I was starting to work on my English commentary on the poem "The Skater", and I realized that, due to the last week, I feel I can relate to it. The poem is about a skater who is speeding along, enjoying being alone, but then begins to feel uncomfortable and isolated. Basically, it's meant to show that your attitude towards an experience changes it.

That's how I feel about my life through the last week. The difference is that in the poem, it's gradual, and with me it came as a huge jolt. I feel like my perspective on life has changed. I've cruised through life too much, without stopping to think about what's important. I've been focusing on things that don't matter. I know that's what's normal for teenagers, but I don't want to be the same as everyone else in that aspect.

The majority of this feeling came during the funeral when a few things from Elissa's journal were read aloud. A few things she wrote were in the paper that was handed out at the visitation yesterday. I might copy some of it here sometime. They made me see, again, just how amazing a person she was. It also satisfied the part of me that's been looking for some sort of message from her. It was sort of funny, because at the end of the page the pastor read, she had written "If you are someone other than Elissa reading this, please discontinue here." It was a strange little bit of humor, but it was so typical of her.

I can't believe it's been a week. 
Love,
-J-