Tell me, is the rose naked,

or is that her only dress?

Why do trees conceal

the splendor of their roots?

Who hears the regrets

of the thieving automobile?

Is there anything in the world sadder

than a train standing alone in the rain?

- Pablo Neruda

That was one of my favorite poems from the book Kathryn got me, so far at least. I read it in the car on the way to Boston, and got really car sick. I can tell that the Spanish version of the poem being right next to the English version will improve my Spanish. I like to read the Spanish one first and try to translate it myself and I am doing surprisingly very well. 

Today I had a surreal experience. I went to Boston with my parents because they were surprising me for my Birthday. We went to this frou frou French Restaurant, and I actually tried something new and liked it! I'm usually extremely bland and unadventurous when it comes to food selections. After, though we went to Symphony Hall and watched the Boston Pops play. It so happened that they were celebrating Flag Day and the 40th anniversary of the moon landing all in one day! What do you know?! So there were hundreds of ex-Marines and Army veterans who came to watch. The first half of the show was dedicated to the Space Race in the 60's, and while the symphony was playing they projected these images of space onto this giant screen. I didn't watch the screen though. I had a perfect view of the entire band so I focused intently on them. I liked to see who was making what sound. I really liked to watch this old sweaty man who played the piano. I watched his bald head a lot all night. And I liked the harpist who was directly below my seat in the balcony. I leaned over just to see her play beautifully, and when I did this red light beamed up onto my face which made it really warm. I also liked to find people that looked like other people I know. There was this cellist who looked a lot like a combination of Parker and my brother who was very interesting. He was the only cellist who swayed and bobbed his neck while he was playing. I liked it. And I saw this girl today at the restaurant that really could have been Kathryn with a different body type.

The place was really nice. We had seats right next to the band, well in the 2nd balcony but we could see the band directly. I was extremely surprised when the Sing Along to "songs about the moon" started. That's when I knew we were in for a treat. The whole second half of the show was dedicated to America, and the people who serve the country. It's weird being 18 and seeing this production that reminded me of my 5th grade play about the Bill of Rights. This troop from the Navy had some guest appearance. When the sing along started to Patriotic songs, like Yankee Doodle and My Country Tis of The, I literally started laughing out loud. Don't get me wrong, the people there were extremely talented and I had a fun time, but something about being over-patriotic makes me feel really uncomfortable, so I resorted to giggling at it. I've always been pretty indifferent to nationalism and American pride. It was weird to be surrounded by thousands of people who thrive off of it, and devote themselves to it. Maybe I just don't realize how good I have it and should allow myself to have pride in my country. But I really have no other feeling toward it but indifference. Does that make me a bad American?

I realize quite often how much I love my family. I am a lucky one.

Tomorrow I will complete my 35th hour of working since Wednesday. I need sleep .................