – Annette Sanford

Annette Sanford ( 1929 - )

Decisions.

We make them daily.

Minute by minute, day by day, and at those special moments of crossroads, those very decisions can alter your future in ways that you can never imagine.

Sanford provided me with a nice device to reflect on my past decisions and those that will arise in my near future.

Concerning the story, I’ve always wondered about young unwed mothers and how the pregnancy alters their lives. It’s too often that we see the result of an unsuccessful life of a single mother and child. Those who are able to pull it off rarely get a second glance because of their success and ability to seamless integrate into the “normal” lives of the rest of us.

Bus rides – they suck and are scary. I’ve made them as a young boy and as a college student. They are cheap, dirty, and long and make the riders feel like ass.

Back to decisions.

I chastise myself daily for some of the decisions I make. They are the decisions I make that I know are wrong but for whatever reason, I continue to make.

For the most part though, I make some pretty good decisions. I have a pretty good set of conservative rails that I ride on but the chance to exercise some freedom from those rails comes often and the decisions I make rarely cause trouble.

Looking at my profile, it’s easy to see the major decisions that I have made in my life. Looking deeper into these posts, you can see the more minute decisions and how they have caused my life to venture off down different roads.

I’m pretty firm in wanting the ability to make my own decisions...liberal and conservative – either way, I want the control.

Sports or NJROTC

Civilian College or Military University

4 years or the rest of your life

New Jersey or Virginia

Virginia or New Jersey

Blue Collar or White Collar

Military Service or Peace Corps

Quitting or finishing what you started

Leaving behind someone you love or taking her with you

Score 8 out of 10.

The Quarterback Speaks to His God – Herbert Wilner

I started this story and soon realized that it had a sports theme. My automatic switch to dislike stories with sports themes tripped, and I sighed and felt myself sink into the couch and began reading with the thought that I am about to waste more of my life.

I’d say about half way into the book, I came to the realization that this story was starting to grow on me and that I might actually like it. I began to draw parallels with the main character – which is what I am attempting to do in all of these stories – and I saw that one end of the line was pointing at me.

The competitiveness of character, the desire to succeed in the face of physical breakdown, the denial of weakness in a once great athlete. The failure to see that the once high performance body is starting to fail in its deliverance.

In my running, I really push myself. I run far and for long periods of time. In doing so, I feel that my body is getting stronger...parts of my body...the muscles, including the heart, lungs and tendons. But my joints are taking a beating. The cement sidewalks and asphalt roads are just crushing me. I have a difficult time admitting that I may need to take a break. I don’t want to stop, to cut the distance. If anything, I want to run further and longer.

As humans, we have limits to what our bodies can handle. I want to push mine to the edge and further. I force my mind to conquer my body and push it further. I use my mind to heal my sore muscles and stiff joints. I use my mind to convince my body that there is no distance that it cannot run.

I love this daily challenge. It strengthens me. It forces me to see myself as something more than just an average human. I can create a superior specimen.

But in this knowledge, I know that this ability to create exists in all of us. We can all push further, be stronger physically and mentally. The spite and anger that I feel towards humans who let their lives waste away at times feels as if it will overcome me and cause me to say nasty things to those who don’t share my outlook.

Harder, Stronger, Faster and Smarter!

Score 9 out of 10.