Friday, December 7, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Chapter 22
Mary and Eric moved back to Boston and spent two years saving money to move to their favored destination somewhere in the Midwest. After I read Chapter 21 I really thought they would move back to Boston and get caught up with the fast paced technological world. Once again, Brende surprised me. He sure learned how to live inexpensively. I was actually goad that he at least had an old car that his father had given him to use in case of an emergency. I know I would not want to live without an automobile. In fact, I love cars and plan to someday purchase a 1970 Chevy Chevelle LS-6.
What a clever idea to buy a rickshaw that is powered by a bicycle. Now I will have to admit that is not how I want to make a living. But the part I do like is the fact that they only paid $50,000 for their house and are not in debt. I also like that they still barter with neighbors and save money. Finishing off his basement and renting it out as a bed and breakfast was also a good idea. I also liked the idea of home schooling, I wasn’t home schooled but my mother spent every day working with me throughout my school years. For five years, from the age of seven to twelve, we traveled around biking so I had to miss a lot of school. We had a wonderful time and it made the three of us as close as any family could be. I talk to my parents every day at least once but usually I talk to them two or three times during the day just to say hello.
The amazing thing to me is the fact that they are able to make a living and they spend only about two or three hours a day working.
This was a very interesting book and I have great respect for this couple and their family.
What a clever idea to buy a rickshaw that is powered by a bicycle. Now I will have to admit that is not how I want to make a living. But the part I do like is the fact that they only paid $50,000 for their house and are not in debt. I also like that they still barter with neighbors and save money. Finishing off his basement and renting it out as a bed and breakfast was also a good idea. I also liked the idea of home schooling, I wasn’t home schooled but my mother spent every day working with me throughout my school years. For five years, from the age of seven to twelve, we traveled around biking so I had to miss a lot of school. We had a wonderful time and it made the three of us as close as any family could be. I talk to my parents every day at least once but usually I talk to them two or three times during the day just to say hello.
The amazing thing to me is the fact that they are able to make a living and they spend only about two or three hours a day working.
This was a very interesting book and I have great respect for this couple and their family.
Chapter 21
I was absolutely shocked when I found out that the Brendes were not going to stay in this community, especially after purchasing their new home. I realize that Mary was allergic to the horse but they could have purchased a car if they had really wanted to stay. I also think Mary was homesick and perhaps she wanted to live closer to her mother so they could get to know their grandson.
If I read this chapter correctly, Brende mentioned that he turned the keys over to Mr. Miller, which meant that they never moved into the house they purchased. This part has me a little confused.
I almost felt like Brende was justifying his decision to move by stating, “That his original reason for coming was to prove a point, not to stake a claim.” It had to be difficult for them to say goodbye to their close friends. I wonder how the members in this community felt about them leaving because they all accepted and helped them with everything over the past eighteen months. I also wonder if Mary and Eric have kept in touch with some of their closer friends.
If I read this chapter correctly, Brende mentioned that he turned the keys over to Mr. Miller, which meant that they never moved into the house they purchased. This part has me a little confused.
I almost felt like Brende was justifying his decision to move by stating, “That his original reason for coming was to prove a point, not to stake a claim.” It had to be difficult for them to say goodbye to their close friends. I wonder how the members in this community felt about them leaving because they all accepted and helped them with everything over the past eighteen months. I also wonder if Mary and Eric have kept in touch with some of their closer friends.
Chapter 20
I was shocked when I read this chapter because I never though Brende would sell his car and buy a horse and buggy. I don’t think he would have sold it if the car insurance hadn’t been so expensive. I wonder what would have happened if he had been in an accident and damaged someone’s car and if someone had been injured. He wasn’t carrying any insurance and they wouldn’t have had the money to pay for the damages.
It was interesting to learn that they enjoyed traveling by horse and buggy and actually were able to take shortcuts to many of his neighbor’s house. He was able to form new relationships and some of them provided him with the opportunity to make money.
Brende also found a really good buy on a piece of property that included a house, barn, chicken coop, shelter and a workshop. He felt that even if they didn’t stay there it would be a good investment for the future. I would have liked to know how much he paid for this property but he did not disclose this.
It was strange to me how they chose their leader by drawing straws. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to do in our government because it is hard to know who the most honest and best candidate is. I wonder if it really matters in the long run. Most candidates promise you many things to get elected and then never follow through.
It was interesting to learn that they enjoyed traveling by horse and buggy and actually were able to take shortcuts to many of his neighbor’s house. He was able to form new relationships and some of them provided him with the opportunity to make money.
Brende also found a really good buy on a piece of property that included a house, barn, chicken coop, shelter and a workshop. He felt that even if they didn’t stay there it would be a good investment for the future. I would have liked to know how much he paid for this property but he did not disclose this.
It was strange to me how they chose their leader by drawing straws. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to do in our government because it is hard to know who the most honest and best candidate is. I wonder if it really matters in the long run. Most candidates promise you many things to get elected and then never follow through.
Chapter 19
Brende was beginning to feel the stress from all his extra responsibilities since the birth of his son. He was being pulled in all directions and didn’t seem to know what to do first. He compared two different versions of male- female relationships. Simone de Beauvoir portrayed the entire history of male-female relations as one long, willing submission on the woman’s part to a monopoly of male power. Whereas, G. K. Chesterton observed: “The woman does not work because the man tells her to work and she obeys. On the contrary, the woman works because she has told the man to work, and he hasn’t obeyed.” Brende favored Chesterton’s account but I must say I don’t think I quite agree with that.
They were having a problem because the baby seemed to want to do all of his eating at night and they toyed with the idea of turning to a formula but decided to stay with breast feeding because it was more beneficial to the baby. They also made a big mistake of taking the baby in their bed to sleep with them because he moved around constantly. My parents said they had to lie down beside be every night and sing me songs to get me to go to sleep. To this day I still remember it.
The Brende now began to understand that their own needs were not as important as the needs of their newborn child. This is the most important thing to realize that giving of yourself to another human being is what life is all about.
They were having a problem because the baby seemed to want to do all of his eating at night and they toyed with the idea of turning to a formula but decided to stay with breast feeding because it was more beneficial to the baby. They also made a big mistake of taking the baby in their bed to sleep with them because he moved around constantly. My parents said they had to lie down beside be every night and sing me songs to get me to go to sleep. To this day I still remember it.
The Brende now began to understand that their own needs were not as important as the needs of their newborn child. This is the most important thing to realize that giving of yourself to another human being is what life is all about.
Chapter 18
I really don’t have any experience to fall back on in this chapter. I can appreciate Brende’s panic when he actually had to take over making the decisions on the birthing
process. It is one thing to read about it and even practice it because when the real time comes emotions are running high and most father-to-be would panic. Maybe he was a little over confident and should have been better prepared as to exactly how he would go about contacting the midwife without a phone. His panic was justified when his car broke down and I could imagine how panicky his wife was to be there waiting for assistance.
It was awesome how his neighbors all helped out with mowing the yard, doing all outside chores as well as baking bread, and washing diapers and clothes. I really don’t know how they would have made it without everyone’s help.
The only experience I have had was just recently my closest friend and his wife just had their first baby. It was so strange to see them with a child because I still think of them as too young to be parents. They are thrilled with their baby girl and she sure is beautiful. I can only begin to image how thrilled Brende and Mary were.
I don’t think I would choose to have my wife deliver our baby at home. I would be worried about complications.
process. It is one thing to read about it and even practice it because when the real time comes emotions are running high and most father-to-be would panic. Maybe he was a little over confident and should have been better prepared as to exactly how he would go about contacting the midwife without a phone. His panic was justified when his car broke down and I could imagine how panicky his wife was to be there waiting for assistance.
It was awesome how his neighbors all helped out with mowing the yard, doing all outside chores as well as baking bread, and washing diapers and clothes. I really don’t know how they would have made it without everyone’s help.
The only experience I have had was just recently my closest friend and his wife just had their first baby. It was so strange to see them with a child because I still think of them as too young to be parents. They are thrilled with their baby girl and she sure is beautiful. I can only begin to image how thrilled Brende and Mary were.
I don’t think I would choose to have my wife deliver our baby at home. I would be worried about complications.
Chapter 17
I didn’t like reading this chapter very much because it was upsetting to have Brende become so depressed. He usually seemed very optimistic and this change in his behavior was a surprise. It seemed like everything he tried to do seem to turn out wrong... He was having a problem selling the molasses. He was reluctant to help Sylvan with the work. He started to feel like he wasn’t part of this community. He seemed to be letting everyone down including his wife Mary. It was like he was not focused on what was going on around him. It seems like when a person starts off having a bad day, everything that happens that day just keeps getting worse, which probably is the result of a negative attitude.
He actually was in depression, which he partially blamed on the change of weather. It was not only the long winter evenings by kerosene lamplight but also it was the short gray days with very little sunlight. Believe me I know what that feels like because when we go to visit relatives in Ohio and Pennsylvania the weather is usually dark and gloomy.
My Mother said when she first moved to Florida she didn’t realize that the sky was actually blue because where she was raised in Pennsylvania the skies were usually grey, even in the summer time.
The chapter ended on a more pleasant note due to the fact that Brende worked together with Caleb. They spent time working and chatting and before long Brende was enjoying himself and forgot about his depression.
He actually was in depression, which he partially blamed on the change of weather. It was not only the long winter evenings by kerosene lamplight but also it was the short gray days with very little sunlight. Believe me I know what that feels like because when we go to visit relatives in Ohio and Pennsylvania the weather is usually dark and gloomy.
My Mother said when she first moved to Florida she didn’t realize that the sky was actually blue because where she was raised in Pennsylvania the skies were usually grey, even in the summer time.
The chapter ended on a more pleasant note due to the fact that Brende worked together with Caleb. They spent time working and chatting and before long Brende was enjoying himself and forgot about his depression.
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