Saturday, April 07, 2007

The Captain's Wife (notes)

"...letters are nonetheless peculiar historical documents that must also be read for what is evaded or unspoken. People's lives, and the ways in which they remember and record those lives, can never be perfect reflections of one another. The act of recounting always involves the selection of observations, the editing of emotions, even omission of entire experiences. By choosing which episodes to dwell upon and which sentiments to impart..." p28-29

Did we start this evasion of truth at our first summer camp? Our letters filled with flowing "Great Times!" and "Having so much FUN!" Really, all we wanted was our own bed and neighborhood friends.

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