Mercurial: adj. (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.

Mercurial is the word to describe my month because it was a smoothie of emotions. At times my month seemed to be overwhelming and stressful, but I managed to get through it. At other times it was exciting such as learning that I had gotten admitted to colleges like UC Berkeley. Throwing (for Track and Field) has been challenging and frustrating at times since I am not doing as well as I wanted to, but I continue to work on perfecting my form and technique. I also need to stop being angry because I do not like it, and I felt that I was angry more than usual this month. Finally, I am looking forward to next month which I am hoping that it will be better, and hopefully I will have more time to spend with my friends. 

Memories are the only things that are left within me. Time is running out and the loneliness in the air grows as the sun is descending along the snowy, white mountains. How much time do I have left before I bleed to death and perish away forever? That is a question that I do not have the answer to. Oh just a few hours ago we were a dozen, and now I am the last one alive. Soon I will join them unless a miracle happens, yet I know it will not. To think that I voluntarily signed up for my own death when I joined the military, that is something that I am not sure that I am ready to accept.

Oh what a crackhead I was then when I decided to join the military. The brightest boy in the class yet the most stupid when it came to decision making (antithesis). I remember the look in the eyes of my family when I told them that I would be giving up the acceptances to top universities for the military. Jokes and laughs until they realized I was serious. Everyone I knew was trying to talk me out of it, yet I persisted. I persisted due to the fear of failure in the real world. I had always been a bright kid that was supposed to go to a top university and have a “good life”. When the time came, I could not do it because I was scared of disappointing everyone by failing. Too late now that I realize that failure is not bad. Failure is the deep root of learning. 

At that time the military seemed the best option for me and I took it. Rigorous military training and classes took over my life. I have to admit that the military training made my arachnophobia seem quite small compared to how scared I was of making a big mistake that would cause a punishment. The common military punishment came to be more exercise including those never ending runs that went on for miles and miles. We were water needy plants in a burning desert feeling the snapping of our guitar strings (Conceit). Although it was very tough, my team never quit on one another and we persisted through any task they gave us. We made sure to always work together and be there for one another to solve any problem or challenge that we encountered. Just then the thought of the last time that I saw my family came to my mind. 

When my specialty training came to an end, I decided to visit my family that I had not seen in a very long time. I recall the smell of my mother’s flowers as I passed my parents lawn to go inside the house. The vivid smell of lilies, tulips, dialysis (Malapropism), and roses gave me a sense of comfort for a few seconds until I realized that this smell was just in my mind. How much do I wish I could go back in time and enjoy those days with my loved ones. One of the last times I saw my family was when I went back to visit, and we gathered for a family dinner. My uncle enthusiastically spoke about his fishing activities, while my cousin spoke non stop about his new baby. I paid no attention to what the rest of my relatives said as I was looking onto the future. I have no idea how old the new baby was or how much time my uncle had been interested in fishing. All that I was thinking of at that time was my next mission in the military. I was also very upset about the intense heat and the revoking smell of my uncles sardine casserole. 

My uncle said, “Don’t you want to try my good ole casserole that I know you used to love when you were a kid”.

To that I said nothing and I walked away. How I wish now that I was eating that casserole, and hearing my uncle himself speak about how he caught those sardines. However, I instead walked out of the family gathering and went to the local bar where to strangers I talked (anastrophe) about how horrible the town was, and about the uncertainty that my next mission would bring. I took the little time that I had to spend with my family for granted and wasted it on a bar.

Later that night I went back to my parents Victorian, lovely home where they were still up waiting for me to come home. My mother awaited to have a futile conversation with me to convince me to stay home. All that she wanted was to have her son back. I ended up going back to my military base that night without saying goodbye or I love you. How I see now that all that my parents wanted was just to have their son back. They just wanted to talk with me and spend time with me, but I did not give them a chance. Instead, I left their home in the middle of the night where there were no stars or moon to lighten my path back to the military base. 

When I got back to the base, I ran into my captain who was bragging to the other guys about the new wheels (synecdoche) that he would purchase the next time that he was in his city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was going to get a 1965 Ford Mustang which he would ride up and down his city. 

The next day, my mission awaited and I boarded a ship to an unknown destination. To Atlantis I could be heading for all I knew (anastrophe). My team and I waited for the arrival to our new destination and for our captains instructions upon arrival. 

“Listen Soldiers! This mission is a piece of cake and should not take more than two weeks to complete. Our real mission will soon come.” said our Captain.

“Yes sir!” we replied.

Across the snowy, white mountains we headed to our destination where we would set camp. The cold, draconian weather complicated things, but we were well prepared. There would be nothing getting in our way that would stop us or at least we thought. We arrived at the camp site where everything seemed to be fine and we spent the night.

After twilight, I saw the sun slowly starting to rise in the horizon. Eleven others and myself were given the instructions to go on an expedition thirty miles South of our base camp where we were ambushed by a bunch of incestuous barbarians. They showered us with bullets non stop and I saw my fellow soldiers collapse to the ground one by one. Lifeless their bodies where. A bullet exploded on my chest and surely after I passed out. When I woke up, I could barely move. The pain was unbearable, and my fellow men were scattered throughout the field. The barbarians left me for dead. This is where I am now awaiting for my life to end as the day is coming to an end, and the moon is rising.

Looking back to life I realize that I spent too much time worrying about expectations and about the future that I forgot that the present existed. Passing by the days thinking of tomorrow, but never appreciating the present. I would wish that I had told myself to slow down and enjoy the moment. Live day by day because who knows if there is even a future. 

Now I see the white light that is shining bright. Richard was I. 

Reflective is the word to describe my month because I have been thinking a lot this month. I have been thinking of things that I can do to be more efficient and to be happy. I have realized that I can not hide my feelings anymore like I used to, which is pretty obnoxious. College is around the corner and I need to get my act together. I can not break due to pressure, and I need to hold myself accountable for making sure that I keep my motivation up. Football is going pretty well, it makes me happy, and I have realized that I could not have asked for a better team. Finally, I need to make more time for friends since they make me happy, and I do not want to lose friendships because I am “too busy”.

https://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/74516565/5dc3b7c66bc2b

Optimistic is the word to describe my month because although September was a very tough month for me, I kept a positive attitude and believed that things would get better. Eventually, the month got a little better, and I felt accomplished that I was able to write poetry. Writing poetry has always been very tough for me, but I am glad that I was able to produce a poem that I am at least somewhat proud of. Moreover, I was optimistic that we would win against Palma although a lot of people doubted us, but I knew that we would take the win. I am optimistic that next month will be better especially since Halloween is coming up, and I hope that my month is less stressful.

My mind is clouded with many thoughts and voices.
Many different voices in my head screaming, yelling
To do something different they can’t come together.
I am not just I, I am many different people in my mind.

Personalities many personalities who cant come together
Calmly and happily and aggressively and sadly and lovely
Are all the feelings that I feel. I feel that are tearing me apart
They are tearing my insides and my brain and my social life.

Now it is only me and my personalities. No friends no wife
Just me and my deadly sin of multiple personalities. 
I try to make them stop talking but I can’t. They keep
Nagging nonstop all day all night all the time. 

They threat to take over my body and mind if i don’t oblige
What can I do? Oblige or be lost forever in this sea of voices
This is my deadly sin from which I obtained with life. 
I only want a cleanse from these different personalities in my head.

To die is scary. Live without a fright.
The power leading towards death is mine,
I eat, I sleep, I live, I cry, I die, I write. 

The nights here staring towards me. I fight
The nightmares ready not to die at nine.
To die is scary. Live without a fright.

Awake I lie. Only darkness there’s no light.
I dread the night. The sweat is down my spine.
I eat, I sleep, I live, I cry, I die, I write.

I close my eyes and start to dream a knight;
The knight is dead, or maybe he is fine.
To die is scary. Live without a fright.

The knight, as dead as windless, lifeless kite.
My eyes are open now within a line.
I eat, I sleep, I live, I cry, I die, I write.

The day arrives. No light only color white.
My body lifeless, awaits. There’s a sign.
To die is scary. Live without a fright.
I eat, I sleep, I live, I cry, I die, I write.

The fear of death is seen in his green eyes
The thought of meeting Hades scares this boy 
He’s ready not to face the death. He tries
To face his fear by living life with joy.

The endless cycle of time that never stops 
Insane Is driving him . He tries to slow
The time but knows its useless. Now he drops
Along the floor. He’s very scared to grow.

He lives in constant fear of age and death
His fears are now too much to take alone
He knows today; he might take the last breath
Of life. He’s now too old to live. He’s grown.

He knows his time is soon. He fights the light
He died. He lives no more. He feels no fright. 

Jovial is the word to describe my month because although at first I was sad that summer vacations were over and that school was around the corner, I was jovial that my last first month of high school turned out alright. Adjusting back to school was challenging, but I am working my way through it and figuring out the best way to manage 5 AP classes plus football. I did have some bumps this month, but I was jovial that I had friends to rely on and help me through it. Moreover, football season is almost here and I can not wait to play under the Friday night lights with my teammates. Lastly, I am really enjoying most of my classes so far, and I am jovial that I am not disliking my classes.

The novel, The Chosen, by Chaim Potok takes us through the journey from childhood to adulthood in the lives of two Jewish boys from Brooklyn, New York, Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter. What at first seemed to be a rivalry full of hatred and disgust between one another at a baseball game, a great friendship slowly but steadily grew between the two of them. Religion is a very big part of both of the boys lives, and their friendship is affected by it at different times. Even throughout the tough times, they were able to maintain their friendship, and rely on one another when different problems surfaced. Their biggest problem became who they would become in the future, and how their religion would become part of it. Consequently, the novel shows us how they overcame this obstacle in their long road to adulthood.

Moreover, this novel is written by Chaim Potok, an American author who is also a rabbi, and The Chosen was the first novel that he ever wrote. He is from New York just like Danny and Reuven from the novel, and he is part of an Orthodox Jewish family who immigrated into the United States from Poland. He decided to major in English literature and become a writer. The Chosen won an award, but it is not considered of literary merit by many because it is very different from other novels that are written about Jewish characters. In most cases, the characters are forced to choose between choosing religion or assimilating to the dominant culture. In The Chosen, Potok takes a different approach since he illustrates how the characters are not forced to leave their religion behind, and they balance their religion with their daily lives instead. 

Furthermore, the major themes in the novel are that silence can be an effective way to raise a child, and that there are many types of different father to son relationships, but just because they are different doesn’t mean that they are not meaningful. The theme of silence is expressed as how Danny is raised in silence by his father, Reb Saunders. This means that his father does not talk to him other than for studying the Talmud. Through the theme of silence it is learned how silence can be an effective way to raise a child although it might be emotionally damaging. In the end this method of raising a child will help them become self aware and independent. As Reb questioned himself with questions such as “How will I teach this mind what it is to have a soul? How will I teach this mind to understand pain? How will I teach it to want to take on another person’s suffering?”, Reb decided that the best way to raise a child was through silence (Potok 261). The theme of father to son relationships is shown by the relationship that Reuven has with his father compared to the relationship that Danny has with his father. Their father to son relationships are opposite to one another since on one side, Danny and his father do no talk, and on the other side Reuven and his father have a good communication. Either way this theme shows us how there are many types of different father to son relationships, but just because they are different doesn’t mean that they are not meaningful.

Finally, after reading the book, it made me feel very happy to see how things turned out. I have to admit that this has been one of the books that has kept me engaged for most of the book. With a lot of books that I have read in the past I seem to get bored at some points in the book, but while reading The Chosen, I just wanted to keep reading to see what happened. The beginning of the book was my favorite part since it involved a baseball game and it was suspenseful, but the end did not disappoint although I wanted to know more about how their lives went along in the future. Additionally, what I really enjoyed from this book was that I was able to understand what was going on, although I do not know much of Judaism. This book does not require a person to know a plethora of things about the Judaism religion in order to be able to understand it. If you are looking for a touching, interesting, full of themes, and don’t know much about religion book, The Chosen by Chaim Potok is a perfect book for you.