#1 What is the symbolism of a female cardinal?
#2 How do you write an ode to your best friend without seeming corny and making others feel bad?
#3 What IS the Great American Novel?
My former (?) professor, Dr. Reid writes on his blog that blogging can help you become a better writer, it can help you work out ideas, etc. I paraphrase, of course, but generally you get the idea. So I figure that makes blogging a great excuse for me to sit here and type my thoughts on the computer to share with all 4 people who read this blog. Because, as my father-in-law so importantly reminded me the other night if you love writing you write for yourself and who cares what anyone else thinks. (again, i paraphrase) This is a topic he wrote on in HIS blog. Blogging: we are all indelibly connected.
It was also my darling father-in-law who got me thinking about the Great American Novel. He and my mother-in-law (from here on out known as FIL and MIL) were discussing the possibilities of my future writing ventures and he suggested that mine could be the next Great American Novel (i love their belief in me, aren't i lucky?). My first thoughts, due to my feminist/postmodern conspiracy theorist ways was "that will never happen as I'm not a white dude." As my best friend, Karlton, pointed out that is truly unfair.
The question "What constitutes the Great American Novel" is debated in university English classrooms all over the country. And, apparently, in my kitchen over beers on a Thursday night (here's where the Ode to my best friend comes in). The Great American Novels (GANs?) ARE ALL Künstlerromane people! or at least Bildungsromane. The topic of my thesis, the transcultural künstlerroman highlights two Great American Novels. The fact is, we need to get them into the conversation or at least keep them there. We do this by making sure our schools teach them. As important as the old white dudes are to our national identity, equally are authors with other camping parts and skin colors.
I have never been interested in the old white dudes much. Anything I can remember reading (meaning I enjoyed them) from high school or undergrad was usually by women writers or crazy postmodernists. This was the conversation brewing in my kitchen last night. The qualities of the amazing novels we had read. The Pain in Literature (a course I took and the actual pain you can feel sometimes from pieces of literature). How lucky am I to have a best friend who not only gets my English-nerdiness but has her own bout of it? This is not the first, nor is it the last Miller-Corcoran-Sbarra passionate discussion about the finer points of literature, or lack thereof (i am, remember, about to embark on Paradise Lost) and I am so thankful for that!!
Now, what about that female cardinal? We have two cardinals residing somewhere in our vicinity. I see her all the time, I don't know what her mate is busy doing but she can often e seen on the garage rooftop I can see from my office window or in the back yard. Today she was checking out the white climbing roses on my garage while I was doing dishes. Suddenly, I think is this bird stalking me? Is she a sign? So here's the sparknotes version of her symbolism::: The cardinals voice is strong and clear and reflects an air of importance. This power-packed bird can teach you how to express your truth, develop confidence, and walk your talk. It can indicate a turn of events or a life changing situation. The feminine energy is linked to intuition.
I think her visits are pretty appropriate.
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