Week 5: Famous Last Words

My best writing came this week in the form of my Storytelling blog post. I took my time writing it and put more effort into it than I normally do. I really enjoyed myself. I did not view it as a task, but rather as a leisure activity. It really changed everything. I took a little piece of Buck’s Ramayana that stuck out to me and I translated it into my life. It was a semi-autobiographical story. It hasn’t really happened (the story was fiction) but it also kind of has happened too. The plot and details aren’t necessarily true, but the story was inherently true. That’s why the Buck’s story featuring Atri and Anasuya stuck out to me, I think. His description of Atri’s home was phenomenal. It was cozy and celebratory – and ultimately it reminded me of my home. Atri and his kindness reminded me of my father and his kindness towards his sons. Anasuya asked the question, “What can I do for you?” to Rama. That is a question I have heard a hundred times from my own mother. It’s usually “What can I do for you?” or “What can I make you to eat?” or “Is there anything that I can get you?”

Side note: Before you say that I’m spoiled, let me explain my mother’s love. She loves taking care of us – but she also knows that one way to do this is to let us learn to do things on our own. She always says her famous line, “I’m here to teach you, not to serve you.” (Although sometimes, she serves us – but we serve her also.)

For this reason I was reminded of my mother by the generosity and love of Anasuya. Their home was lovely and it really reminded me of my own home.

Image Information: William Buck, The Ramayan

Source: UC Press 

Week 5 Storytelling: Home

Journal Entry / 2:30 a.m. / 10/3/14

Elizabeth and I left Norman. We couldn’t leave until a little after 7 that evening. School was out for the weekend, and we were driving to my hometown to see my family. It was my mom’s birthday.

I’m writing this because the memory is so vivid at the moment. It was one of those nights that I’ll never forget. When old age greets me in my rocking chair, it will find me reminiscing on nights like this one – nights full of nostalgia.

These are my favorite nights. It’s almost like lucid dreaming – when you awake in the moment, realizing the vastness of life. When I realize you’re living a moment you’ll be nostalgic about later, I feel as though I transcend time. The moment ends, but it is eternal.

This was one of those nights. It was one of those cool, cool nights that follow summer. After winter, we notice the spring’s warmth. After the summer months, I find myself embracing the crisp coolness of autumn’s temperature.

We drove down Danforth road to my home. The windows were down. The stars were out. Every song meant something. Elizabeth and I sang together as the wind hit our face. The coolness gently apologized for its summer absence, and we forgave it quickly.

We pulled up to the house that my parents just built. They plan on flipping it and making some extra money, but I’m not sure if they ever could. The home fits them. It was a cool time to be at this house. It was like walking on the edge of the ocean at night. I felt so small next to the abyss of future memories that the home held.

We were a little late for dinner. It was a small gathering –mom and dad, Zach, Kendra, Stella and Conner. It reminded me of the night that Zach and Kendra were married, when baby Stella was barely a thought.

The sounds of laughter and the pouring of wine met us at the door. Conner got up and hugged me. Zach did too. For our ages being so far apart we are really close.

Dinner was over, but my parents were reclining at the table. My mother, who might be the most loving woman to ever live, asked, “What can I do for you?” Without answering, she made plates for Elizabeth and me.

We sat at the table for a long, long time. I’ve only recently come upstairs to go to bed. Elizabeth is sleeping. My eyes are getting heavy, but I just had to capture the eternity I witnessed tonight.

Image Information: 

Home

Source: Fresh Home

Author’s Note:

I took a section from Buck’s Ramayana and converted it to a modern day setting. I made my home in the likeness of Atri’s home, when Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana first arrived. Atri and Anasuya (my mother and father) welcomed Rama and Sita, and Buck’s description of Atri’s home was magnificent. Although there isn’t really a plot, I thought it would be cool to convey the setting I interpreted from Buck.

Bibliography:

Buck, William. Ramayana:. Berkeley: U of California, 1976. Print.

Week 5: Reading Diary B

Very similarly to Narayan’s Ramayana, the influence of a golden deer is highly important. Maricha appears as a golden deer in both versions. In both versions Sita begs Rama to kill the deer. When Rama kills Maricha, the golden deer, Maricha pretends to be Rama and calls out for help. Lakshmana is hesitant, but at Sita’s persistence he goes after Rama. Sita is left defenseless, and she is captured by Ravana.

Ravana holds Sita captive in Lanka. We are introduced to the reason why Ravana cannot rape Sita.

Fast forward to p. 181 – Rama and Lakshmana come back from chasing the deer, but Sita has been gone for a while already. Jatayu (the eagle) uses his last breath to tell Rama and Lakshmana what happened. Then, Rama and Lakshmana meet Savari. This is an important encounter. She tells the brothers that she saw Ravana taking Sita away, but she also mentions Vali and Sugriva – the monkeys who will end up fighting for Rama. The brothers go to find Vali and Sugriva, but first they meet Hanuman.

The story of Vali’s life and death is told again between pages 189 and 199.

Lakshmana goes looking for Sugreeva and finds him drunk. He had been drinking for 3 months.

Week 5: Reading Diary A

Bharata returns. He was at his grandfather’s home, but messengers were sent once Dasharatha dies. Bharata is dumbfounded once he learns that not only his father is dead but also that his brother Rama has been exiled. Bharata becomes king.

Once king, Bharata goes after Rama in the forest to find him. He finally finds him at Chitrakuta. He tells him of their father’s death, but still Rama won’t return to Ayodya until his exile is finally completed.

One of my favorite parts is on page 134 when Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are welcomed by Atri. The entire encounter was beautiful. It continues onto page 135. I think I’ll probably write about this encounter.

They meet Agastaya on page 138 – the hermit that Atri told them about. This is important because he gives Rama a better bow than the one he had before.

Skipping ahead a little to p. 155, a demon named Viradha abducts Sita while Rama is talking to her. Rama and Lakshmana take off in pursuit and assassinate the demon, but learn that it was really Tumburu who was captured in a demon’s body.

Lakshmana builds a home for the three of them at Panchavati. Ravana’s sister comes over to propose marriage to Rama. When he denies her, she attacks Sita. This is the beginning of Buck’s version of the war between Rama and Ravana.