24 February 2004 Tuesday

onward through East of Eden

email :::

by the way

i read lee’s story.. about his mother…

it really, really hurt.

i read it over some colbycheese and ritzcrackers and brownie mix. while lor and mom have been out all afternoon.
i sat in the kitchen and cried loudly for a while.
it felt a bit strange, being alone in a house, and having nothing wrong, except reading a book, and feeling so hurt and crying so much.
humans/emotions are curious things.
i had to cut my thoughts from the story and leave the kitchen. i think i’ll only remember the story when i’m prepared to feel hurt and cry again.

it is a beautiful book.

i still don’t understand what the natural/genetic/life-sustaining reason is that we cry. nor why i seem to do it extra-much.

i’ll be sad to finish this book.

it snowed today. crazy. but no sticking.

lor and mom just arrived home.

love,
~alicson

daddy replied:::

Mmmm, the Colby cheese I understand, but ritzcrackers & brownie mix???
I’m beginning to cry, just reading your email.

Favorite books? That’s tough. Like choosing a “favorite” friend, or season. The truthful answer is, and I think should be, “the one I’m reading now.” (Which happens to be “1421, The Year the Chinese Discovered America” — a wonderfully eye-opening view of Chinese and world history.) Most of my favorites would be “eye openers” — that made me rethink or consider amazing things totally new. For novels, I can still recall crying during “Grapes of Wrath,” and many others. That’s part of what good writing is about. For the one that “I wish I’d written that”, certainly “The Tao of Pooh” would rank up there — eye-opening, joyful, concise.

Hope you have a decent dinner.

Love,
\Dad

Bangalore
Wednesday, February 25, 2004 4:59 AM