Day 3 without a backpack 5/24

Today, I realized that I was in the same situation as my peers, despite the fact that I did not bring a backpack to school. Along with a lot of other people, the only book that I brought to school was my yearbook.  I felt just like everyone else.  Most seniors did not have backpacks because many of them did not have classes, or were planning on skipping.  Life was very normal without a backpack today.  I did not misplace anything, but rather made sure I kept my yearbook at my side.

Day 2 without a backpack 5/23

Today I only had to take one binder to school, making it unnecseccary to have a backpack.  It was very easy when I had to put something away because I didn't have to reach into a backpack.  However I had some trouble when it came time to do my homework.  I realized that I had set my backpack down in the quad and had forgotten to pick it up when I went to my room. Tomorrow I will need to remind myself to pick up my binder.  I think my forgetfullness was due to the fact that I didn't come to school with a backpack, so I didn't expect to leave with one. 

Day 1 without a backpack 5/22

I woke up in the moring and reached for my backpack, but realized I only needed my math binder.  It was very wierd to walk out of my room without putting a backpack on my back.  I walked to class and just put the binder on my desk.  In a way, not having a backpack was making my life easier. 

Anticipation: Giving up my backpack

I will soon start to give up one integral aspect of my life.  Tomorrow I will start a full week without using my backpack.  I will need to carry everything I take to school in my hands.  Hopefully I don't have to take a lot of stuff to school this week.  I am also afraid that if I set my books down, someone will mistake them for their own.  I believe it will be interesting to never have to look for my backpack.  I have become so accustomed to picking up my backpack before I go to class. 

Standing 50 feet away looking kind of spooked

The Sherman family had just landed in Salt Lake City, Utah and were excited to head up to their cabin just below the Park City Ski Resort.  After driving up the pitch black, iced over roads, they reached their cabin.  The outside temperature was sub zero and they all decided to go to sleep right when they arrived, in preparation for a long day of skiing.  When they awoke the next day snow was falling in heaps, covering everything in their sight outside.  They were eager to get out onto the mountain and catch some of the fresh pow.  The family was surrounded by fog on their first chairlift ride up to the peak of the mountain.  The fog coupled with the snowfall was so dense that they could barely see 10 feet in front of themselves.  Cautiously, they were making their way down the trails and making first tracks in the fresh powder.  By lunch time the family was exhausted and decided to take one more run through an adventure park that weaved through many trees.  On their way down, they boy in the family saw a white sheet in the trees that resembled the snow covering them, but knew that it wasn't snow.  He stopped and wanted to climb up and see what it was.  Because there was so much powder, his parents allowed him to do so.  When he reached the height of the white blanket, he pulled on it and all of a sudden, a body fell right on front of the boys father. The parachuter had been dead for a few days.

Letter to Cohn

Robert Cohn:  He is a prime example of a man struggling to find a meaning to his life.  While in college he tried to become something he was not, boxing to try and combat his shyness and the mistreatment he received at Princeton for being a Jew.  He decided to leave Princeton and essentially start a new life in France with his friend Jake.  However, this turns into a catastrophe once the two friends get caught up living a frivolous lifestyle, full of excessive drinking and partying.  Cohn's problem was that he had no idea how to accomplish what he desired.  He continued to live off of the allowance from his mother, rather than support himself.  He was not happy with his love life and was distressed that he could not find a secure partner and settle down somewhere.  Since both he and his friend Jake shared feelings for Brett, it caused turmoil between the two.  In a way, Cohn was acting like a child; going to parties, accomplishing very little, and then mindlessly complaining about the problems in his life.  As an adult, he has the capability to affect his life, but has chosen not to up to this point.  

The meaning of life can be very subjective.  Every human can choose what they want to do with their lives, meaning that everyone's choice will be somewhat different.  Although every day humans are faced with the stereotypes of what their lives should mean, people still have the choice not conform.  We are told we must go to school, then college, then find a job, then we will be happy.  However, is this the case for everyone?  The only person who dictates their life is the human themselves.  Many individuals have a difficult time finding the meaning of their life.  Some turn to religion to solve this for them, while others venture out and find a passion that they would like to pursue in their lifetime.  In The Sun Also Rises, the characters have failed to find a meaning to their lives.  Rather, they are living spontaneously with large amounts of drinking and partying.    Bill and Jake come closer to finding meaning to their lives when they are out fishing and living simple lifestyles without excessive drinking.  In my opinion, life is what you make of it.  If you want to live a plentiful life, find what makes you happy, and pursue it.