Hello Mom,
It's me, Salamanca, your daughter. Do you still remember me? That has to be the dumbest question anyone has ever asked. How could you not remember me? I know you do because I surely remember you. I remember you every second of every day. Every single thing I look at, smell, touch, taste, or feel reminds me of you. I miss you, Mom. I know you are searching for something. Yourself, I think. You said that you wanted to find out what you were "really like....before [you were] a wife and a mother..." You want to find out what you are "underneath, where [you are] Chanhassen" (143). I know you probably want everyone to call you that now - Chanhassen, but to me, you're mom, and you always will be.
When are you coming home, Mom? I really feel lost without you. Dad misses you too, I know he does. I see him looking at old albums with your pictures in them. He took me away from home though, so if you do come back to our real home, we won't be there. I think it made him too sad to be in Bybanks, because he thought about you too much. I did too. I want you to come back to us so we move back home and things can be as they were before.
I'm sorry for anything that I did, and I know Dad is sorry too. I don't really believe we could have done anything to make you stay, but if there was anything, I would have done it. Anything. I miss you so much. I miss seeing your pretty smile, and I miss seeing you and Dad hugging and kissing each other. I is picking blackberries with you, and listening to your songs. I don't even know if this will matter to you anymore, but I have to tell you these things.
Mom, have you ever heard the story of Pandora and her box? Did you know that when she opened that box, all of the terrible things in the world were set free. But, do you know what stayed in the box? Hope, Mom. Hope stayed in the box. I have hope, do you? I have faith that you'll come back to me one day, and we will live just as we did before. I can't go on without holding onto my hope. I can't bear the reality that you'll never come back.
Since I started writing this letter, we have returned home, so I feel better now. I feel better because now that I have accepted the truth of the situation, as horrible as it is, I know that you are here. Although, I believe in my heart that no matter where I go, you'll be there. And when I thought I couldn't go on without you, I think I was right. But since now I believe you're always with me, it's okay to feel that way. I know you will not leave again, Mom.
Seeing your grave was proof to me that you will not return to me the way that I had always hoped for. I don't blame you, and I'm not angry with you, Mom. I love you so much and of course, I still miss you. But now I realize that you did come back. When the trees sway n the wind, and I hear a birdsong, I know that's you, Mom. The faith and hope inside me tells me that it's you, and with those little signs, you came back to me. Maybe I can't see you, but I can feel you. I can feel you all around me, Mom. Everyday.
Love,
Your Salamanca Tree
Monday, April 23, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Monster Trivia
Q: What type of being is associated with grave robbing and eating corpses?
A: Ghoul.
A Ghoul is thought to be a despicable creature who robs graves and feeds off the corpses. Ghouls are a part of ancient Arabic folklore, and it's thought that this is where they were first mentioned. Ghouls are the lowest of the low when referring to the spiritual world. In The Graveyard Book, ghouls are described as "...parasites and scavengers, eaters of carrion" (82). It is also thought that ancient ghouls are the inspiration to today's zombies - both have to eat other beings to survive.
Q: According to The Graveyard Book, what creatures "have hairless wings, and they fly low and fast. They do not visit this world, but they fly the red skies above the road to Ghulheim" (72)?
A: Night-Gaunts
Nightgaunts seem to be good creatures in The Graveyard Book; they help to rescue Bod from the evil ghouls (93). Doing some research on Nightgaunts, I found that they are not always portrayed this way. When they appear in H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamcycle, they are quite terrifying. Lovecraft has said that the nighgaunt was inspired by his childhood nightmares.
Q: Which monster got it's characteristic traits from a famous book written in 1897?
A: The vampire.
Dracula was written by Bram Stroker in 1897. While there were previous myths about creatures that could have been considered vampires, Stroker brought all of the characteristics we now associate with vampires together and created an image of the classic vampire. He is seduces his victims before drinking their blood; he is immortal, but has weaknesses like garlic and crucifixes; he can transform into a bat or sometimes a wolf; and of course, they have fangs that they use to feed on the blood of the living.
Q: What is the general term for a supernatural entity that supposedly possesses energy, yet don't have any material substance?
A: Ghost.
The existence of ghosts has not been proven by science, yet many people still believe in them. Some people think ghosts can be harmful, while others believe they are simply trying to communicate with the living world. They are believed to posses energy, yet they have no physical body. Ghosts are thought to be able to possess humans, and use their bodies as sort of vehicles to communicate. Ghosts are also thought to be responsible for haunting. In The Graveyard Book, we can observe lots of classic traits of ghosts, but the most obvious is that they cannot be seen by most humans.
Q: What is the term for a specific type of spirit that interferes with the human world in malicious and haunting ways?
A: Poltergeist.
A poltergeist is a spirit thought to interact with the human world with the intention of scaring and haunting people. They typically can move objects, make noises, and sometimes even hurt people. Poltergeists are also very ancient creatures, most likely appearing in early myths and legends about demons. There is a a case that supposedly proves poltergeists exist that occurred in England in the 1970s. (I think that is what the movie is based on). A scientist named Vladistav Bukreev claimed to have documented severe poltergeist activity in the home of an English family. He reports broken windows, flying bricks, injuries to the children, and floating objects. The film Poltergeist (1982) is a good example of what is believed about poltergeists.
Q: How was Liza Hempstock (and many other "witches") killed?
A: Drowning.
Liza Hempstock was executed in a way that countless other people accused of witchcraft were during the witch hunts at different points in history. She was dragged from her home because someone accused her of witchcraft, and then put on trial. She was strapped to a stool and forced beneath the water where she eventually "got a lung full of water" and died (110). This was a classic way for the accusers to see if the accused were guilty or not. If the "witch" did not drown, he/she was confirmed as a witch. This is because of their magic and their immunity too baptism (and water, apparently). However, an innocent person would simply drown - thus proving their innocence. Of course, by that time it would be too late to do anything to save them.
Q: What monster is known in The Graveyard Book as the "Hounds of God" and who is a Hound of God in the novel?
A: Werewolves & Miss Lupescu
"Those that men call Werewolves or Lycanthropes call themselves The Hounds of God, as they claim their transformation is a gift from their creator, and they repay the gift with their tenacity, for they will pursue an evildoer to the very gates of Hell" (97). In this book, werewolves are good creatures who protect others and take revenge on evil spirits or people. However, in popular culture, werewolves are evil creatures who will surely eat you if you ever encounter one. They transform from human to werewolf because of a full moon, and they roam the night ravaging people, and sometimes even graves. In Gaiman's story, however, the Hounds of God seem to be the most noble and protective creatures in the supernatural world.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghoul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightgaunt
http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/vampire.htm
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/esp/ghosts-spirits.html
http://www.trueghosttales.com/poltergeist.php
http://www.yourdiscovery.com/best_of/true_horror/witches/index.shtml
http://alam25.tripod.com/index.htm
A: Ghoul.
A Ghoul is thought to be a despicable creature who robs graves and feeds off the corpses. Ghouls are a part of ancient Arabic folklore, and it's thought that this is where they were first mentioned. Ghouls are the lowest of the low when referring to the spiritual world. In The Graveyard Book, ghouls are described as "...parasites and scavengers, eaters of carrion" (82). It is also thought that ancient ghouls are the inspiration to today's zombies - both have to eat other beings to survive.
Q: According to The Graveyard Book, what creatures "have hairless wings, and they fly low and fast. They do not visit this world, but they fly the red skies above the road to Ghulheim" (72)?
A: Night-Gaunts
Nightgaunts seem to be good creatures in The Graveyard Book; they help to rescue Bod from the evil ghouls (93). Doing some research on Nightgaunts, I found that they are not always portrayed this way. When they appear in H.P. Lovecraft's Dreamcycle, they are quite terrifying. Lovecraft has said that the nighgaunt was inspired by his childhood nightmares.
Q: Which monster got it's characteristic traits from a famous book written in 1897?
A: The vampire.
Dracula was written by Bram Stroker in 1897. While there were previous myths about creatures that could have been considered vampires, Stroker brought all of the characteristics we now associate with vampires together and created an image of the classic vampire. He is seduces his victims before drinking their blood; he is immortal, but has weaknesses like garlic and crucifixes; he can transform into a bat or sometimes a wolf; and of course, they have fangs that they use to feed on the blood of the living.
Q: What is the general term for a supernatural entity that supposedly possesses energy, yet don't have any material substance?
A: Ghost.
The existence of ghosts has not been proven by science, yet many people still believe in them. Some people think ghosts can be harmful, while others believe they are simply trying to communicate with the living world. They are believed to posses energy, yet they have no physical body. Ghosts are thought to be able to possess humans, and use their bodies as sort of vehicles to communicate. Ghosts are also thought to be responsible for haunting. In The Graveyard Book, we can observe lots of classic traits of ghosts, but the most obvious is that they cannot be seen by most humans.
Q: What is the term for a specific type of spirit that interferes with the human world in malicious and haunting ways?
A: Poltergeist.
A poltergeist is a spirit thought to interact with the human world with the intention of scaring and haunting people. They typically can move objects, make noises, and sometimes even hurt people. Poltergeists are also very ancient creatures, most likely appearing in early myths and legends about demons. There is a a case that supposedly proves poltergeists exist that occurred in England in the 1970s. (I think that is what the movie is based on). A scientist named Vladistav Bukreev claimed to have documented severe poltergeist activity in the home of an English family. He reports broken windows, flying bricks, injuries to the children, and floating objects. The film Poltergeist (1982) is a good example of what is believed about poltergeists.
Q: How was Liza Hempstock (and many other "witches") killed?
A: Drowning.
Liza Hempstock was executed in a way that countless other people accused of witchcraft were during the witch hunts at different points in history. She was dragged from her home because someone accused her of witchcraft, and then put on trial. She was strapped to a stool and forced beneath the water where she eventually "got a lung full of water" and died (110). This was a classic way for the accusers to see if the accused were guilty or not. If the "witch" did not drown, he/she was confirmed as a witch. This is because of their magic and their immunity too baptism (and water, apparently). However, an innocent person would simply drown - thus proving their innocence. Of course, by that time it would be too late to do anything to save them.
Q: What monster is known in The Graveyard Book as the "Hounds of God" and who is a Hound of God in the novel?
A: Werewolves & Miss Lupescu
"Those that men call Werewolves or Lycanthropes call themselves The Hounds of God, as they claim their transformation is a gift from their creator, and they repay the gift with their tenacity, for they will pursue an evildoer to the very gates of Hell" (97). In this book, werewolves are good creatures who protect others and take revenge on evil spirits or people. However, in popular culture, werewolves are evil creatures who will surely eat you if you ever encounter one. They transform from human to werewolf because of a full moon, and they roam the night ravaging people, and sometimes even graves. In Gaiman's story, however, the Hounds of God seem to be the most noble and protective creatures in the supernatural world.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghoul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightgaunt
http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/vampire.htm
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/esp/ghosts-spirits.html
http://www.trueghosttales.com/poltergeist.php
http://www.yourdiscovery.com/best_of/true_horror/witches/index.shtml
http://alam25.tripod.com/index.htm
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A Child's Crusade
This is a war that must be fought.
Although I may die,
Or worse – get caught,
I must continue to fight.
Our adventure will be trying,
But we shall be brave.
For even through dying,
Our souls will be saved.
Our courage never wanes,
Even though, we are small.
We’ll fight through our pain,
And conquer them all!
In the face of death,
We will cry not.
We will strive ‘til our last breath.
This is a war that must be fought.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Brenda Swamp
Brenda
Brenda was a happy little girl. She loved to play around the swamp, even though sometimes it was scary. Her parents always told her not to go there because an alligator could swallow her up. Since she had never seen an alligator, she thought that was ridiculous. It smelled funny in the swamp, but she kind of liked it. She sometimes pretended she was a pirate or a swamp creature. She'd make silly growling noises and raise her arms above her head and curl her fingers. She thought she must be the scariest swamp creature that ever lived.
Brenda turned 10 in the summer, and she thought now that her age was in double digits, she was big enough to go to the swamp at night. She still knew that her parents would not be happy about this, so she lied and said she was going to the big hill to look at the stars. She started growling and lurching along, as she usually did. Then, she heard something growl back. First, she was terrified, but then she convinced herself she was just hearing things. But, the convincing wasn't going so well, so she decided it was time to go home.
She began to gather her things, and started to climb out of the smelly swamp. Just as she was reaching up to grab hold of a tree branch for some leverage, she felt something grab her ankle. It was the swamp creature! She didn't have time to even look at what it was, and she let out a single scream before she was pulled down into the swampy waters. Her last memory was of her mom and dad. She should have listened to them.
The swamp was named for her, "Brenda Swamp," and if you ever pass by it at night you might see Brenda. "Her ghost lived in the swamp. It was looking for her parents" (87). Her mom and dad figured out where she died, but they never found her body. So Brenda's spirit will spend eternity searching for them.
This is why you must always listen to your parents and older sister, because we know where the dangers are. And anytime you think you know better, and that you don't have to listen, just remember that poor girl, Brenda. Can you imagine what it must feel like to be stuck in a swamp forever, searching, but never finding your mom and dad?
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