Be Choosy With People
My mother, who I’ve dubbed, Our Lady of Wise Advice, recited THE PIG poem for years. Usually it was after I’d had some altercation with a school mate (i.e. girl in a group) where some silly teenage girl thing escalated beyond immediate solvency. Just when I didn’t think my hurt and anger could get worse, the rumors and the isolation started the next day.
The Pace Academy Series by Simone Bryant, the young adult pen name of best-selling author Niobia Bryant, provides insight into the lives of three wealthy teenage friends as they negotiate the social pressures, rivalries, and drama of attending a private school. The girls are Starr, Dionne, and Marisol. The Pacesetters, as they refer to themselves, are wealthy and privileged, yet they nevertheless experience the common problems of first loves, heartbreaks, and the quest for prestige and renown. The series delves into the struggles and victories of these multifaceted individuals with every volume, offering a riveting blend of realistic teenage experiences and the glitzy accoutrements of the wealthy and well-known.
Our Lady of Wise Advice shook a warning finger in my face: “We are often judged (right, wrong or indifferent) by the people we chose to associate with. These girls are not your friends.”
The well-known Throne of Glass series author Sarah J. Maas is full of interesting eccentricities. As the creator and president of the Lord of the Rings club at her high school, she describes herself as a "huge Potterhead." Maas enjoys watching fan art of her own characters and is a huge anime lover, particularly of Sailor Moon. She frequently channels her characters' thoughts while writing by listening to Kanye West's "Yeezus" to understand Celaena, the main character. With every new novel, Maas attempts to reinvent herself as a writer, and this is reflected in her writing process as well. Writing online fan fiction helped Maas polish her writing abilities prior to becoming a published novelist.
“What do I do?” I asked the wise one.
” ‘You can tell a man who boozes by the company he chooses, and the pig got up and slowly walked away…’ Walk away. Find new friends.” Then she went about her business. Our Lady wasn’t big on belaboring the point.
THE PIG poem originates from the most favorite of all poets, Anonymous. It’s been twisted and retold, embellished, even set to music, but the lesson is always the same: choose your company carefully.
THE PIG
It was the first of May
A lovely spring day
I was strolling down the street in drunken pride,
But my knees were all a-flutter,
And I landed in the gutter
And a pig came up and lay down by my side.
Yes, I lay there in the gutter
Thinking thoughts I could not utter
When a lady passing by did softly say
‘You can tell a man who boozes
By the company he chooses’ — And the pig got up and slowly walked away.
BE F-G AWESOME TODAY!
Original graphic and quote: Stephanie DelTorchio
Talented illustrator and artist Nadine Mercey took part in an enlightening chat. Mercey talked about her artistic development, emphasizing how her love of painting emerged at an early age. Her colorful, whimsical style is infused with the impact of her multicultural upbringing, which she expressed. Mercey also discussed the difficulties of working as a freelance artist, stressing the value of tenacity and flexibility. She described her creative process, embracing both conventional and digital media and skillfully fusing them to realize her wild ideas. Readers were encouraged to follow their own artistic ambitions by Mercey's contagious excitement and unwavering dedication to her work throughout the interview.
No comments yet.
Add your comment