The Death of Ivan Ilych

         I've been reading a short story called, "The Death of Ivan Ilych", and it tells about a man who always strives to have the perfect life.  Everything has to be "just so" in order for him to be happy. He made his way up in society, he married, he had children, and although everything seemed flawless on the outside, it wasn't in reality.  He worked hard, he always fought with his wife, and he wasn't that attentive towards his children.  His life went "how he wanted" until he got sick.
         He had an agonizing pain in his side and a strange taste in his mouth.  It wasn't a normal sickness, the doctors couldn't figure out what to do.  He went from one specialist or doctor to the next. Ivan was angry because he didn't know what was going on; they wouldn't answer his questions! Was it a serious illness?  He soon came to find out that.. it is.  He might die. He can't accept this reality.
        Slowly, Ivan realized that his death was hanging over him, and now it was just a waiting game.  Everyone was treating him like nothing was wrong, and he hated them for it.  His illness got worse, and soon, he was stuck in bed screaming in pain for weeks.  He always knew death was a possibility, but people never realize that it can happen to anyone, including themselves. He only has one friend, the servant, because he is the only one who understands his situation and pities him. Eventually, Ivan Illych comes to accept his fate. He dies happily, realizing now that his family will be better off without him.
        This whole story not only made me sad, but it really opened my eyes.  It is completely true that people deny death when it comes around to them.  No one thinks that they themselves can die.  Or even their friends. Sure, you'll die eventually, and you hear about death all the time.  However, every person has a part of themselves that can't believe that that would happen to them.  I am very aware of death.  I know it happens, to every one, anywhere, any time.  But I try not to comprehend that it could happen to me anywhere, any time. "The Death of Ivan Ilych" however, made me think about it.

The Lady in the Cafe

            The painting is of a cafe.  Only the back left-hand corner of the room is shown.  To the left of the corner is a wall-sized window.  All you can see out of the window is one big, dark building with three windows on the top half of what you can see and a column of long cement blocks next to two more windows on the boton half of what you can see. A pot sits on the window sill with medium length plant leaves that stretch out like the plume of a hat. To the right of the corner is a white wall made brighter by the light shining in from the window. Two tables are placed against the left wall.  Each table has two chairs, one on the two sides perpendicular to the window wall.  On the table closest to the viewer is a small, white, circular doily with various condiments on it.  A lonely lady sits  at the table to the back, wearing a dark, knee length, halter top, low cut dress.  Beneath the table, you can see her two feet, side by side, wearing blat flats.  Her pale arms lie on the table, her fingers fidgeting.  Her head is tilted slightly to the left, from the viewers perspective, with her hair parted in the middle, with bangs, and it is slightly above shoulder length, curving in towards her face.  Her dark eyes don't reveal much, and her lips make no smile.  She just sits and waits.  In front of her lies a tea cup on what looks to be either a doily or a dish to go with her cup.  The overall feel is lonely, abandoned, and forlorn.  Perhaps she was stood up.

The Election 2012

          I'm scared. With absolutely no power over the situation after you've voted, you just have to sit back and watch and wait.  It's like watching a sports game and cheering for who you want to win.  Visuals can be very misleading because even though it may look like one of the parties "wins" a state, only the big cities are what really matter because they have the largest populations.  I don't really understand the whole electoral college situation, but I just know that I'm nervous.  I hope everything works out; it's ridiculously close.