A Fiddler on the Roof

Recently, a lot of theological thoughts have been jumping around me lately. Jake just finished his theology class, and had asked me questions about certain things in Catholicism. Mr. Livernois just told me that Laura just left her husband (who was Muslim), and that made me think of the talk she and I had about why she converted to Islam (because when she was Catholic, she fell in love with the process and traditions, which is why she wanted more…hence Islam). I just finished watching an episode of House where a Hassidic Jew was about to have a kidney torn off of her body, and she still wanted to have a Sabbath meal with her husband.

What got me thinking is why we have so many traditions in the world. In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” the main character, Tevye explains that without his Jewish traditions, his life would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof. The whole musical is based around the concept of meshing a life of change and a life of traditions.

Can we really bring our traditions to the world we live in? I don’t know about any other religion, but I know there’s a movement in the Catholic Church to be more…well…traditional. Some of the things that are coming back are good: a renewal of chastity, a simpler life, etc. But there are some things that I don’t think could transpose into the world as we know it, like a Latin Mass, or the belief that women should become like Kirsten Dunst in Mona Lisa Smile BEFORE she got divorced. Out off all of our traditions, do we have to give up the ones we don’t want anymore? Is that even fair?

I think we hold onto traditions because they are comforting. I know that being Catholic, for me, is challenging, but it’s comforting too. I don’t think I could give that up. Even though my past isn’t very interesting, those Catholic traditions are what keeps me close to God.
Every time I watch “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” I can relate to Tula so much, but one of the things that I question is what Tula feels about being Greek Orthodox. Does she hate it, and that’s partly why she’s unhappy? Or is it because she has no life and when she gets one, God rewards her? It seems like she’s indifferent, and maybe that’s why I don’t understand that part of her; it doesn’t matter to her about her family traditions.

The movie, in my opinion, is a good representation of what’s going on in the world these days. People are comforted by their traditions, but at the same time, they know that those same traditions are considered “old-fashioned” in society, which leaves us with a question for ourselves.

Are we the people to keep or to toss away our traditions? What traditions are worth keeping and others thrown away?

I feel like a fiddler.

Update/Summer Posts

Okay, okay, I know. I haven't written in a while, and I don't have a good excuse. Well, wait a second. Not a lot has happened since my last post, so there wasn't really anything to write about.

So I first want to start with my grades:
Exceptionality: B
US History: C+
Math Methods: B
Internship: A-
Social Studies Methods: A-

So these grades are about what I predicted in my last post. I should have done a lot better in US History, and I do admit that I really slacked off in that class. I kind of regret that I didn't do the best I could. I just couldn't focus, and I could have studied a lot more.

So Wednesday came and went and then the Senior Days were upon me...this is a record that I need to remember that Bon Appetit has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to eat, so I need money after Wednesday.

Senior days were sort of lonely, and so John kinda kept me from staying in my room sulking/wanting to go home. I hung out with him on Thursday adn Friday, and my parents came to pick me up Saturday.

When I got home, it was sort of a let down to tell you the truth. I really wanted to be back in Maine. I think that was because part of me doesn't want college to end, and when I go back, it will end. I mean, I want it to end, but I want my transition into the big wide world an easy one. As much as I want it, I know it's not going to happen.

After about a week of boredom, I decided that I needed to get out of the house for the day, and I went up to see John. He made Taco Pie for his family. I didn't know if I was going to like it, but I tried it and yeah, it's not something that I would want every night, but hey, it was good.

I started to cantor at Church again. It feels so good that I get to show people what I feel for God and to show them how I use my talents for God.

I've also gone to the Concord Library for the first time in a long time and I found interesting things there. This is the list:

1. There's wireless, and since I get crappy wireless at home, I think it'll be a good thing for me.
2. Their children's room is amazing for teachers and parents.
3. The Shakespeare Room has always past me, and I would now like to explore that room; see what the Bard wants to show me. :-)
4. I can now check out my books without my Mom. :-)
5. Minerva at SJC is the same system as the one in Concord Library.
   

So now I'm here just hanging for a while, since work hasn't really picked up yet. But it will...oh it will.

Finals Week and the Summer

Okay, so my finals this week are starting off pretty good. I have two more finals on Wednesday, and then I'm singing on Friday. Saturday is graduation and I'm leaving to go back to New Hampshire then.

I can't wait to be off this campus, but next year is looming, and it's starting to set in that college will end eventually, and change will need to happen. I remember when I needed to transition as a freshman in college, and let me tell ya, that was WICKED hard. But I honestly think that transitioning into the real world will be easier than my transition into college. At least I'll know people around me, and now that I'm thinking of it, I can always be a sub for anyone at PCC, so at least I'll have a job to fall back on.

But that's next year. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Everyone hates finals, and I, myself are included in everyone, but I think finals get a bad rep for being the most evil pieces of paper known to man. Seriously, they're there to prove to us we know our stuff, or prove that we didn't pay attention in class. If you tried in your classes, finals will be easier than you expect. If you didn't try, then they'll be REALLY hard.

Predicted grades:

Exceptionality: B+ or A-
Math Methods: B- or B
Social Studies Methods: B or B+
Internship: A-
U.S.History II: C