Re-Evaluating

I've been doing a bit of self evaluation the last day due to an experience in my Brit Lit class that effected me more than it probably should have. It really wasn't that big of a deal-but for the sake of everyone (but Liz who was there), here's how it happened-

We've been reading Pride and Prejudice and yesterday after having finished the book, our professor and TA lined a few of us up based on character traits we share with different people in the book, and I was brought up by the TA as Jane Bennett. *double take*. Jane? Jane's sweet. And completely innocent. And doesn't judge anyone, and she's shy and modest etc. etc. etc. I can see parts of myself in a few other Austen heroines but never Jane. For the obvious reason that I talk and she doesn't and I see her as being prettier than I see myself, and she doesn't judge others.

I'm probably taking the little exercise a little too seriously, but I've been thinking about Jane and, as a result, Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility today more than I've been paying attention in classes. I see Elinor as Jane version 2.0-she's still more reserved when it comes to how she feels, but she's witty. She judges others, but is able to forgive. She has a little more pluck, but she's still just as loyal to duty. In other words, I guess I've finally decided that even though I'm probably just as outspoken as Elizabeth is, my real hero is Elinor. All the die hard Pride and Prejudice fans will hate me for it, but Sense and Sensibility is officially my favorite book by Austen, and I think Elinor is a more valuable heroine, and a more dynamic heroine than Elizabeth is. Elizabeth is funny, and though she does undergo some change which makes her dynamic, I value Elinor's strength even more.

I suppose I could formulate this into an interesting essay someday-but for now, just know that I've been doing some self evaluation (if you care), and I'm posting in my blog when I don't have time (to please Liz :P), and I'm in love with my British Lit class, for finally doing what lit classes are supposed to do-Hold up that mirror to the reader and force you to see beyond the nice romance or the morbid revolution, or the entertaining comedy-and look back at yourself with the questions "So what? What have I learned from this, and how am I going to change?"

Dedicated to an old friend...

And by old I mean *really* old. That's right-this post is dedicated to my dearest friend in the entire world: Liz! Her birthday is tomorrow and she's turning 21. Oh boy. And I can do it here because I know she'll read it, and this is a more creative birthday post than something through facebook.

Liz and I have been friends since we were about five which means, if you do the math, about fifteen years. I think it's pretty safe to say that I know her pretty well. I know that her heart is definately the softest in the world-she puts up with my begging for rides all the time, for instance. I know that when she dedicates herself to something she really dedicates herself to it in a way that I admire. I know that tomorrow she could legally drink if she wanted to but she won't ;) I also know that I am incredibly fortunate to have her as a friend. She has been there for me a thousand times over, probably at times when she couldn't afford to waste any emotional energy on me but did anyway-so, Liz-this one's for you (because I still have tons of Pride and Prejudice reading to do and don't have time to elaborate), Happy Birthday tomorrow! You're incredible.