Anne Lamott: Her Thirst and Aunties

I think I overly enjoyed this reading far more than the rest that we have read so far. But then again, we are only in the fifth week, so I expect a more fun reading to respond to in the future. But for now, it's Anne's turn to shine.

I think the majority that I enjoyed of this paper is her confidence that she expressed through the reading. The second story about the aunties was the one that expressed a stronger point of view than the first reading, but it held an honesty that is not easily explained.

Her voice is also something to admire. I loved reading her Thirst section because the message that she conveys at the end of the chapter. "I love stories because they show where we began, and therefore how far we have come, from the blame and delusions of our drinking days to the gentle illusions by which we stay sober." It shows the growth that she endured and how she overcame drinking, but she also isn't shunning it away from who she is as a person. Rather, I feel as though she has come to terms by the end of the chapter and is neither embracing nor denying it. It (her drinking problem) simply existed, and she cannot return time to stop it from happening.

The chapter dedicated to her aunties (thighs and butt) was oozing with character. For a few sentences I actually felt as though she did bring along two older ladies with her to Mexico. I love the confidence overall that shown in this reading and the observations she took in. I myself can feel a bit less confident than most times, and just like her, I take into account other people around me, who are petite and tall, whereas I am short and not as petite. But I too, still proudly extend myself because I don't feel as though there should be any instance of feeling inferior to those around you because we are all born equal, we just come in different shapes and sizes.

The instance in which she observed the young tan and pretty teens made me laugh. I really do see them in that light when they are looking at themselves in mirrors and are not as happy with what they have. It is eye opening to us the reader to see that at first she has an uncomfortable air around her, but as she realizes that she is beautiful in her own way, she almost pities the girls.

I like how she addresses that as we get older, so does the rest of us. Which I still have a hard time understanding, because I have this young mentality. But I see my mother, my sisters, and my father all getting older and wrinkles appearing where they weren't before. It makes me realize that life is short, and beauty is a defining part of your life, but it shouldn't be the entire thing that defines you. I prefer the character side to define who you are. Who's with me?

KZ