Journal 4 Cole

The story I chose from Cisneros was Four Skinny Trees. One thing I highlighted in the text was when she used personification to describe the trees. Cisneros writes, "They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quit their anger" (74). I thought it was a unique way of describing the trees. She also compares the trees to herself, having skinny necks and pointy elbows like hers. I believe the theme of this chapter is to be yourself. Cisneros writes about the trees being out of place and nobody wanting them there. In terms of being a human, I think she's trying to say you do you. Don't let anyone or anything hold you back, just be yourself.
A person that had a big influence on me growing up was my great grandfather. Today, he is 87 years old and is probably the most active elderly person I have ever seen. He does water aerobics a few times a week and enjoys walking outside. I love to visit him and I will always have the memory of him sitting in his lawn chair on the porch with a Budweiser in his hand taking a nap every time I went over. He's so funny even when he doesn't know it or try to be. Since I can remember my great grandfather has always been a hard worker. He's never let anything get the best of him. He attended OSU main campus and went to law school. When he was 83 he finally retired, he'd been a lawyer for over 50 years. He always worked his butt off and that really inspired me. It taught me that things can't be handed to you in life, you have to work for them and go get them. I always thank my great grandpa for teaching me to be a hard worker because if I never learned that then I don't know where I'd be in life.