Family

     There is a copious amount of reasons as to why family is important, and these reasons appear many times throughout Stone Soup and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Stone Soup was written by Barbara Kingsolver, who is a divorced mother that has a fair amount of knowledge about the not so traditional family. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was written by Betty Smith who tells the story of the members of the Nolan family’s difficult lives. Based on these stories, it is easy to see that family is the people that love and support you, no matter how you are related. Families can have their problems, but still care for each other no matter what.   
    Both engrossing stories mention examples of true family love and not your traditional family functions. Families can be blended together by adoption or remarriage yet still love as if they were blood related. “His own cheering section of grown-ups and kids all leap to their feet and hug each other, delirious with love for this boy… The cheering section includes his mother and her friends, his brother, his father and stepmother, a stepbrother and stepsister, and a grandparent” (Kingsolver 202). This quote illustrates how a family can care so much about each other, even though they are not your traditional family. If a group of people is this happy for you even though they are in this type of situation, they deserve to be called a good family. In A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Sissy, who is Katie’s sister, is the member of the family that provides so much emotional aid to her family throughout the book. “She listened to everybody’s troubles... Sissy was a giver and never a taker” (Smith 101). Sissy helped Katie remember why she married Johnny during his dark times in the book and centered the Nolan family.     
    No family can be completely perfect. All families have their setbacks and hardships. “The sooner we can let go of the fairy tale of families functioning perfectly in isolation, the better we might embrace the relief of community” (Kingsolver 206). A family doesn’t have to the perfect Family of Dolls like Barbara Kingsolver describes in Stone Soup. Families with flaws can function just as well as traditional families.   
    Families are constantly looking out for one another in any way possible. The Nolan Family always protects each other for the brutality of the world. “My brother is next. His arm is just as dirty as mine so don’t be surprised. And you don’t have to tell him. You told me” (Smith 147). Francie and Neely went to the doctor’s office together to get their vaccinations. The both of them were dirty from playing outside but didn’t have time to clean themselves. While Francie was getting her vaccination, before Neely the doctor and nurse were talking about the dirt on her and how poor she must be. Francie refused to let them say the same thing to Neely she stood up to them so the same thing wouldn’t happen to him. She didn’t want him to be exposed to their brutality. Any good family would try to prevent each other from getting hurt and that is what Francie did.     
    In both, Stone Soup and Tree Grows in Brooklyn family love, family uniqueness, and how family looks out for each other is illustrated and helps define the importance of family.  

Sacredness of The Ordinary

    An ordinary object can have an entire different meaning in different people's eyes. This object has a deep,sentimental, and beautiful value to you but could mean absolutely nothing to others. It will catch your attention,calm and center you, and bring you back. All of these thoughts go through my head when I feel my cross on my neck.Silver chain with a silver cross attached to it. Simple clear diamond embedded into its surface. The diamond catches light and reflects those colors inside of it. After picturing this illustration you may think nothing of my cross, but it seem like so much more to me.
    I've worn a cross around my neck since I was a baby but it never meant anything to me when I was young. My family always said it is very special and that I should never lose it and I never thought much of it. For kindergarten and elementary school I went to St. Mary's I learned a lot about religion. Every night before I went to bed I would say a prayer while holding my necklace and it became a routine for me. Soon, I began to memorize the pray I said because I said it so much. My necklace always reminded me to pray.
    My cross brings back memories which center me and remind me of all the good things that have come my way in life. When I look at my cross I always think of who I am, and how I got here. It brings back memories, good and bad. Good memories with family and friends and even bad ones filled with loss. I am constantly reminded that people have it worse and that things always get better because I have the family and friends that built all of those good memories with me. My cross lets me take a breath and relax because I know I will always have memories and what I am made of.
    In my eyes, my life is stored in the sparkle of my diamond cross. My cross has gone through everything I have. I've learned right from wrong and my cross can put me on the right track if I part the wrong way. It was on my neck through the times I've gotten in trouble and the times I was rewarded so it hold what I have learned. I look at my necklace, remember the past and know which path is the right way.
    Ordinary objects can bring back thoughts and memories that shape who you become.  Certain things may bring back the memory of a loved one, a happy moment, a sad moment, or an important moment to you, and for me, my cross brings back all of these things.