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Bob Dylan begins his 1974 hit song “Forever Young” with, in my opinion, the most memorable opening lines:

“May God bless and keep you always “

“Forever Young” was a song written for Dylan’s son as he missed many milestones from touring.

However, it stood out in a time where self-identity and self exploration were in high demand. The 70’s was the age of protests and standing for what you believe in and the younger generation were the focal point of the movements.

Dylan’s diction choices throughout the song enhance the theme of being forever young and standing true to who you are and what you believe. He uses words such as “always”, “true”, “righteous”, “courageous” “upright”, and “foundation” to emphasize this.

As many songs mirror the form of poetry, I notice many poetic elements within “Forever Young”. There was the use of anaphora within the first three lines of the each verse with “M”. There is also a trochaic rhyme within the verses rhyming “young” with other words such as “rung” or “sung”.

Lines such as:

“May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you”

suggest that you should always be aware. To stay “awake” in light of what is going around you.

He also believes in holding on to beliefs even in the face of disbelief or those who are against you:

“May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift”

Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” is relevant until this day an age. As more events are occurring where people must speak up and hold true to their beliefs and stay “forever young”.

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I'm hanging in there.

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Shhhhhhh!!! Don't tell Carole!

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Why wait? Travel the world.

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The B Word

I discovered the meaning of bastard when I was six years old. Ironically, it was the first time I used the word too. It all started at my grandma’s house, a shelter of bricks that brought me comfort. My three cousins and I were sitting on the couch that taunted our skin with the plastic covering its fortress. We had too many accidents with the snacks getting stuck in the couch’s jaws but that’s for another story. The Adventures of  Pluto Nash was on the screen. An Eddie Murphy movie that was not suitable for a group of six year olds. We played the game of “let’s switch to a different channel when grandma walks by” so we wouldn’t get in trouble. We knew we shouldn’t have been watching it but something about Pluto Nash being off limits captivated our minds. We laughed at all the dumb jokes and cuss words that they would say. Our fragile hands like butterflies covered our mouths as we snickered. Our eyes wet and mouths sore and salty from laughter. That is when I heard “bastard”. In a single moment Eddie Murphy slandered the antagonist of the film with that single curse word. As a six year old who prided herself in knowing all the curse words of the American language, this one was new. It was like a bullet through my brain activating every nerve within my body. I was alert. I was curious. Millions of questions flooded through my brain. What did the word mean? Why did Pluto Nash say it to the bad guy? Why was the word so bad? How did I not know about this cuss word? I came back to my senses with a blink. Laughter soon flooded my rib cage and for a moment “bastard” was forgotten. After the movie ended fits of laughter ensued as each of us brought up all the comical parts. Bastard was stuck at the back of my throat like a piece of food that went down the wrong tube. “He said bastard…what does that mean?” I said nonchalantly. My cousin Paige gave me a confused dog stare. She was the oldest at the time so we clung to her every word. It was as if that one whole year between us gave her this superior wisdom that we did not yet have. “It means a baby who doesn’t have married parents; it’s not under God’s law” she said matter-of-factly. My cousins were extremely religious and every wrong doing was from the devil. In years to come, I would become an avid fan of Harry Potter and would be reminded of how it was the devil’s work. But that story is not important right now. A golf ball of embarrassment swelled in the middle of my throat. I began to think of how my parents weren’t married. They were together for three years before they had me but they never tied the knot. I looked at my cousins with eyes that gleamed with questions. “Does that mean…does that mean…that I’m a bastard child” I asked with the answer already loaded in my mind. Paige turned to me with beady eyes and tight lips that were turning white. After a long pause that felt like an eternity she opened her mouth. “I guess…I mean your parents aren’t married” she said never making eye contact. I know that her intentions weren’t cruel but I couldn’t help but hate her in that single moment. Her parents were married in the church and met through a blind date. My parents weren’t married and probably never would. Their story wasn’t very romantic either, just the same American love story that started at a local dive bar. I didn’t speak for the entire time until my parents came to pick up me and my little brother. I had forgotten he was there because he slept the entire time. He was awake and annoying as ever in the car ride home. He was jumping over the car seats like there was no such thing as having to wear your seatbelt. My parents tried to scold him but gave up quickly when he didn’t listen; it was because he was the “baby”. I was in a horrible mood and did not feel like dealing with his foolishness in the car. “STOP IT YOU BASTARD!” I screamed as I smacked him. My mother turned around so swift that I didn’t have time to speak. One hard smack came across my face and my cheeks burned with regret. “Don’t you EVER call your brother a bastard!” she screamed, her eyes masked with fury. “Because it’s true. He is a bastard and I am too” I said still rubbing my cheek refusing to make eye contact with her. “Who told you that!?” she said with a twinge of pain. “Nobody, I heard it on TV. It means God doesn’t love you because your parents aren’t married” I said. I knew I was lying but I didn’t want to get Paige in trouble. At the time, I thought I pulled one over on my mother but I now know she knew exactly what happened. I tensed my body expecting to get smacked again but the blow never came. “Yamiris, me and your dad love each other very much. And we love you and your brother very much.” She said. Her eyes no longer held anger but had a glint of compassion. “Then why aren’t you married?” I said, staring her square in the eye. There was a long pause, I could see an answer formulating in her mind. Her lips trembled with unspoken feelings. “We just haven’t. That doesn’t change how we feel about you guys or how God feels about you. I mean, he gave us you so he must love us a little bit” she sighed as she squeezed my hand. At six years old that answer was good enough for me. I continue to think about how the word “bastard” fits into my life but each time I reflect on that single moment, I realize that its description does not define me.

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“The Murder and the Manuscript” by Sarah Weinman is about the press release of Alaric Hunter, a murderer who released a novel from prison. It centers around the editor of St.Martin’s Press Toni Kirkpatrick, who is writing about Alaric, as she tries to she light on who Alaric is. Alaric’s true story comes to light as his reason for being in prison was because he was trying to get money for his brother so that he would be able to go to college. Both he and his brother set fire to two buildings and unintentionally killed someone. They were both charged to life sentences and within prison Alaric honed his love for reading and writing. He submits one of his works to Minotaur contest run by St.Martin’s Press. It catches the eye of Toni Kirkpatrick and that is where Alaric’s life in prison changes. Through various interviews and musing from Alaric’s past we are left to come to the choice of whether Alaric should be recognized for his novel or not. 

Weinman presents the idea that what is wrong or evil is not always the case. We know that Alaric is a murderer and that he killed someone while commiting a crime, so he should be punished. Or should he? Weinman focuses on facts that could make readers sympathize with Alaric. Her tone is warm and neutral throughout which could make readers choose either side. She focuses in on how Alaric’s favorite writer was Hemingway and he enjoyed Greek and Roman Philosophers. This makes Alaric seem more ordinary and not as a murderer or someone who has committed a crime. Also, by giving a background into his trouble past that could easily be sympathized with. Weinman focuses on the fact that he had an abusive mother who used him for drugs and money or how he worked a construction job and could not provide enough for his younger brother. Even though Weinman gives readers the cold, hard facts about Alaric’s imprisonment; she paints a picture of a man who may not be deserving of all the hate and that his novel, in some way, should be recognized. 

Weinman also uses literary elements to enforce this sympathy for readers. Sh uses LEAPS in between paragraphs to jump from one scene to another. She also creates tension throughout the piece to hook readers such as in the beginning where she mentions that Alaric is in an institution but does not say what kind of institution right away. There is also strong musing in regards to Alaric’s past and how it shaped who he is in present time. Diction is also used to create emotion. Weinman uses words such as “rife” “abrasive” and “blistered” to reinforce that Alaric is a pained man that should possibly be sympathized with. 

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Alverno Community Conference - Women Sustainably Creating Jobs

Alverno’s Community Conference discussed the topic of sustainability. Breakout sessions discussed sustainability in areas such as music, food, and the environment. However, the session that I attended dealt with the topic of women creating jobs and holding positions in sustainability.

The speakers were Melissa Buchholz, manager of the popular Odd Duck restaurant in Bay View and Kristi Luzar from the Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA), a membership organization that assists those that work in economic and community development within the state of Wisconsin.

Melissa began with how sustainability affects the Odd Duck everyday. They face troubles in sustaining water usage, energy, and food waste. This is due to heavy water usage from customers needing a full glass of water throughout the meal, dishes being washed, and other tasks. Energy usage is due to areas in the restaurant where it is needed such as light and heat. Food waste is due to leftover meals from consumers and from food prep. However, Melissa stated that the Odd Duck tries their best to sustain energy, water usage, and food waste. To do this they use energy efficient equipment such as daylight sensors and radiant heated floors. As well, they use as much local product as they can which uses less gas and transport. Within the restaurant they also have low flow toilets to reduce water usage and support food producers that are water responsible. When it comes to food, the Odd Duck serves small portions so that consumers will either order more if they need it or be satisfied. They also reuse as much food as they can, turning fish bones into fish stock and turning “ugly” cucumbers into pickles.

Within the job community the Odd Duck has employees that have been working for them for years and are growing in size. They also support various local businesses and organizations such as Compost Crusader who creates and sells local compost. Melissa states that “being sustainable in a restaurant is something you have to do everyday” and from the kitchen to the table it is an important task.

Kristi began with how her organization, the Urban Economic Association of Wisconsin (UEDA), is assuring sustainability within the community and economy in Wisconsin. One task they have undertook is sustaining public transportation within Milwaukee. This is important because many Milwaukee professionals, students, and those who prefer not to drive are being affected. Milwaukee’s public transportation services do not have local depending fund source as other cities do and that has resulted in a 22% decrease in public transportation. UEDA is combating this by conducting interviews with employers to find the source of transportation problems and what is needed from them as well as creating public transportation resources for workforce service providers.

UEDA also works to sustain local business within the community. Wisconsin is the last in the nation for startups and that is largely due to insufficient training and resources for those who want to start a small business. UEDA offers resources that will help small business owners such as information and assistance on funding.

Overall, it is important as a community to support each other which will allow us to sustain the economy and community development. If you would like to learn more about UEDA’s efforts, you can email Kristi at: kristi.ueda.wi.org

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Broken Bikes and Other Stories

CA-BOOM! My bike tires flipped before me. Time and space became two separate entities as my face hit the asphalt. The taste of salt and vinegar exploded in my mouth, a warm sensation trickled down the side of my cheek. I touched my lip and saw red, it was blood. I picked up my bike and walked away from death hill.  

          My sky blue bike walked beside me. My parents were going to be furious. I wasn’t even supposed to be at death hill. It was three blocks away but to my parents it was at the edge of the world. Bikes aren’t cheap. Could I get my bike replaced selling lemonade? The idea seemed solid until I realized that I would have to make it.

          The three blocks to my house felt like three miles. The impending doom floated over my head. I imagined one of those rain clouds that follow cartoon characters, constantly reminding them of their failures.

           I reached my house and stared at the screen door. Memorizing every speck as they connected together to make a screen. It was like a net waiting to catch my fall. I swear I stared at that door for 5 minutes. The anxiety was overtaking me, bullets of sweat streamed down my body and I made the best decision a seven year old could make at the time. I turned around and hid my bike behind the dumpster. There was a slim chance I could wiggle my way out of the mess if my parents discovered it there. Sometimes, you just have to take risks in life.

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Manos

Her culture was in her hands. Hands that were used to prepare arroz con gandules during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and family gatherings. Her hands were there for a gentle touch whenever needed. They were there to signal the kids inside because it was getting dark outside. Her hands gave to the neighborhood kids that were less fortunate, who were in search of food and someone to care for them. Serving the rice that she made with her hands.

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“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. “ Romans 1:16

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There is true beauty in this world.