befriending barbie

I must admit, if i was to go that convention I would have had very similar if not the same views as her. Not because I think there is something wrong with it but because I have not ever owned a barbie, never had the desire to, and never seen how they could be fun in any way. After reading this piece however I think I have a better understanding of what this is all about. This essay really made me realize that you do not need to look at other peoples hobbies no matter how uncommon they are because to them it could be a way of meeting people with similar interests a lot or they could have a story like the lady with the son that was murdered. I think the most powerful part of this entire essay was the lady saying her son was murdered and people that she met with the same love for barbie as her were the only people that really helped her through this. Overall I liked this piece a lot although it was a little lengthy.  It also helped me with my upcoming essay because it helped by showing me a good idea for how to start off my story and structure it.

- waterboy

Befriending Barbie

One thing I didn't know before reading this paper is that there were different types of Barbies.  I thought it was the same doll just in different outfits.  I also was a bit surprised that people could be this excited to see dolls.  I also consider toys things for children to play with not collect.  However, there is a collector for every item so Barbie is no different.  The prices which the dolls can come to also shocked me.  I like the fact that these people had dedicated so much time in to doing something they enjoyed, but I do not like dolls so a collection of them would not interest me.  The beginning is the most important because is sets up the story and gives some background on the collector in general.  This essay gave a lot of detail and allowed the reader to feel as if they were there looking at the dolls.  This will help me to write my paper by giving me an example of the use of dialog to set a scene.

Barbie!

When I first saw the title to this piece of writing, I didn't really know what to expect. I loved Barbies growing up and so did both of my sisters. What I didn't know is how much Barbie actually does mean to some people. I also didn't know that there was such a thing as Barbie conventions. I think the writer is very good at being descriptive and she also achieves this descriptiveness with the dialogue used. I think that it is written well and it is entertaining. I also think that the author paints a vivid picture in the readers mind. The author seems to go into the situation as sort of a skeptic, but she comes out of the situation with a completely different mindset. She realizes that there is more to Barbie than just her cute clothes and pretty blonde hair. Some people have serious attachments to Barbie because of memories they have with her, as weird as it may sound. I know I will always remember pushing Barbie around my room in her little yellow Volkswagen beetle with my two sisters. Most people that had Barbies had some sort of fond memory having to do with them, or they simply just remind them of their childhood, which sometimes is just what people need. This piece of writing makes me hope that I still have that box of Barbies somewhere at home so I can sell them one day to big-time collectors that they mean much more to than they do to me.

Befriending Barbie

Before I read this essay on the power of Barbies, I knew little to almost nothing about the blonde dolls. One of the few things that I did know however was that people collected them because my old neighbor used to collect them. After reading this essay I have changed my opinion from collecting Barbie dolls is a worthless habit to, collecting something can be very beneficial due to the people that you meet with the same interest. The vivid details that the author continued to give throughout the piece is what I liked most and it's what kept me entertained in this piece. Personally, I feel that the most important part of the essay is when the author has the meeting with the woman who lost her son in the church shooting. Through this meeting the author finds out that the bonds that the single mother had made with her Barbie friends outweighed the friendships she had made with other locals, and that is a very unique feeling. After reading this essay I feel that I will be more open to other opinions while I write and not such a one-sided view point. It is good for people to see more than one aspect of things so I want to try and do my best to show those sides.

Befriending Barbie

To tell the absolute truth I really did not know much about Barbie, aside from it being a doll little girls played with. It really did not strike me as something that would inspire leagues of people to gain an obsession. However, through this essay my eyes have opened and have allowed me to see that to many others the world of Barbie allows to many a way of escape. I have seen that men and women have been able to use Barbie as a way to fill the void of loneliness and bring new joy into their lives. I think the most important part of the story was its conclusion when the author of the paper had been won over by Barbie and was showing off her doll as if she had been a fan of it all her life. It shows that after being exposed to so many stories of how Barbie helped out these people on the emotionally and social level one can't help but be won over by it's sincerity. The paper allowed the reader to see her stream of thought which was essential to her effective conclusion because we had essentially been with her the entire time so when she had been won over it was almost as if we the readers had been as well.

Befriending Barbie

I didn't know that Barbie was the most collected item, second only to stamps. When I was little, I loved playing with Barbies. I had almost 30 different dolls, including 1 Ken, 2 Kellys, and 2 Chrissies, 3 different cars, and 1 office phone with an operating conference call function. I think that Barbie is a great way to instill creativity in kids, and she encourages you to use your imagination. I thought that this essay took a really interesting approach to Barbie. I liked that she began in opposition, and then after her experiences, she realized that these collectors had a point. To me, the most pivotal and important point is Judy's story. At that point, Caudron uses pathos to completely convert the audience's point of view. Up until then, I had agreed with her. I didn't really understand the reasoning behind collecting, even though I had fond memories of Barbie. I feel that I now understand collectors. I wouldn't necessarily start collecting 60s Barbies, but I appreciate collectors and their commitment. This essay was written as if she read our prompt before going to the convention, so I think that it will definitely be helpful in the writing process.

Barbie

Before reading the essay I had never really thought much of Barbie besides the fact that it was a popular doll for little girls.  Not only with Barbie’s but also with other children’s toys, I have always thought it was weird when adults still collected them.  After reading this essay I learned that there are often reasons for the things people do that we do not know.  For example, instead of the collector collecting these dolls just to relive her childhood and still play with dolls, they each actually had a specific meaning.  Something I liked about the essay was in the introduction where we can feel that the author is going into this just as confused as I am at the fact that the collector has 3,000 Barbie dolls, showing that she is truly doing something new in order to write an essay.  The way that this will help me as a writer is that it will encourage me to go out of my comfort zone more often and explore more in order to find interesting things to write about.  

Befriending Barbie

When I was young, I enjoyed playing with Barbie like most girls, but I had know idea that Barbies were so obsessed over like the story shows. The amount of money that is spent on Barbies at these convention is outrageous. I just remember as a kid always cutting their hair or somehow ending up destroying them before even having them for longer than a few months. There are conventions about all kinds of toys, so it is not surprising that there is one for Barbie. I did not realize though that their were that many different kinds of Barbies. It was interesting to see what the reasons is for some of the men and women to come to the conventions and why they collect them. The lady whose explanation for collecting Barbie was for for son was important part to me in the story. I would believe that Barbies should only be used by children, but after reading the story I can kinda understand why adults would want to too. I have realized that a small object/toy can impact someones life so greatly.

Befriending Barbie

When I was younger I for one, used to be obsessed with Barbies. My sister and I played Barbies all the time. I'm pretty sure my sister and I had like a million Barbies, to where you could not easily walk in our play room when we were playing. However I did  not know just how different
Barbies there were, and in that how many outfits there were.
Before I read this essay, I would have to agree with the author in thinking, collecting Barbies was a silly hobby. That it's a toy for little girls, not a collectable for adults. This essay helped me see that there is a great deal deeper reasoning why someone may collect something such as Barbies. Barbie that makes the collectors feel comforted by. I think it is probably that Barbie helps them remember when they were younger, and the world seemed a great deal simpler. I think the most important part of this story was the story hearing all the stories of why collecting Barbies effected them and why they choose to do it. Listening to these stories allowed the author to be impacted and changed her prospective on how she looks at Barbies. I think this essay will help me to really look at just how the situation impacted me.

Befriending Barbie

I definitely have more respect for Barbie collectors after reading this story. I had no clue that Barbies are the second item most collected, other than stamps. I knew people were passionate about Barbies but their touching stories behind their collection really surprised me. When I read about all the different sorts of people collecting them, I'm not going to lie, I was embarrassed for some of those men there. But as I continued through the passage, I realized it was something that each person truly was passionate about. Just because it isn't my personal hobby, I shouldn't judge them for theirs. The part that really got to me was the woman's son who died. All of her friends abandoned her, but her collector friends not only stuck by her side, but made her feel so comforted and special. Also all of the charities the Barbie collectors participate in is quite impressive. Overall, this story was a total shock. Barbies really do mean a lot to people. They symbolize their backgrounds and they tell a story about that individual. I'm glad a little doll can serve such a significant purpose for many people.

Befriending Barbie

When I was younger, I was a huge Barbie fan. I didn't go anywhere without taking atleast five of my barbie dolls along. However, I did not know that there were so many different types of Barbies.
When I think about people who collect barbies, I have to admit that I agreed with the author and thought it was kind of a silly hobby. After reading this essay, I realize that was not a fair assumption to make. People collect things for different reasons and like the essay shows, some people do this because it is all they have left. This essay made me realize that things are not always as they appear. I really enjoyed this essay, it was funny as well as informative. I think the most important part of this essay was when the author also realized she had been wrong in her judgement of the collectors. She realized that each individual had their own story and reason for why they were collectors. At the end of the essay she is even excited to have her own Barbie. This essay had a lot of details that helped the readers get a feel for the setting and what she was seeing and thinking throughout the whole essay. This has helped to show me what will help my readers get a better feel of what I am trying to write about.

Befriending Barbie

A thing that I did not know about Barbie prior to reading this story was how much money is spent or earned. I could not believe that a Barbie doll can go at auction for $15,000! Before this essay I felt as though people who collect Barbie dolls should be on the show hoarders. These collecters purchase hundreds of dolls and have them lining every available space in their house. I also felt that they are all overly happy and did not have a grip on the real world.My opinion of the collecters has changed significantly. These people make their living off selling these dolls or their accessories. Barbie collecters also have a huge support network. They truely care about each other and often look after each other more than their friends at home. This essay made me look past my own stereotypes and see these collecters as people who live real lives and look out for one another. I didn't like the fact that she didn't go into more detail with the men that were there. I would have liked to hear more on what they thought about the whole concept of collecting dolls. I enjoyed hearing about how many careers and options there were for a single doll. It blew my mind! The most important part of this story for me was making me take off my "lens" and seeing the world of Barbie in a whole new way. The authors ability to step back and observe and portray those observations as facts instead of opinions helped me see how to write about a subject that can be stereotyped.

Befriending Barbie

One thing I did not know about Barbie is how many different kinds there were. I also did not know how popular Babie's were and knowing that all of the Barbie's sold could circle the earth seven times really surprised me. Before this essay I thought of Barbie's as just toys that little kids played with. I never thought of them as a hobbie or people collecting them. After the essay I realized that Barbie's could mean more than just toys to people and they can actually bring a lot of happiness. What I got out of this essay is that even if you think you feel strongely about something until you experience it you never really know how you could feel. I liked this essay because of all the different people the author talked too. In my opinion the most important part of the story is the ending because it shows that the authors attitude has actually changed. This essay will help me think as a writer to try and describe what I did and if it effected me.

Befriending Barbie

Before reading this essay, I knew nothing about barbie. It's a doll that's been around for years and years and has a wardrobe the size of our galaxy. What I learned was that people still take an interest. Enough to not only collect them, but keep them in boxes and go to conventions to tell other people how many barbies they have boxed up and on shelves. It amazes me to know that barbie collecting is the second biggest hobby behind stamp collecting. I thought the doll was like an action figure for guys, you play with them when you're little then forget about them as you grow up. But i realize now its way more than that. My view on barbies now has changed a lot. I collect Coke bottles and merchandise. I don't go to conventions or travel across the world to buy a bottle only made in turkey. But people do those things for Barbie. That's dedication. I thought it was funny when the guys dressed up as well. I don't condone it, but i find it very unmasculine. This essay was very enlightening to how Barbie is still very much around and at large.

Befriending Barbie

Before this essay, I did not really care much about barbies and had little concern over them, I still feel the same way now, although I learned a few facts. I had no idea there was over a billion different pair of shoes for barbie, I mean who can come up with a billion different designs? What I liked about this essay is that it helped to explain why collectors act the way they do without any real assumptions about the people collecting. This story's most important part would be the emphasis on how kind the barbie collectors really are. The essay itself is a good example on how to not judge something without really understanding it, and to remove assumptions when analyzing a situation.

Barbie

This essay has given me a little more insight in the Barbie world. Before reading this story, I just viewed Barbie as something that I played with when I was little and it was just a toy in the form of a tall, tan, and beautiful blonde girl. I never thought that adults, even men, would become interested enough in Barbie to collect them or go to the convention. This essay proved to me that toys do not have to be only for kids, although it may be abnormal, and the things people collect can be anything from elephants to Barbie's or even stamps. I realized that everyone has different hobbies and likes, and most people have a special reason for that interest. Just like the mother who lost her son, she had an emotional connection with Barbie because of her son connecting her with her friends, who happened to be there for her during her loss. Although this essay shows the strange diversity in people's hobbies, such as collecting Barbie, the writer made a point to find out the reason for each person's collecting, or attending the convention. After reading this paper, it is obvious to me that there is much more to Barbie than what I remember when I had some of my own. There are thousands of different versions and outfits for Barbie and even large conventions for people who collect her. This essay has shown me that I need to be very discriptive in my paper and I need to pay close attention to my surroundings to allow the reader to understand what I saw, heard, felt, and so on.

Barbie

I never knew that people go crazy over plastic dolls. I didn't know that people take it seriously and keep them in the box. Why would you buy a doll without playing with it. Dolls are for little girls not adults. I can understand older guys collecting super hero action figures - superman, batman, etc. but not barbie dolls. When I read about the lady when her son died, her Barbie friends were the ones who supported her and kept her up. They gave without her expecting it. I probably would have stopped collecting and been depressed and start focusing on something else. Reading this will help me be more openminded when I experience something for the first time.

Befriending Barbie

I never knew that there was Barbie auctions.  I have always thought of Barbie as something that little girls play with, and after reading the essay, I found out that people actually collect Barbie dolls.  As a guy, I do not like Barbie products.  It is just something I have no interest in.  The most important part of this story is that there are people who are major collectors of Barbie products.  Understanding someone else’s opinion will help me become a better writer. 

Befriending Barbie

Before I read this essay I really had no clue about barbie other than that she was a doll that dated ken and girls love to play with her. a few things that really surprised me were the stats about barbie, especially the amounts of clothes, the prices, and the amount of fabric. another thing that was astounding was the business profit of barbie, it was a billion dollar business. before i read this article i didnt care for barbie, or even think of her as a collectable or a toy. now i see her as an industry that makes alot of money, something i can see why people get into her. this essay was describing  something that the author never really did, and is a good example for the essay we are in the process of writing right now. it describes her new adventure with detail and thoughts that go on in her mind, which gives a good image of what shes going through.

Befriending Barbie

One thing I did not know about Barbie before this, was that her value drops significantly once you take her out of the box.  Before this essay I never really thought about Barbie further than the fact that she is a doll my friends and I used to play with when we were young.  After reading this essay I know see the kind of significance she has, and the countless lives that she has touched.  From reading this essay I was able to take my personal judgement and beliefs I had about Barbie before, and just simply read the article and listen to what the Barbie collectors had to say.  I was able to read and try to find the interesting parts within the essay.
I really liked the part when that lady opened up and shared about the death of her son, and how without the support and kindness of her fellow friends she had met through Barbie, she would not have been able to cope as she did. This part was also the most important, because it really made me see how big of an impact something as simple as a doll can have on a persons life.
Unfortunately since I will be spectating not participating, I won't be able to talk to people and ask them questions. Because of this I won't have the interview aspect in my essay.  I did realize that description and detail are key to the reader, in order for them to feel as if they are with you.

Thinking about "Befriending Barbie"

Start out by telling me something you didn't know about Barbie. How did you feel about Barbie before this essay, and do you feel any different now? What did you get out of this essay? What did you like/not like? What is the most important part of this story in your opinion? What is your reaction and how will this essay help you to think as a writer?

last stop

i agree with brian about death being private and not talked about much. also the apperance of the place was not expected. funeral homes are surpose to be nice and peaceful looking. it was very wierd to me that the funeral director lived in the plane building and the name of it was goodbody. who would name a funeral home that. in his opinion it seemed very awkward. my experience at a funeral home was very different. the place that the funeral took place was in a nice building with nice flowers around and a beautiful lawn. inside of the building was roomy and smelled really fresh. even thow it was very sad the funernal director gave a speech that was very touching. the people at the funeral was very emotional but calm. in conclusion i feel like death is part of life because we was born to die.

The Last Stop

     One assumption that he made was how the mortuary would look like.  he thought it would be beautiful, with gardens that would stand out from everything else.  Instead it was in the middle of town in a pink building.   He met with the undertaker, who was rather stereotypical, and was shown around the entire funeral home.  He found that the people who worked there were very passionate about what they do. 

The Last Stop

In Cable's reflection on the Goodbody funeral home he found out that it isn't just a gloomy place, but a welcoming, homey kind of building that takes care of your deceased loved ones with the utmost care. The assumptions that he made about not only the place but the people working there were all pretty much incorrect. Personally, I have been in a few funeral homes and I know that they seem rather odd and musty but they are actually quite nice and make you feel at least a little better about the situation. I feel that I learned a lot about the Goodbody funeral home from this reading because Cable did a very good job explaining the finest details, even with a hint of sarcasm. His view, that funeral homes are there to make money, can be seen when he talks about the credit card sign that was placed next to the crucifix. This showed me that yes, the funeral home is there for you, but they do mean business however. The view I have of this funeral home is that they mean business, but also that they do try and do their best for the customer as well.

The Last Stop

As the essay starts, Cable judges a funeral home to be a place of dread and emptiness. He also thinks that the experience of going to one is only a painful one. Although as he actually approaches the home he soon finds that it is a well decorated place with a friendly staff that enjoys their jobs. He finds that the people inside take great pleasure in knowing they help bring people closer to the final reality that is the death of a loved one. Overall, the assumptions Cable makes before he enters are what almost everyone makes. A funeral home defiantly does not seem as if it is a nice place instead of a barren and haunting one.

The Last Stop

The bias that Cable essentially brought to the table through his analysis of a 21 century funeral home was seen in almost all his descriptions. One of the first which was mentioned would be the exterior of the funeral home. He weighed against his preconceived notions against what was actually apparent in this funeral home. What he expected was a almost unrealistic escape from reality that was different because of how perfect and peaceful the exterior was. However, the building was more ordinary than he had expected in that it was said that the building could easily be confused with an apartment building because of the brick which held it together and the location of the mortuary, in the middle of a business district in the city. Another bias that was brought into his description of this place was the what and how he believed an undertaker should look like. Because he had assumed the undertaker would look like a personification of Death himself, he automatically thought the undertaker to be cold and uncaring. However, upon further investigation he was proven wrong in that the undertaker actually truly cared about his work and was not as heartless as Cable's bias has originally portrayed him as being. I believe that this observation really shows a good depiction of funeral homes in general because it eliminates all the denotations that we regularly affix to funeral homes. It shows them as a way for us to past our relatives over into eternal rest and shows the employees as people who simple like to help make this rough depressing time as easy and smooth as possible for the family. This essay allows me to see a different side of what is just assumed some times, and shows how a perspective can easily be changed when someone takes the time to investigate a matter much deeper.

the last stop

   Cable goes into a funeral home to see how the bodies are prepare for the visitations.  This is a strange task because must people are afraid of death and don't like dealing with.  When he steps into the funeral home he is surprised by the homeliness of the lobby.  He seems to have expected the room to be very cold because it was associated with death.  He is also surprised by the business side involving the caskets.  There are so many things to pick from reflecting the lifestyle of the desisted.  He also assumed the place where the bodies where being prepared would be a dark and unclean place do to the connection to death.  However, it was very clean like an operating room.  It was very interesting that they are able to fix any defects in the face of the person.
   I think that Goodbody's is a place a business where professionals work.  A person must go to school to learn how to handle the bodies.  It is a business like any other it just happens to deal with death.  The people who work there seem to be relatively friendly and have a since of enjoyment for their job.  When asked does their job depress them they say no because they feel they are helping the families deal with the death.
   Cable expand the funeral home very well.  He gave a detailed description of the location and appearance.  He allowed the reader to experience something new through his writing.
   This will help me by giving me a good explain of how to structure my paper and describe the setting.

The Last Stop

I really don't know how you could not be saddened at funeral or by anything regarding death, which is why no one really likes to talk about it. When I think about it, I  always think of my family that has past away.  The hardest part of thinking of this subject is thinking that you miss your family so much but you know the closest thing you get to seeing them again, is in pictures.
What I liked about the story is that while it of course mentions all you expect a funeral home to be and how deathly  looking most expect a mortician to be, it really emphasized how what you expect of the situation is not always true. It really mentions the good parts of funerals, how it truly is to bring comfort to all effected by the death, and its more comforting that  is why the mortician would actually want to work with death. He really did well at describing to the audience of how the funeral home truly was. His very well conveyed description is something I will defiantly try to use really use in my next paper.

The Last Stop

In this observation essay Brian Cable visited a funeral home to see what it was like. You could tell before he even entered that he expected very particular things about the funeral home. He expected it to be perfectly manicured, and set aside like a cemetery might be. But he soon learned that his expectations weren't entirely accurate.  The funeral home was in a business district and wasn't perfectly manicured. He met with the undertaker, who was rather stereotypical, and was shown around the entire funeral home. One could tell that what he saw throughout the funeral home rather intrigued him, and he even found the nerve to touch a dead body. I think his assumptions were reasonable to make, but maybe not accurate. Funeral homes can be very odd and uncomfortable places to work. I definitely wouldn't ever want to work in one. Overall I think Cable's observations were well expressed and interesting.   

The Last Stop

I noticed two key assumptions. First was the impression of the building. He thought it would be extravigant  and beautiful, however it was ordinary. A regular looking building with a clock in the middle. "They keep time too?" The second was the the actual director. He guess what the man would look like and he got it so right. Slim, thin looking, kind of deathly. Bone shaped face with beady eyes. Just the type of man you'd think to be working at a funeral home. Another thing he assumed was the overall depressing manner and emotions that are attached with going to a funeral home. As the essay goes on, brian sees how the director and embalmer view the work at upbeat in a way. They bring the family as close as possible to the person they knew, one last time before the body is taken away forever. Brian eventually comes to terms with the funeral home (so to speak) and feels more comfortable by the end of it. This can be seen because in the beginning, they were walking down the isle and he would go closer than 3 pews to the casket. But in the end, he was able to actually touch a body.
       The part that stood out to me the first time i read it was the part when it says "Death may be the great leveler, but one's coffin quirky reestablishes one's status." It stuck out because no matter how powerful death may seem, one is quickly put back in place by earthly things, such as a casket or coffin. They are symbols that represent death, they are not death. This essay gives me an insight on how knowledge of a subject can definitely make me more comfortable with it. He went to a funeral home extremely uncomfortable, however he came out just fine. I hope i can be as comfortable in the end with whatever assignment i choose to do.

The Last Stop

Write a paragraph or two about the assumptions, values, and beliefs underlying Cable's observational essay. As you write, explain how the assumptions are reflected in the text, as well as what you think of them now - maybe even include some of your own assumptions.

Then, write several sentences explaining your impressions about Goodbody Mortuaries - support explanation from the reading. Did you think Cable successfully conveyed an impression of the funeral home? How will this essay help you write your own?

            The first main assumption that Cable makes is in what he thought the mortuary would look like.  He thought it would have beautiful lawns and extravagant gardens, something that stood out from the every day world. However, he found that it was in the middle of a business district and a big pink building with an electric clock on top of it, making it nothing he imagined. If I had to picture a mortuary I probably would have made my assumption closer to Cable’s as opposed to what it actually looked like.  The next assumption he makes I about the funeral director’s appearance. Here he was spot on as he pictured him as being tall, slim and with beady eyes. My assumption would have probably been the same, as the director of funerals would most likely not look very lively.  As he proceeds to learn more about the mortuary, what they do, and why they do it he begins to learn the value of seeing people, as they were when they were living even when they are dead. He learns this by how they restore the looks of the deceased if they are in an accident or if there are deformities caused by illnesses.  Although the value he learned was probably not as much the appearance factor as it was the emotional factor.  I think what we can learn from that is after someone has died we need to remember how they were when they were living and in the peak of their life, not who they were struggling in their last days of their lives. 

            The part that stood out to me the most about this reading was the whole part about Mr. Deaver explaining that they get satisfaction in trying to restore the deceased to the state they were while they were living.  Attending many funerals and experiencing many losses in my life, it is not always and easy time to go through. However, I do think that it is very important to picture them as they were living and why we loved them so much, and not about how sad we were when they passed away.  I think this will help me in writing my essay because just like cable did, I will have to go into an experience and try to make observations and relate them to how I am feeling. 

The Last stop

I think he clearly went into the funeral home really knowing anything about it and thinking the whole thing was kind of scary. He had a lot of stereotypes in his head that all the people would be almost scary and not very friendly, just that it would be an uncomfortable place all around. He comes to realize that this is not true, although he said Howard looked as he had assumed he would, he was a very friendly guy. He also came into the funeral home thinking about how death is something people do not like to think about and when he walked in he did not even want to look at the first body but by the time he left he actually touched one. He did however, remain logical and not being absurd with his ideas of what it would be like in there before. I have never been to a funeral home either and honestly I probably have the exact same thoughts as he did. I thought the writer also did a very good job of describing the funeral home, his initial description of the room and furniture and nothing being on the desk gave me a very vivid image of how it actually looked. Overall I think he did a very good job explaining his visit to the funeral home and I ended up being more interested in it then I thought I would. I think this piece will also help me write mine because it just kind of gives me an idea in my head of what it is supposed to be like.

- water boy

The Last Stop

When I read the first paragraph, I automatically assumed that the story would be very depressing and hard to read. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that this story was not at all what I had expected. Just like me, Cable had a very negative outlook when he was getting ready to go visit the funeral home. Once he arrived at the funeral home, he saw that it was not the depressing place he had pictured. The mortician, while he outwardly was what Cable expected, was not at all what he expected personality wise. He was very compassionate to his guests and did everything he could to make their final goodbyes to their loved ones special. The morticioner believed that being burried was very important in the end  of a persons life because it allows the family to say goodbye knowing that the deceased were peaceful. I had never really given this fact that much thought but now that he pointed it out, I agree. I really enjoyed reading this, which was very unexpected. It showed me that death can be peaceful and not quite so depressing. However, I would never become a morticioner. He used great details in this story to help get his point across to his viewers, this will help me in writing my next paper.

The Last Stop

The description of the mortuary that the author described before going to visit is a basic representation that most people have. They seem to be very dark, gloomy and a place that people do not want to be. The people there seem rather strange or eerie with pale skin and dark cloths. I too had the same assumptions as the author, but after reading the story it puts a better perspective of viewing death. Cable realized this experience turned out to be completely different than what he thought it was going to. He felt relaxed and comfortable, and he saw the surroundings were more inviting than what he expected. After approaching the thirty coffins and examining them and actually touching the dead man, he has come to view death in a whole new way. He saw it has a comforting zone for the family of the deceased to see their loved one in their new "home" that they have picked out themselves. This also brings a comforting feeling to the mortician to see the family members feel better about the situation. Mortuaries are very important in helping families say goodbye, but it would take a special person to be able to do the job. Cable's experience  will help me be more open and understanding, and also to use better detail for my next paper.

Brian Cable's "The Last Stop"

Cable clearly had not had the “funeral experience,” or if he did, it was very short and simple. He assumed that the funeral home would be uncomfortable and so would the people. The truth is that most of them are quite nice. He also approached the funeral home with an irrational fear. Even though he thought about the funeral home logically, when he got there, the fear hit him like a ton of bricks. He also had no clue about the cost of funerals; they are very expensive. I don’t remember approaching my first funeral home experience that way. I was nervous, but I think that was mostly attributed to my great-grandfather’s death. I think that my opinion is biased because I have grown up around funerals. (I’m 19 and have attended at least 10 funerals.) I do not have a fear of them and don’t remember ever having one. My aunt is a cosmetologist, and she goes into funeral homes and styles hair and applies make-up to her deceased clients, so I don’t really view people who work in funeral homes as weird. I think it’s odd that he did not mention the smell. He said that the viewing room was “musty,” but he never mentioned the smell of the embalming fluid. It is very noticeable, and if you have ever gone into a funeral home, that is the scent that hits you as soon as you open the door. He also talked about viewing the different coffins and the different types and models. I’ve had to do this before and what he doesn’t talk about is the “back room.” In every funeral home, there is a “back room,” sometimes they’re outside or down in the basement. That is where the least expensive caskets are kept, and they do take people into the cellar right after a loved one has died. I understand why Cable agrees with Mr. Deaver about their services. They do offer a small comfort, during that time. However, I don’t necessarily agree with that opinion. Again, I’m biased. I’ve been led into the cellar to pick out my grandfather’s coffin, and I’ve had to check up on the funeral home’s charges. I agree that there is comfort in saying goodbye, but I generally dislike funeral homes. I also will say that they aren’t all like that. Some funeral homes are legitimately trying to comfort the family and make the transition easier. I feel that Cable portrayed funeral homes in a positive light—a place of support and comfort. I can see how this could be helpful in writing my essay. He is another person experiencing something new, something that he wouldn’t normally do.

The Last Stop

When I think of death, it definitely makes me upset. No one likes the idea of dying. Death symbols the ending of a lifetime and means for some people that you will never be able to see them again. Even though it should be a celebration of life, it ends up being a very sad time. I agree with the assumption that the writer had of the mortician. When I think of someone who wants to work with dead people at a funeral home, I picture them to be very skinny and creepy looking. I know that is a judgement that is probably not always true, but the writer of this paper proved my point. Also, the way he described the desk having nothing on it gave me a good picture of what the inside of the building looked like. There is obviously not going to be much color and excitement in a funeral home. The writer did a great job of describing what he felt like while he was in the mortuary and what the rooms looked like. Each description that he gave was exactly how I would picture a mortuary to look. Sometimes, I feel like people judge people if they want to work as a mortician. I for one was someone who did this. After reading this paper, it changed my opinion. I would still never be able to work as a mortician, but as Mr. Goodbody said, he thinks of it as allowing people to have a proper goodbye with their loved one. He is actually doing the families that come to see him a favor and without him people would not get that chance to see their loved one one last time. This essay with help me write my own because it showed me to not let my judgements get in the way of seeing a new way of looking at something.