An Interspecific Cultural Comparison of Canis lupus and Homo sapiens

This semester I took a capstone class to finish up my college career. I got to pick my own topic as long as it had something to do with Biological Anthropology. I choose to write about the similarities and differences between wolves and humans. It was a ten page paper and so I am not going to post it all here but I found it really interesting and almost wished that I had had more time to work through it all and add more details and sources and such. Here are two paragraphs that kind of sum up much of what I wrote.
"Wolves and humans have many commonalities, the crux of which can be narrowed down to our adaptable nature and diet. However, some of these similarities, especially diet, are difficult to see in our technologically advanced world, they are more obvious in examples from the human past when most humans were hunters and gatherers. Until more recently when humans began to populate almost every corner of the world, wolves had one of the most extensive ranges of any mammal (Paquet and Carbyn 2003). Both species have complex social hierarchies, and live in family groups. As predators we both prey on large and small animals as well as feeding on plants. Hunting can be done in packs or individually and both species are territorial. However, the biggest difference between us is that because of extra-somatic adaptations, such as clothing, and weapons, humans are even more adaptable than wolves. . . "
"Genetic disparity between species causes variation in behavior. A few of the most blatant examples of these differences between humans and wolves are found when contrasting reproduction and greater human adaptability. Wolves have larger litters than humans and are only in heat once a year. Plus, their cubs are fully mature in two years and quite capable for some time before that. Compared to humans’ slow maturation, single births and year round reproductive receptivity wolves are very distinct. These differences require diverse adaptive behaviors. Both species are quite adaptable, but because of humans ability to create culture, particularly material culture we adapt more readily to a larger variety of environments."

The Graveyard Book

This week I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It was strange because it kind of felt like one of those books where there is no real plot it is just related stories and anecdotes from someone growing up like Louisa May Alcott's books. At the same time it felt like a novel with a single plot. After the book was a few pages written by the author about the process. This is what he wrote:
 "I wanted the book to be composed of short stories, because The Jungle Book was short stories. And I wanted it to be a novel, because it was a novel in my head. The tension between those two things was both a delight and a heartache as a writer."
No wonder that it felt the way it did. He definitely made it work though.
I also really enjoyed the premise of a little boy being raised in a graveyard by ghosts. And I liked how things like vampires and werewolves were portrayed in such a different light then they typically are.
At first I was disappointed that there was much more about Silas then there was about his parents, but when I talked to my sister about it she explained that when you are little parents are just there, they aren't exciting, so it is no wonder there wasn't much about them.
I thought the end was more sad then I was expecting though. He's only 16 and he can't go back... but I guess that is how growing up is, you can't go back. And this is what Gaiman said about that:
"I had set out to write a book about a childhood--it was Bod's childhood, and it was in a graveyard, but still, it was a childhood like any other; I was now writing about being a parent, and the fundamental most comical tragedy of parenthood: that if you do your job properly, if you, as a parent, raise your children well, they won't need you anymore."
This book definitely captured that feeling, because after all sometimes fiction is truer than reality.

Dandelion

Yes I know this is not a dandelion. But tough luck.

Today I saw a dandelion
That greeted me of Spring
The light against the darkness
It promised me of more.

Springs Change

So, spring has arrived, after a couple of false starts. The warmer weather has been nice, and its been fun to have a picnic and play badminton and Frisbee (even thought they have come with some minor injuries). At times I almost felt like I shouldn't be enjoying it so much because I really do like winter, but the thing is change is nice. Especially familiar, predictable change. Why is that? Why are some changes anticipated and others dreaded even though neither is necessarily bad. I have been more or less dreading the changes that come with graduation. Ultimately I think it comes back to familiar versus unfamiliar change. Fog is inherently more frightening than sunny skies for those of us who are diurnal. I suppose this is natural but I don't think it is necessarily.

Things that Matter

Recently I have noticed that the stories that I keep coming back to, whether in song, film, or writing, are stories about things that matter. Freedom, love, courage, faith, teamwork, triumph, sacrifice. For me these include The Highway Man, Lord of the Rings, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I definitely enjoy things that are more about superficial things, like the book Dragonsdale by Salamandra Drake I read recently, and some of the more cheesy/lame chick flicks I've watched. But they just aren't things that I'm drawn back to over and over again, that catch my imagination and my interest. I am grateful to my friends and family and sometimes strangers who share with me, the things that they have found in their life that matter.

List of Happiness

My roommate recently showed me her list of things that make her happy. She said she liked making the list because it made her happy to think of all the things that made her happy. I kind of liked the idea and after pondering all week I came up with a list of some of the things that make me happy. It's interesting though because our lists were very different. People are different, so I guess it's not surprising. The list isn't in any particular order.
+ Rain or melting snow slowly dripping down into my hair.
+ Getting a new book, children's or novel not a text book.
+ Picking up a new book to read that looks like it will be good, or is highly recommended by a friend.
+ Picking up an old book that's like an old friend. (ex. Witch of Blackbird Pond, Richard Scarry's Best Storybook Ever).
+ Stomping through snow when I don't have too.
+ A really good conversation where we talk about something intellectually stimulating or emotionally analytical.
+ Walking along a street and smelling fresh laundry.
+ Creating something out of nothing (like my Rustic Project, or my paintings, or even gingerbread houses).
+ Cuddling inside a warm sleeping bag or a warm bed with my nose just a tiny bit cold.
+ The Holy Ghost telling me I am loved or otherwise inspired.
+ Taking down chairs and tables after a church event.
+ A feeling of camaraderie that I get when I am learning, or studying, or serving with others.
+ Rearranging my books and movies on my shelves.

Live in the Moment

At church when we sing hymns I always keep my book open until the very end of the song. My brother and others have taught me that. I think it is a good habit because it makes you stay focused on what you are doing right now. And that is a hard thing to do sometimes, especially when the task at present is boring, or annoying, or the task to come is nerving, or exciting. However when I'm focused in the moment I usually get more out of it. When I was on my LDS mission they called it "sprinting to the finish." Which means to carry on and finish strong. Basically, even through the last couple minutes of class I would rather go eat my lunch, I should stick around and actually listen. The last couple weeks of winter I should go play in the snow. This last semester of college I should enjoy the friendships and the homework (do I have too?).
The problem is.... sometimes I think I am too good at this and never actually plan ahead. Which is not good either. How do you live in the moment while still being prepared for the future?

Here's a rainbow. Enjoy it while it lasts.