A Day In The Life


A Day In The Life

by Alexandra Hadley

     Janie, a strong woman that has a desire to be loved, has compassion for others, and likes to keep her business to herself. Janie grew up on a big plantation near Savannah. She was raised by her grandmother, because Janie's mother was very irresponsible, and was never there to take care of her. Her grandmother raised her well, and made sure that she had a good life growing up. When Janie grew up and was on her own, she would go where ever the road would take her. She began her journey being married to Logan, whom she had no interest in at all. It was no surprise that when Joe came walking down the road, with fancy clothes and a determined walk, that Janie would want to go with him, and with him she went. After she was with Joe she followed him on all of his endeavours and put up with all of his needs, having to conduct herself in a way that she was seen and not heard. When Joe died, Janie decided to live life for herself and not bother with men for a while. It wasn't until Tea Cake came around that Janie actually started enjoying life, it was on her journey with him that she felt contentment and love. Throughout Janie's life she is uncertain whether there is a God or not.

Unlike Janie I grew up in a town called Ypsilanti, Michigan. I was raised by both of my parents, and I was not forced to marry someone at a young age like her. Similarly with Janie I was raised well, and have had a good life growing up. All my life so far, like Janie, I have always been told what to do, next year I finally get to make choices on where I am headed with my life, just like Janie after she married Logan. I know that God is with me through every choice I have to make, even if no one else is there to help me make that decision. Janie didn't have the same certainty, she didn't really know what to think of God until she mentions him more toward the end of her life. Janie as a lady in the early 1900's did not have all of the opportunities that I have now as a lady in 2011 such as, education, athletics, certain jobs, and many other things. Our lives are different in a lot of ways.

If Janie, from the early 1900's were to visit me in 2011, I think she would be very overwhelmed. She would see so many changes from her life, to our lives. If Janie spent a day with me her schedule would be wake up, work on online classes, go to school, track practice, Variety show practice for show choir and then home for dinner and homework. Which would differ from her day of cooking and cleaning for Logan, Managing Joe's store, or working on the muck with Tea Cake. One of the biggest changes for Janie would probably be that we no longer have segregation. I think it would be a slightly hard thing for Janie to get used to. Going from African Americans just recently coming out of slavery, to now where there is not an extreme amount, if any prejudice. Woman’s rights would probably be a shock to Janie as well. Janie's world doesn't give many rights to women. Women are most thought of as the home keeper. They did the cooking and cleaning, and generally if money was needed they worked as well. Education was something that was not heard of lasting for children up to grade twelve in Janie's world. Many children had to help work, or run the home so they did not stay in school, or possibly even go. For Janie it would be very different for her to see me still attending school especially being a girl.

Just like if Janie spent a day in my life it would be strange for her, It would also be strange for me to spend a day in her life. Living in 2011, we are very used to having our basic necessities like phones, electricity, computers, accessible cars, food in our cabinets, and parents who have steady jobs that help pay for all of those necessities. Janie does not have all of these things that we are so fortunate to have. When I spent time with Janie it would take some time to get used to not having all of those things. I would have to help Janie with whatever she had as a task that day. Whether that was working in the store or at the muck, or just taking a day to go fishing. I think I would find more joy in the simple things if I were to visit Janie.

Janie has more of  a naturalist worldview, and I have a Christian theist worldview. Our lives would be completely different, yet similar in different ways. Janie and I are both women, trying to figure out what were supposed to do with our lives, and just taking one day at a time.