THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 83-85 Wow! Within these 3 chapters I feel as if I have entered into some serious "meat" to chew on. Don't you love when a situation, or as in this case a book, makes you really evaluate what you believe? The exchange between Caderousse and Monsieur l'Abbe (the count) is so thought provoking. The theme? God's justice. Our intro to the count's thoughts on vengeance begins with the statement he makes about it. "Oh God, your vengeance may sometimes be slow on coming, but I think that then it is all the more complete." The count has been waiting for this moment to happen, for wrongs done to him paid for. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:19 that vengeance is God's alone. The count allowed himself to set up situations that would result in the destruction of the men that caused him so much harm. I find myself asking if he was a vessel used by God or the instigator behind it all. Until now we didn't know exactly where his thoughts fell about God. We caught some troubling glimpses while he was in prison, but time has passed, and he has had unbelievable opportunities. Were they all just a road blessed by God to set up the final blows to Caderousse, Danglars, and Fernand? It's interesting the verses surrounding the Romans 12:19 passage where we are instructed to "repay no one evil for evil," to "live peaceably with all men," to not "avenge yourself," and lastly "to not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! What has his entire motive been? It's been to lay the path but not strike the final blow. Oh, he left the door open for God to save Caderousse. Remember he told him that if he reached home safely he would believe God had forgiven him. I find myself reminiscing about some of the immature bargains I used to strike with God in my late teenage /early 20s years when I read his statement. And yet! Yet! I am cheering for him. We all love things to be righted before our earthly eyes- for people to get what's coming right?! (I am internally struggling here!) The count points out all the mercy God has shown in Caderousse's life. Abundant "warnings" (I prefer the word opportunities) that Caderousse has had and rejected. Still, Caderousse denies the justice of God. He knows people that are walking around in wealth and the height of society that have done grievous crimes right? Fernand and Danglars aren't being punished for their sins. The count cuts him off and strongly utters one word, "Patience." In other words, their time is coming. But Caderousse's resolve to reject God based on the idea of Fernand and Danglars walking around proves to be the very reason he does an about face in the end. When the count whispers in his ear who he really is that reason is null and void. Caderousse immediately realizes that it is only God who could have brought Dantes through to where he is now. I am just morally struggling with the fact that the count is making it his life's mission to see it through when we know it is all to be left to God. And so Caderousse dies and we are minutes away from Villefort's reunion with his old pal. From there we jump to the friendship of Albert and Beauchamp. Do you not long for a friend so true? I am not going to give this part the time it deserves because of how long this post already is, but the three week period was not set in place to see what would turn up. No the three weeks were for Beauchamp to travel and find out for himself the validity or falseness of the accusations made against Albert's father. As you know, they were true. The heartbreak of a son by his father is deeply moving. Can you imagine? The supposed foundation of honor, truthfulness, loyalty, etc etc that this young man stood on is shattered. Trust is no more. I have a son. I look at him and I know his innocent beliefs, hopes, and trust. I can imagine how his life would be totally upended and it gives my insides a tightening clench. But Beauchamp agrees to keep it silent. Another newspaper prints the story. There is no more hiding. And honorable Albert where are his thoughts? They are for his precious mother. So much more I could have said about these chapters, but I'll leave it there.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 86-88 Morcerf's character in the public eye is ruined, and his son and wife are drowning in the wake. (Scripture tells us our sins will be found out, and you reap what you sow does it not?)Isn't it interesting how he had his defense already planned for such a day as this? He had it planned to the tiniest detail EXCEPT the possibility of Haydee, herself, showing up to testify from direct experience. I found myself cringing for Morcerf, but then I realized that it wasn't for the Viscount. It was for Albert and his mother. What does Beauchamp encourage Albert to do? Leave Paris for a few years. Then return. Everything will be forgotten by then. Oh the fickleness of popularity, and accountability. Albert patches the pieces of information together as best he can as to who the leak was, and he arrives at the Count of Monte Cristo. After all, Haydee has lived with him and he REFUSED TO EAT while at the Morcerf ball. What other conclusion can be drawn in spite of Mercedes' protests. The glove has been taken. A duel is scheduled for the next morning. As the Count says he must make Morcerf suffer and yet later the count says he will win because God is on his side. Hmmm. Who truly is leading this path of vengeance. As a nice ending touch the orchestra strikes up the music for William Tell. Do you know the story?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 89-91 I am chomping at the bit to finish this book! While there has been nonstop action things are wrapping up and I want to know what happens!! The count returns home from the theater (where Albert has challenged him to a duel) to prepare for the next morning. A veiled lady waits in the shadows, and we all hold our breath. There is no longer any pretending. Who we now behold are Edmond and Mercedes. She has come to plead for her son's life, but also to state the simple fact that she never stopped loving Edmond and that she knew him immediately. Edmond gives her the letter that clears his name and condemns Fernand. Everything becomes clear. Edmond grants her wish, but in doing so believes that he has willingly sentenced himself to death. Honor is at stake. Mercedes knows differently, because she knows her son. Albert does appear the next morning and calls the whole thing off. He thanks the count for his revenge on his father without doing more. His quote referring to the greatest virtue being the ability to admit being wrong is fantastic. He states that it is impossible for them to be friends but they can respect each other. The count ends the chapter convinced that he is an "emissary from God." The last thing to go over is the buried iron box - a symbol of new starts. Initially it was for the start of Edmond and Mercedes' new life that Edmond had earned himself. Buried, left behind - now to be used for the purpose of new life for Mercedes as she plans to enter a convent.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 92-94 So many points to think about in these chapters! I'm going to call these the round about chapters, because we visit some major thoughts only to come back to them in just a short time! - The courage of Albert - at the start we have the conversation between Morrel and the count about Albert's courage despite doing what society would call cowardly. We then revisit this same idea when Morcerf confronts the count. -Morrel's reference to his love for someone and the count's willingness to help if ever a need arises only to have Valentine's poisoning a few pages later. - Love - the possibility of it for the count- as Mercedes and the count have had their different interactions I have hoped that they would finally be together but Haydee? I am not sure what to do with this one! The count realizing there could be two Mercedes in the world? I understand both of them have been fractured, broken by people. But what about Mercedes? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Can you imagine the little thrill that must have shot up Morcerf's back when he saw his son return? The possibility of being avenged? The possibility of sins being returned to their dark forgotten hole and life going on? But Albert never comes to his father. The servant shares the results of the duel. The family ties are severed. Did you not love the satisfying confrontation between Monte Cristo and Morcerf. The dawning realization to Morcerf of this hate he has "instinctively" had. The feeling that he had always known the count, but of course that was impossible, wasn't it? The father calling into question the courage of his son for walking away from a duel. It was no lack of courage the count tells Morcerf. It was the realization that someone else was guiltier of the destruction of the family than he was - Morcerf himself. (Do you get the irony of Morcerf's displeasure of his son's dishonorable act when the whole reason we are at this point is because of HIS many dishonorable acts?) Morcerf demands all the layers of veneer be stripped off the count. He wants to know who he really is and the count walks into the adjoining room, strips off his finery and puts on his simple fishing clothes and returns. Morcerf - Fernand - collapses in disbelief. He returns home to find Mercedes and Albert on their way out. They never see him, they never look back as the cab pulls away. Our chapter closes with the sound of a single shot. Then we move to Valentine and Morrel. Yes, innocent Valentine is the next victim in the series of poisonings at the Villefort home. Morrel calls on the count for help and we are confronted with the count's lack of care or concern for this innocent woman's life. After all she is Villefort's daughter. An avenging angel is wiping the family out (with the help of a shared poison recipe). Not a bit of care until Morrel confesses that it is Valentine that he loves. It's flashback time! The weight of interfering in the process of "justice" where the count's enemies' children are concerned. We just had Mercedes begging for the life of Albert, remember? The count gives us the fantastic quote about being an impassive spectator comparing himself to the devil, laughing at the evil that people are able to keep secret when they are rich only to have it wound them in their heart later. Through all of this Valentine lives thanks to Noirtier's actions. We know who the poisoner is and the Villefort's gain a new neighbor. Hmmm I wonder who that is!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 95-97 Let's talk family relationships. These were some touchy chapters, but we all know people like the Danglars don't we. People who had children because it was the social thing to do. Personal gain. Even the chapter starts off remarking about "appearances." Have you known any of those families to be a "family?" It doesn't take long for the cracks and crevices to start showing through the foundation. Eugenie knows she is a pawn, and she confronts her father head on. It's not family meeting time, it's business meeting time. Right down to the chosen room with the smiling portraits and away from the bank business so her father will actually look at her while she speaks. Then the bartering begins. Eugenie doesn't want to marry. She doesn't care about her parents' money situation. She only cares about herself. That's what she's been taught to do right? When her father lays out how it will affect her then she chooses to be carry on with the plan. We then move to the scene where Prince Cavalcanti asks the count to sponsor him since his father is not in town. He wants him to be the one to lead him to the altar. The count refuses. He is king of making people put their trust in him, to make them think he is their friend, yet have no real ties to them - except for 2 people - Haydee and Morrel. You could somewhat argue for Mercedes as well, but those old ties are broken. Then we have the signing of the marriage contract. The count announces that it is his fault that Villefort cannot attend. A paper has been found in Caderousse's pocket (remember the man who attempted to break into the count's house and ended up murdered) addressed to Danglars. Cavalcanti (the murderer) is out of there. Danglars is pale as a ghost because a guilty conscience has a way of doing that to you! Where's Eugenie? She's gone. She's cut her hair to look like a man, passing herself off as her voice teacher's brother. She's convinced she can make it on her own. We circle back to our opening theme of family relationships with the ending line "Monsieur Danglars had a daughter no longer." I think he lost her long before that!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 98-102 For those of you following TCOMC book club posts, I don't know if you noticed, but today's post is covering 5 chapters. I have been holding myself to 3 up to this point, but I can no longer leave myself "hanging" for a week! Several people that I know have been reading this fantastic classic told me that they hit a point and couldn't stop. I have reached that point. I plan on dividing the chapters up over the next 2-3 weeks and wrapping up TCOMC. Let's open today with a little discussion about relationships! So after following Andrea Cavalcanti's escape. His grab of the jewels. His rides. His fall down the chimney into none other than Eugenie and Mlle d'Armilly's room (was that not brilliant?) it dawned on me that Eugenie and Andrea/Benedetto are half brother and sister. Remember? Villefort and Madame Danglars. I knew who he was, but getting caught up in the whole Cavalcanti charade, and then bringing Caderousse back in made me momentarily lose sight of the Benedetto ordeal. Thank goodness Dumas saved us (and them) from that marriage! Whew!  Speaking of Madame Danglars let's chase her relationships for a moment. First off to visit Debray (her lover) who is not at home, but at his club listening to his friend's advice about the possibility of marrying her daughter, Eugenie. Then off to see Villefort to remind him of their past relationship in an attempt to get him to let Andrea/Benedetto just disappear, so she can keep her place in society. Of course, that was an utter fail. We'll talk about Villefort's refusal in a minute. Does anyone else feel slimy after dealing with her? Life is all about position in society to her. That position has absolutely nothing to do with being a person of character, of being respectable for standing for something moral. Although there was a tiny thought of another who recently endured such a harsh societal death through no fault of her own wasn't there? Mercedes. Let's talk about the other wife mentioned in these chapters, Madame Villefort. Murder for material gain for her son. The corruption, the greed, the justification to one's self. Dumas is a master in his telling of Madame Villefort's early morning cleaning up the evidence visit. As she leaves and turns around to take in the scene one more time, his words about the "irresistible attraction" when death is not the mess and stink of decomposition but just the look of stillness are striking. Fast forward past the discovery of Valentine, the mourning that ensues to the glass that was emptied that has mysteriously reappeared with the poison in it. The count's promise of protection if Valentine will completely trust him has us wondering if all is lost. No- the count will not fail us now. We know that our count is master of concoctions. One last person to discuss before I close today. Villefort. Did you not respect the heart and passion he feels for the job he does? The responsibility, the promise before "the living God" about the punishment of criminals? How dare Madame Danglars ask him to "pardon a guilty man." (But if it was accusing an innocent man, that's another story, right?) He is the law which makes no exceptions (except for himself). The final farewell let's us know that this relationship is over. (I hope you picked up on my sarcasm about respecting Villefort.)

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 103-107 Today is my 27th wedding anniversary. I don't tell you that for the congratulations. I tell you that in the contrast of the breakdown of the marital relationships in our reading. Shall we start with the Danglars? The note left behind sends Madame Danglars in a panic and straight to Debray. Theirs is not just a romantic relationship, but a business relationship as well. Danglars can't account where all his money went, but he feels sure his wife can. He's right! She and Debray have been using the money to invest. Now that Danglars is out of the picture Madame Danglars hopes that something more permanent will take place between her and Debray. Not going to happen! Now that the money faucet is off, he's out of there. In another room in the same hotel we see Albert and Mercedes facing their future. Albert has signed up for the military. Mercedes heart breaks, but they are determined to make their name honorable. A lone figure watches their parting and contemplates how he can help them because of the pain he caused innocent these people. Maximilian - we can't exit these chapters without addressing his hopelessness and grief. He prepares to take his life due to the passing of Valentine, but the count steps in. He reveals himself as the benefactor. Also he reveals that exactly on that day he had stepped in and prevented Maximilian's father from killing himself years before. The count relates to Maximilian. After all he lost his true love. Life went on and he began to heal. He promises that Maximilian will as well, but that's not all he offers. He gets Maximilian to promise he will not commit suicide for 30 days and to put his trust in the count. The plan has not come to a stop with Valentine's death!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 107-111 I can't hardly believe it, but the end is in sight for this wonderful classic! Over the next few days I'll be posting off and on as we wrap up! This book has left us in disbelief, on the edge of our seats, and doing some good, old-fashioned self examination on how to handle when we are wronged in life and what really matters. Today's reading I'm going to entitle The Entwined Chronicles of Benedetto and Villefort, because that's what we really have. Benedetto is in The Lion's Pit, another infamous prison. As we look in on him, we don't see a nervous, remorseful, wronged, young man. No, we see someone waiting for their mysterious benefactor. Someone or something has been smiling upon him in life. Why would it stop now? He knows the signs to show in this prison thanks to Cavalcanti to keep himself safe and respected, and so he patiently waits until he is called. When he is called it isn't whom he was expecting. Bertuccio visits. Benedetto knows him, but Bertuccio is there to correct him on who his father is. It is not the Count of Monte Cristo as he thinks but Villefort. Meanwhile, Villefort has squirreled himself away in his study preparing his case against Benedetto. (He doesn't know yet that he is his son.) He is trying to deal with the death of Valentine and his knowledge that his wife is a murderess. Before heading to the courthouse he confronts her. He gives her an ultimatum. Drink the poison you have been using or face the scaffold. She will not be allowed to bring shame to his clean, virtuous, law-abiding/defending name. (Are you gagging at this point?) He bids her a final goodbye. Oh, but his time is coming. Speculation flies around the courtroom as to who is responsible for the deaths in Villefort's home. Even little Edouard is named in the gossip, and by the way, who is the heavily veiled woman in attendance? Why it's Madame Danglars. Buckle your seatbelts, folks! The show's about to start!! The judge asks Benedetto the traditional opening questions to which he either doesn't answer or changes the order. Everyone is dumbfounded. But how can he give his name? He, himself, doesn't know his true name. All he knows is the day he was born, where he was born, and his father. He doesn't care to name his mother. After all it wasn't she who buried him alive in the garden as a newborn. Villefort's countenance changes as these details are stated, and when he is named he doesn't even try to deny it. Suddenly, he is struck with the memory of what he just said to his wife. She at least acted out of the interest of her child. Villefort acted out of pure selfish protection for himself when he attempted to murder an innocent person. He hurries home hoping to save her. It is too late. He searches for his child, but the mother has poisoned him as well. He runs to his father. He must have someone to share his story, his sorrow. He finds Abbe Busoni there. (He has a knack for appearing when death has occurred.) But it's not the Abbe's voice that speaks to him. It is the count's! But it's not the count who stands before him, it is Edmond Dantes. Dantes learns of Edouard's passing and tries to save him to no avail. Meanwhile Villefort loses his mind and goes to the garden where he digs holes looking for a little body from long ago. Three down (two dead, one crazy), one to go.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 112-113 Yes! You saw that right. Only 2 chapters covered in this post. Why? It's a natural chunk. There is so much here, I couldn't add another chapter to this one. It's time for the count to leave Paris. His job there is done. He says goodbye to his true friends, Emmanuel and Julie, and they know they will never see him again. Maximilian accompanies him, because there is a promise to keep and work to be done with this young man still. I'm going to rabbit trail for a moment, because letters have been an important symbol in this book, and we have another one appear with no explanation at the count's departure. Let's reflect for a moment. We have the letter that innocent Edmond Dantes carried originally about Villefort's father Noirtier. We have the letter that Danglars/Fernand/and drunk Caderousse wrote to the crown prosecutor that alerted him to the letter that Dantes carried. Now we have a letter delivered to the "old man" (Noirtier) from the count. Something he has accepted. There is significance here. Back to our chapters. We hear Monte Cristo's farewell speech from atop a plateau to Paris. He calls Paris a Babylon. Babylon, one of the great powers from the Ancient World that is no more. What did our count do? Single handily remove 3 very powerful, evil men (and Caderousse). This begins a journey of attempted healing for Maximilian and remembrance for the count. The real man inside the count is coming out. He shares with Maximilian about his two friends that are always with him in his heart, his father and Abbe Faria. (Notice Mercedes does not reside there ) They dock in Marseille, a place they both know, and Maximilian has a flashback to his father. While Maximilian shares his memory the count sees Mercedes sending Albert off. Maximilian heads to his father's grave. The count turns to revisit his past. First stop is to Mercedes. She lives in Dantes' old house given to her by the count. He enters the place without knocking and we have a contrast to the entry, " like a friend, like a guest." Not a fiance or lover. They are friends but their relationship holds a barrier now. There is an air of strangers versus intimate companions. Mercedes blames herself for all that happened. She calls herself a coward for not waiting for Edmond and also in the death of her husband. She says that it was because of her that Fernand became who he was. The count disagrees and launches into a speech revealing his humanness, but God needed him. He had a job for him to do, and so his life was lived for other reasons besides the hopes and dreams of young, innocent Edmond Dantes. It all ends with how the count can help Mercedes. Would she accept his help? Her response is basically whatever comes her way must be of God so she would accept. The count disagrees saying that God gives us free will, but Mercedes can't handle that thought. She wants to think that she has acted on what has come along in her life's path, not decisions she has made. What do you think? Whew! One more chapter to talk about in this post. The count is questioning himself. Was it all a mistake? After all, some things happened that he had not planned on such as Edouard and Valentine's deaths. It's time to revisit it all. He returns to the Chateau d'If. Can you imagine? A guard shows him his cell and Abbe Faria's. The guard shares the rumored story of the men that lived there. The count rewards the guard for his time, and the guard admits to a leftover piece he discovered. He goes to get it as the count internally cries out to Abbe Faria to take away his doubt. The guard comes back with Abbe Faria's cloth manuscript. The first words the count sees are, " You will pull the dragon's teeth and trample the lions underfoot, said the Lord." The count has his reassurance. The chapter ends with the count retelling the story of a friend (his story) to Morrel. He is going to leave Morrel in Marseille, but on October 5 a boat will be waiting to take him to the island of Monte Cristo.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 114-117 It is quiet in the house. Everyone else is still asleep, and I am soaking in the moment of completing this epic classic. I feel as though I have just finished Thanksgiving dinner. I am leaning back in my chair having tasted all the wonderful dishes before me, and I am satisfied. Dumas has satisfied me. It is time that Danglars is dealt with. He travels to the House of Thomason and French in Rome to withdraw 5 million francs to begin a new life away from Paris. Thinking he has escaped from all his responsibility, creditors, etc, he returns to his hotel to rest, but really he has just become the fly stuck in the center of a spider's web. Peppino appears on the scene. (The shepherd who was unjustly sentenced to death that Monte Cristo paid the pope for his freedom.) He and the clerk from Thomason and French obviously know each other. It is confirmed that the withdraw has been made by Danglars, and Peppino's job is now to shadow Danglars. Danglars plans to go to Venice and Vienna to withdraw the rest of his money and settle down in Vienna. While traveling in his carriage he is ambushed. At first he thinks he is being extradited back but when he notices they are not in a city he has a recollection of Albert's run-in with a certain group of outlaws. And yes, it is Vampa and his men! Dumas is a master at setting the scene for us. As Danglars is taken into the lair of the thieves an element of death presents itself everywhere. We have the stone walls that are hollowed out to make coffins that give the appearance of a skull. His cell is deep underground emitting an air of burial. However his bed is just that, a bed. A comfort, a relief in the presence of death. How about Vampa and his reading material? He is most definitely not your common street thief. There is an air of sophistication, knowledge, and purpose that surrounds him. Danglars does 2 things - he begins to call on God and he mentally calculates what he thinks he will have to pay to get out of his situation. What follows in the next days is a constant choice presented to Danglars. You want food? You can have the best, but it will cost you an exorbitant amount. He holds off until he can no longer handle it. Finally we get to the point where his money is gone and he begs for his life. Not freedom, just his life. He experiences hallucinations where he can see an old man dying from starvation (Dantes' father). He repents to a shadowed man. It is, of course, the Count of Monte Cristo who reveals himself as Edmond Dantes. Something has happened to our count. He frees Danglars instead of killing him or driving him mad. He takes Danglars to the brink, and we know this because Danglars sees his reflection in water and his hair is snowy white from stress and terror, but he does not kill him. Dantes let's him go. His quest for revenge is over. What will he do with his life now? One more job awaits - Morrel and October 5th. Morrel arrives at the Island of Monte Cristo and we know in a short time that the sadness and melancholy has not left him. He has come to die as he says, " in the arms of a friend." Maximilian notices a light heartedness to the count he has never seen before. However, their conversation is one of death - the pain of it, is there no one he will miss, not even the count, but there is no swaying Maximilian from his intended plan. So the count prepares the poison and gives a spoonful to Maximilian, but then he prepares to take a spoonful himself. Immediately Maximilian cries out to him how wrong it would be for him to kill himself. He loves and is loved. Maximilian injests his spoonful and we go through the process of his "death " - the loss of mobility, speech, and the appearance of his love Valentine. Except Valentine is not an angel. She is alive . The count tells Valentine that she and Maximilian must never be separated, because Maximilian would leap into his grave. We also get this glimpse of the count's soul as he hope that God will "credit him" with the saving of these two lives. As Maximilian is out Haydee enters the room. The count tells her that he is restoring her father's fortune to her, and he prepares to leave. Haydee cannot believe it. They have fallen in love, but the count can hardly believe that Haydee could love him and would die without him. So, a second chance at love is given to the count. A chance to forget what he so desperately needs to forget. They sail away together. Maximilian awakens, thinks he has been tricked until his beloved Valentine explains everything. We end with a letter from the count to Maximilian. He must wait to wed Valentine until they see her grandfather. He wants to give his blessing. (remember the letter delivered to the "old man?") Maximilian wonders if they will ever see him again to which Valentine responds with the words of all human wisdom "wait and hope!" Wow, this is a long post, but I wouldn't do this book justice if I didn't reflect back for a moment on what Dumas is telling us through his novel. There are definitely the main themes of revenge/justice, and identity. I don't think you need me to add to what we already know. However, I am going to put in hope. There is a thread of hope that runs through this entire book that comes to full fruition at the end. Sometimes that hope was just putting one foot in front of the other in the next opportunity that arose without knowing what the end result would be for the count. Life application now - We all encounter wrongs and difficulties in our lives. They may not be to the depth of the count's, but each one of us will be or has been wronged. There is a price to pay when we choose revenge on our own terms. We see the count's transformation from his own control to submitting to God. (We do see glimpses of the old count pop up from time to time, but he believes he is carrying out God's plan by following the path laid before him.) Once the job is done, God doesn't leave it there. He gives the count a new chance at life and at love. We go from a life of revenge to a life that has been redeemed. It has value and purpose going forward. That is the story for each of us if we so choose. That is what I am taking away from The Count of Monte Cristo! Thank you for traveling the road of The Count of Monte Cristo with me!

THE PONY EXPRESS I can remember as a child loving the Pony Express. The ideas of danger, speed, and horses fueled my very active imagination. After wrapping up the Civil War with Callie recently, I realized we had missed this important piece in our country's history! The Pony Express was only in existence from 1860-1861 before the land was stretched with telegraph cables and train tracks. This was a time of high adventure, courage, and perseverance. It was time for us to put the history mobile of learning in reverse and pick up what we had missed. In addition, we took a little look at the prairie - what it looks like, the kind of animals we find, and what eats what. We wrapped it up with mapping and time lining. I may have completed it all by showing her some clips from The Young Riders TV drama from my high school years!

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Dan Santat If I say the words "junior high" to you, does your mind immediately go to uncomfortable memories? Do you think of sweaty gym classes, trying not to say dumb things, and attempting to act cool? If so, you are not alone! In Dan Santat's autobiographical graphic novel, A First Time for Everything, he shares what middle school was like for him, an absolute nightmare, until he goes on a school trip to Europe. On this trip he begins to realize the world outside of middle school. He experiences a whole lot of "firsts" (some that will really shock you that he was able to do on this trip) that open his eyes to what he really likes and dislikes. In the process of these discoveries, we, the readers, receive the benefit of watching the shoots of confidence begin to grow inside of Dan, and it takes us back to times I think we all can relate to. HEADS UP- There are a couple of situations to be aware of that happen while on this trip. First, in France the boys turn on the TV and experience pornography. The book simply shows them turning on the TV and the boys remarking about no one having clothes on. Second, in Germany the drinking age is 14 with adult supervision. Parents were allowed to sign a waiver. Dan takes a sip even though he is 3 months shy of the 14-year-old limit with his teacher looking on. He detests the taste. He encounters teens smoking and tries a puff, and it doesn't go well for him. In Dan's Author Notes at the end of the book he talks about how "shocked" he is to think back on all the things he was able to get away with on this trip. He also states that he doesn't think kids should "drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes," etc.