Learn to Love free essay sample

It’s a weird feeling, not knowing who your parents are, not knowing your family. Sure, there are the two people who have raised you, and all of their relatives. They all love you to death, treat you like their own. And I love them too. I would never trade them for anyone in the world. But sometimes I wonder. Do I have my mom’s eyes? My dad’s smile? Did my unnatural fear of anything with more than six legs come from them? Being adopted does not really bother me. I do not feel unloved, or empty, like some people say they do. My family is my family. I just wonder sometimes about my birth parents. I wonder what they are doing, what’s happened in their lives since they gave me up. I was always told that they cared deeply about me, and gave me to my parents so that I would be better taken care of. We will write a custom essay sample on Learn to Love or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Up until recently, I didn’t think about them very much. They were like strangers to me. I had never met them, and I went on just as if they weren’t there, as if my parents were my birth ones. My life was good. Loving parents who would give up the world for me. Great friends, breezing through school. There were tough times too, of course. My parents always had trouble, but it got worse this year. It really affected me. My grades started slipping, I didn’t want to go out as much. When my mom and I moved out in June, I vowed to make sure I pulled myself together, and never slipped like that. It made me strong. During that time, I thought about my birth parents more than usual, thinking about if they ever had problems like that. I became curious. My mother had always vaguely mentioned that she had things from my real father, and suddenly I wanted to see them. He wrote me a letter. In it, he talks about how much he loves me. Asks if I love singing like my mom, if I h ad an unfathomable love for stuffed animals like he did. And I do. Singing can always brighten my day, and my closet has been bursting with stuffed animals ever since I was a little girl. Having connections like that with people that I have never even met baffles and amazes me. I read their descriptions, and found that I have my mom’s green eyes and my dad’s dark hair. Maybe I look like them, maybe there’s not much resemblance. I have no clue. At the end of the letter, he talks about how one day, if I want to, to come and find him, and he’ll welcome me with open arms. Right now, I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. I’ve lived my whole life without knowing him, and done just fine. But inside, I have a deep desire to meet him, or even just talk to him on the phone, hear his voice. Knowing that he really does care, and wished that he hadn’t had to give me up makes me feel warm inside. It takes such great strength to give up someone you care about, and I hope that some of that strength got passed down to me. I think that it must have. Many people who are adopted hate their birth parents for giving them up. But I don’t. I believe that being adopted has taught me many things. Compassion, because instead of not caring about my birth parents, I love them more because they had the courage to do what was best for me, even if it wasn’t what they wanted. Forgiveness, because before I read any of my father’s apologies for giving me up, I had already forgiven him. There really wasn’t anything to forgive. And finally, I learned what it means to truly love someone. Nicholas Sparks wrote in one of his books, â€Å"I finally understood what true love meantlove meant that you care for another persons happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.† My parents gave me up because they couldn’t give me the life they wanted me to have, and cared more ab out my happiness and well-being than how hard it would be for them to give me up. Knowing this has shaped my life. It has given me a strong love for helping other people, because a deep love and compassion for literally everyone has been instilled in me. Making people happy is what makes me happy. That is why I want to be a physical therapist. Not for the money, not for anything except for the simple fact that I want to make people feel better, and make them happy. I have a long road ahead of me, both in school, and in finding my birth parents. But, as with all things in life that are worth reaching, the final destination is always worth a difficult journey.

The Enlightment

Introduction During the middle ages, Europe experienced a dogmatic style of leadership from the church and state respectively. The Catholic Church was then an established church thus making Christianity the prevailing religion in Europe. The state, on the other hand, was governed by monarchs. These two established institutions had an overwhelming authority. While the church practiced orthodox Christianity, tyranny was the state’s way of leadership.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Enlightment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Undermining the authority of these institutions meant prosecution or sometimes even death. Therefore, absolute adherence to the principles and dogmata of both, the church and state was the only option. But, as time passed by, change became eminent and all efforts by the church and state to subdue people and then make them succumb to their wimps and caprices became a mirage. (Is rael 2001) This was the beginning of the Enlightement movement. It was the time of rebirth of Europe and the time that will never be forgotten by humanity. Age of Enlightement From 1650-1700, there was a movement in Europe which was spearheaded by intellectuals who sought to change the abuses in the church and the tyranny in the state. This movement which was one of the greatest the world had ever seen, is often described or referred to by scholars as the â€Å"Age of Enlightement† or â€Å"Age of Reason.† (Staloff 2005) As already aforementioned, prior to the â€Å"Age of Enlightement,† the church and state respectively were the institutions that controlled people and the state of affairs, in general. Anything outside the confines of the church’s teachings was considered to be evil and satanic. The Catholic Church had zero tolerance to anyone who objected or acted contrary to its orthodox and rigid teachings. In the case of the state, any person, or grou p of persons who dared to challenge its tyranny was prosecuted. In the 16th and 17th centuries, precisely from 1650-1700, intellects across Europe campaigned for societal reforms. Such great people like, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, John Locke, Baruch Spinoza, Pierre Bayle and others were part and parcel of the Enlightement movement. During this time, the movement which had originally started in France quickly spread throughout Europe and even America. (Staloff 2005) Scholars have various opinions about the actual purpose of the Enlightement movement. While some believe that political and economic reasons were responsible for the agitation, others think differently.Advertising Looking for term paper on eastern europe? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, it is important to note that, prior to the â€Å"Age of Enlightement,† civilization was based on faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church as well as absolu te respect for the monarch’s authority, thus, giving immense power to such institutions. But the movement agitated for democracy instead of tyranny and the dogmatic way the church taught. The â€Å"Age of Enlightement† played a significant role in the history of Europe and indeed the entire world. The Impact Enlightement Philosophy had on Europe’s Religions In The 16th and 17th Centuries Prior to the â€Å"Age of Enlightement’† the Catholic Church was the established church in Europe which made Christianity the religion prevalent among Europeans. But the church was dogmatic in its teachings and the Pope being in charge of the Catholic Church, had an immense power. Due to the powers that were bestowed on the Pope, any challenge, deed or act that contravened the teachings of the Catholic Church meant outright prosecution to the people involved. During the dark ages, the church killed thousands of people. Furthermore, the rigidness of the church was a stumbling block to development and scientific discoveries. For instance, Galileo Galilei was prevented from teaching because in the year in 1632 he had written that the earth moved round the sun. He was a catholic priest and he was taken to the Vatican and made recant his writings and beliefs. His theory about the earth’s movement was absolutely correct. The church was against it because the Bible explicitly states that the sun moved round the earth and not vice versa. As a clergy and a scientist, Galileo was in a very good position to defend his theory but the church never gave him that privilege. Any other person in Europe with a scientific discovery that contradicted the church’s dogmata would not have dared to publish it due to the powers of the Pope. (Sorkin 2008) What is more, the church never witnessed for slavery. The failure of the church to out rightly condemn slavery made things a lot easier for the Europeans. During the 16th and 17th century when slave tra de was the trend in Europe, the Catholic Church was the only institution that was powerful enough to confront the state, however, it chose to remain mute. All these were the acts of the church prior to the â€Å"Age of Enlightement.† But after the Enlightement campaign, scientific discoveries were freely and openly made even if they contradicted or disputed the Bible. People became bold and more enlightened due to the impact of the Enlightement Age. Religion survived the Enlightement era but it weakened due the impact of the movement. Furthermore, the Catholic Church was transformed significantly bearing a slight resemblance to what it had been before . The Impact of the Enlightement Philosophy on Europe’s Political Institutions In the 16th and 17th Centuries In the early ages most European countries were ruled by monarchs. This means that royal families ruled nations and members of such families were treated with respect. The entire wealth of nations was used for the upkeep and welfare of the royal families at the expense of the social class. Due to the absence of human rights, the masses didn’t have a say so they continued to live in abject poverty while the monarchs flourished in stupendous wealth and luxury.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Enlightment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Enlightement movement agitated for democracy which would cater for the well being of the masses. It also made people realize that with democracy, social amenities like hospitals, educational facilities, flexible health systems and industries would be provided. Having realized this fact, the masses were quick to believe the ideologies of the philosophers who led the Enlightement campaign. As people began to realize the benefits of living in a democratic state, they began to speak up and demand justice. This led to declaration of the rights of man and of citizens in France. In Poland, the Polish-Lithuanian constitution was written in 1791. But this change was not limited to Europe as well. It also had an impact on the America’s political systems. In the United States of America the Enlightement campaign led to a revolution and its later declaration of independence. (Robin Kaiser 2003) Notable figures who led the Enlightement campaign in America were Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. As time went by, the bill of rights was passed and included into the constitution of the United States of America. Germany, England, Spain, Scotland, Russia, Italy and Austria were other European nations where the Enlightment movement influenced their political systems. By the beginning of the 18th century, almost the entire Europe had been changed politically. The monarchy was totally abandoned for democracy and within a century, it became a pale shadow of its self. The Impact of the Enlightement Philosophy on Europe’s Social Class In the 16th and 17th Centuries Europe’s social class was the group of people who had suffered the tyranny of monarchs and enjoyed the era of Enlightement. Prior to the â€Å"Age of Enlightement,† the elite in the society were the few who were privileged to be either relatives or cronies of the monarchs. It was changed during the movement and Europe was reborn. The average man and woman who made up the social class could voice out their displeasure when necessary and also demand their due royalty. This was totally unattainable during the era of the monarchs. Furthermore, the dividends of the Enlightement philosophy were directly beneficial to the social class who had earlier been marginalized by tyrants. The abolishment of slave trade and the establishment of equal human rights regardless of age, race or height are examples of how the Enlightement impacted the social class. (Melton 2001)Advertising Looking for term paper on eastern europe? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another tremendous impact of the Enlightement movement on the social class is the coming of democracy. Apart from the abolishment of slave trade, people were now free to contest for political positions and rule nations. Leadership was only made for monarchs but democracy changed such situation. So, the average man or woman was considered ordinary who could also take up political positions. Conclusion The democracy changed Europe as well as other parts of the world like Africa. This would have been impossible if the intellects who led the Enlightement campaign had not spoken up against the church and state. Also, the declaration of human rights in many European nations was another important achievement of the Enlightement philosophy. With the declaration of human rights and with millions of human rights activists in the world today, it is impossible to enslave people again. The Enlightement has reformed the society and librated humanity from ignorance and tyranny. Its impact is still being felt. Reference List Israel, Jonathan. Radical enlightenment. Philosophy and the Making of Modernity 58, no.4 (2001): 585-625. Melton, James. 2001. The Rise of the public in Enlightenment Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Robin W. Winks and Thomas E. Kaiser. 2003. Europe from the Old Regime to the age of revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Sorkin, David. 2008. The religious Enlightenment: Protestants, Jews, and Catholics from London to Vienna. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Staloff, Darren. 2005. The politics of Enlightenment. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. This term paper on The Enlightment was written and submitted by user Anderson Bonner to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Rice Thailand Native Foods

Rice Thailand Native Foods Introduction Despite the fact that food is a commodity consumed by all people in the world, different countries and people are associated with a specific type of food which is native to them. The native food types of any country or ethnic group make the larger part of their cuisine as part of cultural representations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rice: Thailand Native Foods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The specific food types therefore contribute to their culture and values in the society. However, there are regions that hold more to their cultures as compared to others. For example, most of the Asian nations still hold their cultural roots unlike their counterparts in Europe and America. This paper is therefore about the representative food(s) of an Asian nation known as Thailand. The Country’s food item Thailand is a country located in the south east of Asia. The common language spoken in Thailand is Thai hence making the Thai people. The country is endowed with many natural resources as well as agricultural products such as rice in which Thailand is the largest world exporter of rice (Cummings, 2000, p.211). Thus, rice is the staple food of the Thai people and especially the jasmine variety of rice which makes up the largest portion of the Thai cuisine. The Thai cuisine is known internationally because of the seasoning combination used. As a matter of fact, it is a blend of all the five key tastes namely spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet. The Thai cuisine is made up rice (Known as Khao in Thailand) that is served with other accompanying dishes made of sauces, salads and curries among others (Kahrs, 2000, p. 76). Its role, image and use Social occasions in Thailand are not complete without the Thai cuisine. As a matter of fact, food in Thailand can be a reason to hold celebrations, something that is very unusual in other nations. Apart from rice forming part of every meal in Thailand, it plays a great role in earning foreign income to the country. This is because, it exports rice to the world market and because of its high quality it has high demand in the market thus fetching much income (Schmidt, 2005, p.1). Rice has on the other hand created an image of Thailand globally. Thailand is among the first nations that people think of when you mention rice.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More History of rice in Thailand For a long period of time rice has formed the heart of every meal in Thailand. Rice is said to have its origin in the Asian arc, from where it spread to other continents. However, the Thailand people have their own history with regard to the origin of rice. They claim that Lord Vishnu is the one who gave birth to rice thereafter the people were taught how to raise the rice by a God called Indra (Huke and Huke, 1990, p.1). It is be cause of this that the growth of rice in Thailand is considered as a holistic activity despite its economic and health benefits. Social and cultural roles of the Rice in Thailand Rice plays a big role in terms of social and cultural functions among the Thai people. It is the main food consumed during their social occasions and gatherings. As mentioned above, the practice of growing rice in Thailand is not only for health and economic benefits but it is also a cultural practice. It is the food that is used in shrines to give to the Thai gods. Studies done have also indicated that the spirit of rice is usually attached to the rice fields hence making rice a holistic commodity in Thailand. It is because of this that throwing away rice in Thailand is a taboo, which if gone against may lead to bad omen to the land. Religious uses The native food of Thailand has religious uses in that there is the ‘god of rice’ who gets very annoyed whenever rice is thrown away. The god of ri ce may cause bad luck or even phenomena such as famine whenever he is angry. It is therefore a taboo to throw away food and especially rice in Thailand. Because of this, most of the restaurants in Thailand have employed a deity who keeps watch as people eat to ensure that no food with rice is thrown away. In addition to this, since most people in Thai are Buddhists, they make food offerings in the temple which comprises of rice to feed the spirits. Conclusion From the above discussion it can be clearly seen that rice plays a great role among the people of Thailand as their staple or native food. This importance ranges from economic, food, social and cultural benefits. It has also been seen that rice is the forms the heart of the Thai cuisine (Schmidt, 2005, p.1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Rice: Thailand Native Foods specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, due to relations with their neighbouring countries, t he Thailand cuisine has had variations as compared to the traditional cuisine. This is because of the cultural influences from those countries. Nevertheless, the influences have not had much effect because the Thai cuisine is still internationally famous for its unique taste. Reference List Cummings, J. (2000). World Food Thailand. Victoria, Australia: Lonely Planet Publications Huke, R. and Huke, H. (1990). A Brief History of Rice. Web. Kahrs, K. (2003). Thai Cooking. Dallas: Hackberry Press. Schmidt, D. (2005). Thai Food and Culture. Retrieved from https://www.thespruceeats.com/thai-food-and-culture-3217393

Real Irish Republican Army (IRA) Profile

Real Irish Republican Army (IRA) Profile The Real IRA was formed in 1997 when the Provisional IRA entered into negotiations for a ceasefire with Northern Ireland unionists. Two members of the PIRA Executive, Michael McKevitt and a fellow Executive member and common law wife Bernadette Sands-McKevitt, are the core of the new group. Real IRA Principles The Real IRA rejected the principle of non-violent resolution that formed the basis of the ceasefire negotiations. This principle has been stated in the six Mitchell principles and the Belfast Agreement, which would be signed in 1998. Real IRA members also objected to the division of Ireland into a southern independent Republic and Northern Ireland. They wanted an undivided Irish republic with no compromise with Unionists – those who wanted to join in a union with the United Kingdom.   A Violent Approach The Real IRA used terrorist tactics on a regular basis to hit economic targets as well as specific symbolic human targets. Improvised explosive devices and car bombs were typical weapons. The Real IRA was responsible for the Omagh bombing on August 15, 1998. The attack in the center of the Northern Irish town killed 29 people and wounded between 200 and 300 others. Reports of injuries vary. The devastating attack prompted severe hostility toward RIRA, even from Sinn Fein leaders Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams. McKevitt was convicted for directing terrorism in 2003 for his participation in the attack. Other members were arrested in France and Ireland in 2003. The group also involved itself in hunt-and-kill missions aimed at drug dealers and organized crime.   The Real IRA in the Millennium Although the Real IRA fractured considerably with the passage of time, MI5 – the UKs intelligence agency – called it the UKs primary threat in July  2008 based on surveillance evidence. MI5 estimated that the group had about 80 members  as of July 2008, all willing to conduct bombings or other attacks. Then, in 2012, the splintering RIRA merged with other terrorist groups with the goal of forming what the new group called a unified structure under a single leadership. The move is said to have been prompted by McGuinness shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth. In keeping with RIRAs vigilante efforts against drug dealers, one of these groups was Radical Action Against Drugs or RAAD.   Both RIRA and the media have referred to the group as the New IRA since this joining of forces. The New IRA has said that it intends to target British forces, police and the Ulster Bank headquarters. The Irish Times called it the deadliest of the dissident republican groupings in 2016, and its been active in recent years. The group detonated a bomb in front of the home of a Londonderry, England police officers home in February 2016. Another police officer was attacked in January 2017, and the New IRA is reportedly behind a series of shootings in Belfast, including that of a 16-year-old boy.

Economic Nature of the Construction Industry Assignment

Economic Nature of the Construction Industry - Assignment Example Later on, Karl Marx introduced his ideas of exploitation of labor by capital and concluded that the huge constructions that the economy witnessed were all the result of labor that were unjustly and unethically denied the fruits of their efforts which were usurped by capitalists. With progress of time, came the Great Depression and the development of a radically new approach to macroeconomics by John Maynard Keynes. Faced with gloomy prospects of an ever deepening economic depression where the roaring economy of United States that was confident that good times will last forever suddenly faced a scary scenario where jobs vanished and with it the much vaunted purchasing power of populace, Keynes had to think of an way out of that desperate situation. He realized that increasing aggregate demand was the only way out and chose construction industry as the most convenient vehicle of autonomous investment to undertaken by the US government. He prescribed large doses of investment by the gov ernment in construction industry that would, through multiplier effect, generate substantial aggregate demand and consequent rise in general price level that would be sufficient to motivate producers to undertake induced investment. Once this process gets started the upward moving price-wage spiral would pull the entire economy out of the depths of depression. Construction industry is seldom characterized by cutting edge innovations. Any new technique implemented by a builder is quickly replicated by competitors and generally all firms in the industry have access to similar technology. Thus it is an industry that experiences intense competition among equally formidable rivals. It is also an industry where production cycle is possibly the longest and with huge potential for employment requiring substantial levels of continuous investment to keep the industry healthy, construction industry becomes one of the benchmarks for judging the overall

Library Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Library Research - Assignment Example For our company performance play a vital role in determining pay, promotions, transfers, terminations and other such decisions that impact well-being as well as the overall company performance. Thus access to objective performance evaluation systems is key to the overall benefit of the company, employees and the society. An objective performance management system will help improve the relationship between the managers and their subordinates as well as boost motivation (Jackson et al.2011). As a newly designated manager for the HR department, we would ensure that performance management is properly designed, documented and implemented (Pope, ). It should be clearly understood that proper execution of the program cannot be done without cooperation of line managers and unless the top management shows commitment to it. Activities such as ensuring performance management is embraced on a daily-basis, timely completion of performance reviews, providing valuable feedback throughout the process and making developmental opportunities available to high performers are all responsibilities of line managers. Thus it is the proper execution of the performance management program by management and line-managers that can make or break it. The role of HR for this proper execution would be to: According to the evaluation of past organizational practices, some departments have informally attempted to introduce performance-based pay systems in the form of appraisals. This process needs to be properly documented and managed by the HR department in coordination with other department managers. It has been proven in a study conducted by Subramanov, Krause, Nortom and Burns in 2008 that creating a model for competitive pay can be used as incentive to enhance a company’s performance via enhanced employee performance (Chow et. Al, 2012). Some aspects that the new appraisal system should incorporate are: The role of performance of company executive and their management teams

The Women of Dreaming in Cuban Essay Example for Free

The Women of Dreaming in Cuban Essay Four characters spanning three generations dominate the storyline of Dreaming in Cuban (Garcia, 1992), four women of the same blood who could not possibly contrast more. Centered on the rise to power of Fidel Castro and the ways in which the members of the family del Pino embraced or rejected la revolucion, Dreaming in Cuban is poignant tale enriched with beautiful language. The matriarch of the family is Celia del Pino, a woman whose passion for the lost love of her youth can be replaced only, but not completely, by her ardor for the socialist ideals Castro brings to the island. Celia stands alone in her patriotic zeal; her lone companero in the family, son Javier, disappears to Czechoslovakia to further the movement there and to hide his politics from his father, Jorge. Celia is, of all her family, the only one suited to bear the torment life brings to them all. She knew before they were born that her daughters, though flesh of her flesh, would be strangers to her. And although she would realize before his death that she had grown to love her husband, it was a different love than the torturous passion she bore for Gustavo, her wayward Spanish lover who disappeared from her life completely when she was just a young woman, not a love to replace but to reside, understandingly, alongside it. Even her zeal for El Lider and the revolution, a cause to which she could devote herself fully as she was never able as a wife and mother, exposed to her that quality which is mostly non-existent among men, a spirit of generosity. She knew that, without it, Cuba would fail (Garcia 114,115). Celia’s daughters are as different as the countries they live in. Lourdes, eldest, whose name her mother at her birth vowed to forget (Garcia 43), would immigrate to America to escape Castro and the revolution, while Felicia would be imprisoned by cruel husband who would nearly destroy her. Lourdes, always her father’s daughter, was fittingly named after the miraculous French locale (Garcia 42). Fitting not because there was anything miraculous about her, but because it reflected the faith Jorge embraced and Celia scorned. By being born a girl, Lourdes denied her mother the chance to escape her marriage and seek out Gustavo in Spain, and it was perhaps due to the consequent shunning that Lourdes’ various attempts at different types of fulfillment are seemingly in vain. Whether by constantly eating, constantly sexually devouring her poor husband, over-mothering her daughter Pilar or harrying the immigrants who are always so briefly in her employ, Lourdes never manages to be fully satisfied with herself or with the world. Even her conversations with her father after his death left her confused and disoriented, as if the solace he sought to bring her only furthered her malcontent. Felicia was also named with portent, though in a much more sinister fashion than her sister. When Celia was in the hospital she met a woman who had murdered her husband by dousing him in gasoline and lighting him on fire. She would later be killed, also by being burned alive. Her name was Felicia; Celia would name her second daughter in memory of her friend. Felicia would grow to marry a man, a merchant marine who was rarely home, and when he was only to abuse his wife and share his venereal diseases. Losing herself in that horrible place that resides choosing between family and family, Felicia would eventually seek to free herself as her namesake had, by burning her husband. Unfortunately for Felicia she did not manage to fully escape the clutches of unreality, and she would even drag her young son Ivanito into its grasp. Pilar is Lourdes’ headstrong, rebellious daughter. Having moved to America with her mother at a very young age, she has a rather idyllic memory of her grandmother and Cuba, but it is what she longs to return to. For her entire life in the U. S. , her mother has sought to repress her, much as she would like to suppress the revolution the took her homeland from her. Much as Lourdes remembers the first words her mother spoke in her presence, Pilar remembers conversations word for word all the way back into her infancy. Pilar’s great understanding of things at such a young age was likely why she did not simply accept things for what they were as many children do. And her refusal to accept the state of things, a feeling all of the other women in her family can readily identify with, would lead to her running away bringing on a whole new world of problems to understand. From generation to generation, the women of the del Pino family are constantly and consistently different. Pilar was born at the beginning of the revolution but would grow up away from it, her mother and aunt were the of the generation targeted by the movement but would ultimately resist it, and only Celia, her grandmother, of the conservative generation mostly likely to scorn socialism would completely embrace it. And so each generation of the family stood alienated; alienated from the others of their own respective generations whose ideals did not match their own, and alienated from their own family members for the same reason and many more. Looking back on one’s own life, it is easy to remember the feeling of the latter, rolling your eyes at your out-dated parents or sighing in exasperation at your rebellious children. But imagine having no peers to turn to, no comrades to share stories and advice with, no empathy anywhere to be found. It is no wonder fulfillment was ever beyond their grasp. If the women of this story share any common ground, it is in their blood and their inability to find peace. And one, quite possibly, could be used to help the other. A great deal of the trials these women face lie in the division amongst them, and if they ever tried to address that, then maybe they wouldn’t have to continually seek answers in pecan sticky buns and Cuban sugar cane fields and Santeria cults. Perhaps that is the solace the spirit of Jorge del Pino is trying to bring; perhaps he is saying, â€Å"You are my family, my blood, my wife, my daughters, my granddaughters. Know that there will be differences. Know that you have made mistakes and will have regrets. Agree to disagree. Forgive one another. Love one another. Move on. † Perhaps that is a little too simplistic. But I recognize something in this story that is all too common among people, a throw-your-hands-up attitude that occurs when life happens and the current feels too strong. People are willing to surrender to one crisis in order to reach the calm waters that bridge the gap to the next. But if you don’t learn how to handle the rapids, what do you do when you reach the waterfall? References Garcia, Cristina. Dreaming in Cuban. New York, Ballantine. 1992.