Can you think of a time in your life when you felt as alone as Billie Jo did after the accident? What did you do? What were some of the feelings that you went through? How does your feelings and that of Billie Jo's compare?
Perhaps the loneliest moment in my life was when both my sons graduated from High School and left to go to the States to study overseas. I knew this would happen one day, and I had been preparing myself for the eventuality, but when the day did come and my sons had 'flown from their nest, " I felt enormously sad. I missed them (and still do) but learned over the years to cope with them being away. How do we learn to adapt to the situation? We speak and exchange stories each day, we email often, we skype and stay connected.
To compare .....I feel, my sadness is not a patch on what Billie Jo had to endure after the accident - she will never get her mother back. THAT loss is irreplaceable!
Obviously what happened to Billie Joe would not compare to anything that I know of. Yet, there has a been a time where I felt lonely but sort of in a good way. I felt like I was the new kid of the block. In fact, this has happened twice to me now. The first time was when I moved to China and the second time was when I moved to India. Both times, the same emotions were going through my head. Those emotions were mixed with sadness, relief, loneliness, and adventure. I would always think to myself that wherever I go, I will always be with my family and that is want is most important. Me and Billie Jo both know that family comes first and we should be happy to have one.
A very reassuring thought from you, Nathan, about the importance of family. Friends and acquaintances may come and go, considering how many places we move to, but family will stay together no mater what. Keeping that warmth going is the way to go!
I think the only time in my life I have felt lonly is after my aunt passed away. I felt sad and sorrow emotions of which I had to hold in and be strong about as to console my mother and my aunt's grandchildren. I didn't know what to do during the funeral and thats where I felt my loneliness. Usually my aunt would sit next to me and talk to me in malay for the fun of it and/or english to ask me about India and what I do in India. After this incident I learned that family must me treated and respected properly so they may stay healthy and not under stress.
If I compare this with Billie Jo's accident, I would say that she would be in a notch higher of loneliness as she was to blame for her mother's death.
Continuing, from my response to Nathan, I completely agree with you, Pradeen, on the 'value of family relationships.' I know we live busy lives, and often have to maintain long distance relationships with family. No matter where we are, let us do what little we can to keep those relationships going. Share, talk, visit, give, hug, console.....all of these and more....
I have never been in a situation that Billie joe is at the moment or even compare to the situation she is in. But there was a time when I felt lonely and it was when my brother left to the states for education purposes, it was really hard for me to get used to the fact that my brother had left, since I have known him for my whole life, it felt like a part of me was missing even though we speak over the phone or Facebook all most everyday.
I completely get your feeling. But, think about it, we live in a digital age and that makes keeping in touch that much more easier. Gone are the days of snail mail....now there is email, phone, Skype with camera social networking sites like Facebook and more...
Can you imagine how it must have felt for folks back then who had family overseas? It would take upto three months to receive a letter...and you know what this was not so long ago....maybe 20 years or so....
I have never been as lonely Billie but like every other human being i do get lonely at times. Like for example when my mom and dad went to chennai for work related issues i had a tought time and felt like there was no one else to help me even though my grandparent and brother were there.
Like everyone else mentioned above: no one of us can possibly compare to what Billie Jo felt. Yet many classmates of mine have come much closer than me to such feelings, as the only death I have ever experienced was one of a friend my age when she was only in 2nd grade. I don't really remember much, and I am not sure I was capable of understanding what was happening to her so it didn't really hit me until much later. Nonetheless, I know I will never forget her.
I think the death of someone is a different sorrow than other situations because one has to accept, that no matter what one does or does not, the loved one is never going to come back and there is no chance of seeing him/her ever again.
The difference between the deaths that we (my classmates and I) have experinced and Billie jo's Ma's death is that Billie could have prevented it and therefore feels responsible for it.
Hahaha no i do understand it..., well but ghost dont excist. She might feel guilty the rest of her life though, and guilt can be like a monster..... :D
I dont understand the fact that Billie Jo could have prevented it and therefore she felt responsible for it. It was completely an accident and yet she does though feel regret. This doesn't mean she could have prevented it. Billie Jo was only a little girl and also the relationship between Billie Jo and her father differentiate.
yeah.... i agree with Akane. Plus Nathan it's not like Cancer where it is basically no ones fault. Just look at a car accident where someone dies because the other car crashes with him. It was just an accident right? And still it would be the other guys fault because he didn't look properly and he would be and/or feel guilty.
Miss, what I am trying to say is that, I haven't been as close as my classmates to such a situation. Also that even if they have been, their situation differs from Billie's because none of them feel guilty, at all, about the death they experienced. Consequently a death you could prevent is way more painful than a death that had nothing to do with you. Even if it was an accident. Have I made myself clear?
Like most of the class, the lonliest I have been was when my grandfather past away. I still remember how I found out and how it was so shocking that it wouldnt sync in. I had gone to my room and just sat there crying.I thought about how he helped me through everything. How he gave me the most precious advice.
My grandfather and I had a very special bond despite the fact I didnt get to see him all the time. I had so many important experiences with him that I will never forget. Now everytime I pass by the icecream store he always took me to, it brings back such pleasent memories.
Ofcourse the pain that Billie Jo faced is far more than mine but I still know what its like to lose someone you really love.
Cherish those priceless moments you spent with your grandfather. Count your blessings.....you were most fortunate that you got to spend those warm warm moments with him. Yes, it would have been wonderful to have a lot more...
I feel alone very oftenly, but mostly I feel alone whenever I need family and feel the empty space of them, especially mother. Jo will feel how it feels after her mother dies because of the accident.
Whenever my classmates bring their lunch which their mothers pack for them, I feel alone, I mean I realize once more that my mother is not here to pack my lunch every morning. Also I sleep with my mother in Korea, so every morning she wakes me up, but in India in the morning, I wake up by myself and there is no one who eats breakfast with me and there is no one who welcomes me after school. For Jo, there is no one who say "I knew you could" when she gets good score for her test.
Because I feel what Jo feels, I can feel and understand her pain as I read the book and I can imagine how her facial expression is.
Perhaps the loneliest moment in my life was when both my sons graduated from High School and left to go to the States to study overseas. I knew this would happen one day, and I had been preparing myself for the eventuality, but when the day did come and my sons had 'flown from their nest, " I felt enormously sad. I missed them (and still do) but learned over the years to cope with them being away. How do we learn to adapt to the situation? We speak and exchange stories each day, we email often, we skype and stay connected.
ReplyDeleteTo compare .....I feel, my sadness is not a patch on what Billie Jo had to endure after the accident - she will never get her mother back. THAT loss is irreplaceable!
Obviously what happened to Billie Joe would not compare to anything that I know of. Yet, there has a been a time where I felt lonely but sort of in a good way. I felt like I was the new kid of the block. In fact, this has happened twice to me now. The first time was when I moved to China and the second time was when I moved to India. Both times, the same emotions were going through my head. Those emotions were mixed with sadness, relief, loneliness, and adventure. I would always think to myself that wherever I go, I will always be with my family and that is want is most important. Me and Billie Jo both know that family comes first and we should be happy to have one.
ReplyDeleteA very reassuring thought from you, Nathan, about the importance of family. Friends and acquaintances may come and go, considering how many places we move to, but family will stay together no mater what. Keeping that warmth going is the way to go!
DeleteCheers!
I think the only time in my life I have felt lonly is after my aunt passed away. I felt sad and sorrow emotions of which I had to hold in and be strong about as to console my mother and my aunt's grandchildren. I didn't know what to do during the funeral and thats where I felt my loneliness. Usually my aunt would sit next to me and talk to me in malay for the fun of it and/or english to ask me about India and what I do in India. After this incident I learned that family must me treated and respected properly so they may stay healthy and not under stress.
ReplyDeleteIf I compare this with Billie Jo's accident, I would say that she would be in a notch higher of loneliness as she was to blame for her mother's death.
Continuing, from my response to Nathan, I completely agree with you, Pradeen, on the 'value of family relationships.' I know we live busy lives, and often have to maintain long distance relationships with family. No matter where we are, let us do what little we can to keep those relationships going. Share, talk, visit, give, hug, console.....all of these and more....
DeleteI have never been in a situation that Billie joe is at the moment or even compare to the situation she is in. But there was a time when I felt lonely and it was when my brother left to the states for education purposes, it was really hard for me to get used to the fact that my brother had left, since I have known him for my whole life, it felt like a part of me was missing even though we speak over the phone or Facebook all most everyday.
ReplyDeleteKrishna,
DeleteI completely get your feeling. But, think about it, we live in a digital age and that makes keeping in touch that much more easier. Gone are the days of snail mail....now there is email, phone, Skype with camera social networking sites like Facebook and more...
Can you imagine how it must have felt for folks back then who had family overseas? It would take upto three months to receive a letter...and you know what this was not so long ago....maybe 20 years or so....
I have never been as lonely Billie but like every other human being i do get lonely at times. Like for example when my mom and dad went to chennai for work related issues i had a tought time and felt like there was no one else to help me even though my grandparent and brother were there.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else mentioned above: no one of us can possibly compare to what Billie Jo felt. Yet many classmates of mine have come much closer than me to such feelings, as the only death I have ever experienced was one of a friend my age when she was only in 2nd grade. I don't really remember much, and I am not sure I was capable of understanding what was happening to her so it didn't really hit me until much later. Nonetheless, I know I will never forget her.
ReplyDeleteI think the death of someone is a different sorrow than other situations because one has to accept, that no matter what one does or does not, the loved one is never going to come back and there is no chance of seeing him/her ever again.
The difference between the deaths that we (my classmates and I) have experinced and Billie jo's Ma's death is that Billie could have prevented it and therefore feels responsible for it.
Hahaha no i do understand it..., well but ghost dont excist. She might feel guilty the rest of her life though, and guilt can be like a monster..... :D
DeleteDaniela,
DeleteAm a little confused with what you are attempting to say here....
I dont understand the fact that Billie Jo could have prevented it and therefore she felt responsible for it. It was completely an accident and yet she does though feel regret. This doesn't mean she could have prevented it. Billie Jo was only a little girl and also the relationship between Billie Jo and her father differentiate.
Deleteyeah.... i agree with Akane. Plus Nathan it's not like Cancer where it is basically no ones fault. Just look at a car accident where someone dies because the other car crashes with him. It was just an accident right? And still it would be the other guys fault because he didn't look properly and he would be and/or feel guilty.
DeleteMiss, what I am trying to say is that, I haven't been as close as my classmates to such a situation. Also that even if they have been, their situation differs from Billie's because none of them feel guilty, at all, about the death they experienced. Consequently a death you could prevent is way more painful than a death that had nothing to do with you. Even if it was an accident. Have I made myself clear?
DeleteLike most of the class, the lonliest I have been was when my grandfather past away. I still remember how I found out and how it was so shocking that it wouldnt sync in. I had gone to my room and just sat there crying.I thought about how he helped me through everything. How he gave me the most precious advice.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather and I had a very special bond despite the fact I didnt get to see him all the time. I had so many important experiences with him that I will never forget. Now everytime I pass by the icecream store he always took me to, it brings back such pleasent memories.
Ofcourse the pain that Billie Jo faced is far more than mine but I still know what its like to lose someone you really love.
Aaria,
DeleteCherish those priceless moments you spent with your grandfather. Count your blessings.....you were most fortunate that you got to spend those warm warm moments with him. Yes, it would have been wonderful to have a lot more...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel alone very oftenly, but mostly I feel alone whenever I need family and feel the empty space of them, especially mother. Jo will feel how it feels after her mother dies because of the accident.
DeleteWhenever my classmates bring their lunch which their mothers pack for them, I feel alone, I mean I realize once more that my mother is not here to pack my lunch every morning. Also I sleep with my mother in Korea, so every morning she wakes me up, but in India in the morning, I wake up by myself and there is no one who eats breakfast with me and there is no one who welcomes me after school. For Jo, there is no one who say "I knew you could" when she gets good score for her test.
Because I feel what Jo feels, I can feel and understand her pain as I read the book and I can imagine how her facial expression is.
I had few mistakes so I corrected it.
DeleteJiwon,
DeleteYou have been an extremely brave girl going through these feelings. And you have always put up a happy front. Amazing grit you have shown!
Many of us, could take a tip or two from you, I feel. Carrying on, no matter the difficulties!
Bravo!
I can....
ReplyDelete