Journal Two from Chris M. Walters

Walters, C. M. 2014. Florida.

My Self-Introduction

Pursuing my undergraduate studies at OSU is the beginning of my second career. From my early twenties to my late thirties, I worked in advertising as a commercial photographer. 

I worked with the top photographers in the country, assisting them on photoshoots with celebrities like Rihanna, The Jonas Brothers, Marvin Lewis (Bengals Head coach, 2003-2018), and have personally photographed LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, state Senators, and other public figures.

Fun fact, I've been to or through all of the states in the continental US except for Washington.

While not a fact as much as it is a fun goal, this summer, I hope to get certified in skydiving and eventually gain enough experience and confidence to attempt base jumping.

The House On Mango Street

A theme that stands out to me is that there's an overtone of impermanence in Esperanza's life – everything for her, her family, her friends, and her things are temporary, but not in a positive way.

I think the theme of impermanence is important because it brings attention to the lack of stability in her life and how it’s shaping her perspective on life as a young child.

As an observation, Impermanence and instability tend to coexist. Both are a feeling or a state-of-being that everyone is susceptible to experiencing at any age.

This theme is everywhere. People who went through childhood without parental guidance or were exposed to constant conflict in their home-life most likely have experienced both impermanence and instability.

I've seen it in my own experience, in people I know, in the media, and on TV programs. It's an unfortunate theme that I think is too common.

Below is one of my favorite passages from the book. I chose it because Cisneros’s writing allows me to visualize and feel the tone of the scene, the relationship between characters, and the time period in which the story exists, all in a few short sentences.

Her name is Marin or Maris or something like that, and she wears dark nylons all the time and lots of makeup she gets free from selling Avon. She can’t come out–gotta babysit with Louie’s sisters–but she stands in the doorway a lot, all the time singing, clicking her fingers, the same song:

Apples, peaches, and pumpkin pah-ay.

You’re in love and so am ah-ay.

Cisneros, S., (2009). The House On Mango Street. New York, NY: Second Vintage Contemporaries Edition, 23.