- •1. What do you think makes the 'inability to pay rent and her son's tuition particularly "sticky" problems for the writer '?
- •2. What makes the writer feel "drained of her abilities?
- •3. What psychological effects do you think the writer's unsuc-cessful job interviews have on her?
- •Why eat junk food Judith Wurtman
- •1. Write a paragraph contrasting the amount of time it takes to
- •2. In a paragkaph, compare and contrast your views of time now
- •1. What are some of the examples that the writer uses ro define grandparents?
- •2. Do children understand *hat the grandparents will not always
- •3. What does *he writer mean when she says, "you find yourself wishing that you had told them what they meant to you as pe-ople and not 'just as grandparents”?
- •3. What does the writer say happens the first time someone heax's
- •1. Write a paragraph or essay defining marriage — what is and
1. What are some of the examples that the writer uses ro define grandparents?
2. Do children understand *hat the grandparents will not always
be there ? Support your answer with the statements from the paragraph.
3. What does *he writer mean when she says, "you find yourself wishing that you had told them what they meant to you as pe-ople and not 'just as grandparents”?
WRITING ASSIGNHKNTS
1. Write a paragraph in which you define a true friend by gi- ving examples of persons behavior. 2. Using descriptive details, write a paragraph defining what it means to be happy or sad, angry, tired, or hungry. 3. Write a paragraph in which you define what the word "parent" means to you.
18
"I LOVE YOU"
Robert C. Solomon
"I love you" does not always have the same meaning, and this, too, should tell us something about the elusive nature of love. The first time it is always surprise, an invasion, an.agressive act, but once said, "I love you" can only be repeated. It is unthinkable that it should not be said again, and again, and again. When one has not said it for a while, this may itself pre-cipitate a crisis. ("Now why have not, you said it in all of these menths..!") On the other hand, "I love you" can also serve as a threat ("Dont push me on thi.s; you might lose me"), emotional blackmail ("I have said it, now you have to respond in kind"), a warning ("Ets only because I love you that, I am willing to put up w)th this")„ an apology ("I could not possibly have meant what I have said to you, to you oi' all people"). lt can be an instru-ment —, more effective than the loudest noise — to intex"xupt a dull or painful conversa*ion. It, can be a cry, a plea, a verbal flag ("Pay attention to me !) or it can be an excuse ("Its onlv because I love you ..."). It can be a disguise ("I love you," he whispex'ed, looking awkwardly askance at. the open door.}, It can be an attack ("How can you do this to me 7) or even an end ("So thats that. With regrets, good-bye."). If this single phra-se has so many meanings, how vaxied and variable must, be'the emo-tion.
QUKSTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What does the wxitex think what "I love you" means Z. Do you think the writer is qualified to tell you what "I love
you means 7
3. What does the writer say happens the first time someone heax's
"I love you" 7 Why do you think this occurs 7 4. Why must "I love you " be repeated once it has been said '7 5. l'n what way can love be an excuse 7 Nake up an ending for the
example sentence.
WRITING ASSIGNNENTS
1. Write a paragraph or essay defining marriage — what is and
what it should be. Use specific examples from marriages you
know of to illustrate your definition,
Z. Write a paragraph defining the word "emotion", You might, try
using cause-and-effect development for youx definition, sho-wing 'that something must cause certain effects to qualify as
an emotion.