Flashlights are like onions.

After class last Tuesday I was walking across the white bridge covered in new white snow when I thought back on the discussion we has about the flashlight. I was thinking about my experience reading the assignment. I pictured myself walking down the isle of the supermarket pushing my basket with one wheel shivering and fighting my every move. The store is full of colors and shapes. Logos and product placement are all fighting for my attention. My hands squeeze tighter as my cart shivers again, two of the wheels decided to guide me into a spice rack. The water isle is next to the bakery and I smell the fresh bread and wonder if they have any fresh Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies. Suddenly I become aware of music playing, could it be? Yes, its Neil Diamond, "Cherry Cherry" man life is good. Looking at the water I size up my need for bottled water, price, shape, color, "Fuji" is just too good for me. What does that man need with so many cans of olives? It dawned on me that I as I walked down the isle I was able to read and function at the same time. My reading of the water bottles was deepend becasue of my awarness of the surrounding elements. I wasnt just reading the bottles, but all five senses were reading my expereince. This was what I was doing every second of the day. Even while walking on the new snow I realized it was soft and smooth, I wish I had my snowboard. I miss that floating feeling as I coast down some untouched hillside.
Here I was doing what I was asked to do in class, but in class, I was frozen waiting for someone else to take the lead. Amy had read the same reading but had a different experience. She thought for sure we could take what we had read and act. None of us did. Once we did act, we did it all differently. Glori put things in to her classroom. I was caught in design and color. Brett churned out one response. Watching Amy try and get us going I felt like I was back in math class. I had just watched the teacher take me step by step through a problem, but I still didn't understand. I just needed repeditive practice one step at a time, taking me back to that water isle or across the white walkway to my car. One step then another, uncovering one layer leads to the next layer.