"...I've been playing...every day, making the skin stretch, making the scars stretch...The way I see it, hard times aren't only about money, or drought, or dust, Hard times are about losing spirit, and hope and what happens when dreams dry up." Autumn 1935 Page 225
Billie Jo learned that there can be something better around the corner, you just have to wait and and have a little faith.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Revelations
"I'm getting to know music again. And it is getting to know me...And I know that all the time I was trying to get out of the dust, the fact is, what I am, I am because of the dust. And what I am is good enough. even for me." Autumn 1935 Page 222
By the end of the novel, Billie Jo realizes that even though the dust has changed her, it's for the better. She's a better person because of the dust and her mother and brother's deaths. Billie Jo has finally realized and accepted who she is.
By the end of the novel, Billie Jo realizes that even though the dust has changed her, it's for the better. She's a better person because of the dust and her mother and brother's deaths. Billie Jo has finally realized and accepted who she is.
Hope and Thanksgiving
There is finally hope for the wheat crop. It's been raining enough for the wheat to grow. There won't be a lot but there will be more than last year. Louise, Billie Jo and her father celebrate Thanksgiving together. Billie Jo is grateful for all the good things that have happened to her. She's thankful for her renewed relationship with her father and for Louise as well. She is happy that the wheat is growing again and that her father will be able to make a profit.
Understanding
Billie Jo tells Louise about her mother and the piano. She also tells her about her love for apples. Billie Jo shows Louise the piano. Billie Jo showing Louise the piano and telling her about her mother shows that Billie Jo is willing to open up. The fact that Louise didn't say anything and didn't judge shows that she's serious about Billie Jo's father and Billie Jo as well.
Ma's Special Place
Even though Billie Jo likes Louise, there are certain things that she doesn't want Louise to see or do with her and her father.
"...She wanted to come but this is Ma's place, Ma's grave, Franklin's to, and Louise has no business here. She wants to come everywhere with us. Well, I won't let her. Not everywhere. Daddy says, "She could have come. There's room for everyone, Billie Jo." But there's not...Ma's bones are in this hill, Ma's and Franklin's. And their bones wouldn't like it, if Louise came walking up here between us." Autumn 1935 Page 215
As much as Billie Jo likes Louise, there are certain things that she's not ready to share with her. One of these things is going to Ma's and Franklin's graves. That is still something that Billie Jo isn't ready to share with Louise. Billie Jo's father on the other hand is ready to share that part of his life with Louise. Billie Jo says that her mother and Franklin wouldn't like it if Louise had come with them. In reality, Billie Jo is the one that wouldn't like her to come and see the graves with them. She still needs more time to adjust to Louise and to the fact that her father is moving on. The fact that Billie Jo likes Louise is a good sign though. Billie Jo is opening up to Louise, just a little bit slower than her father.
"...She wanted to come but this is Ma's place, Ma's grave, Franklin's to, and Louise has no business here. She wants to come everywhere with us. Well, I won't let her. Not everywhere. Daddy says, "She could have come. There's room for everyone, Billie Jo." But there's not...Ma's bones are in this hill, Ma's and Franklin's. And their bones wouldn't like it, if Louise came walking up here between us." Autumn 1935 Page 215
As much as Billie Jo likes Louise, there are certain things that she's not ready to share with her. One of these things is going to Ma's and Franklin's graves. That is still something that Billie Jo isn't ready to share with Louise. Billie Jo's father on the other hand is ready to share that part of his life with Louise. Billie Jo says that her mother and Franklin wouldn't like it if Louise had come with them. In reality, Billie Jo is the one that wouldn't like her to come and see the graves with them. She still needs more time to adjust to Louise and to the fact that her father is moving on. The fact that Billie Jo likes Louise is a good sign though. Billie Jo is opening up to Louise, just a little bit slower than her father.
Loiuse
Louise is a woman that Billie Jo's father met at night school.
"She told me she knew Daddy and I had a history before her, and she wished she's been there for the whole thing, but she wasnt't and there wasn't anything to do but to get over it and get on...I didn't intend to but I liked her, because she was so plain and honest...and even though I didn't know if there was room for her in me, I could see there was room for her in Daddy...The thing about Louise, I'll just have to watch how things go and hope she doesn't crowd me out of Daddy's life, not now, when I am just finding my way back into it." Autumn 1935 Pages 213-214
As much as Billie Jo likes Louise, she's still nervous that Louise will run her out of her father's life. Even though Billie Jo says that she doesn't know if she could let Louise in, the fact that she likes Louise says that she's at least willing to try. Billie Jo's father is also starting to move on. He allowed himself to let someone in. Even Billie Jo was able to see that.
"She told me she knew Daddy and I had a history before her, and she wished she's been there for the whole thing, but she wasnt't and there wasn't anything to do but to get over it and get on...I didn't intend to but I liked her, because she was so plain and honest...and even though I didn't know if there was room for her in me, I could see there was room for her in Daddy...The thing about Louise, I'll just have to watch how things go and hope she doesn't crowd me out of Daddy's life, not now, when I am just finding my way back into it." Autumn 1935 Pages 213-214
As much as Billie Jo likes Louise, she's still nervous that Louise will run her out of her father's life. Even though Billie Jo says that she doesn't know if she could let Louise in, the fact that she likes Louise says that she's at least willing to try. Billie Jo's father is also starting to move on. He allowed himself to let someone in. Even Billie Jo was able to see that.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Billie Jo's Hands
While at the doctor's, she asked about what could be done about her hands. The doctor tells her the best thing she could was to use her hands. By doing so, it would help her hands become normal again.
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