February 5, 2013
11-11:20
Water for Elephants
Pages: 64-70

Jacob wakes from his dream and is back in the present again. He is unsure of how much time he has missed but a nurse reminds him of the circus and he realizes he hasn't missed a day. He reflects on how he hates trying to convince people that he hasn't lost his marbles he just has more things to keep track of than most people. He has the nurse place him in front of the window so he can see the grand spectacle and all the people in the park. He remembers how horrible it was to work on the circus when the weather was foul and he sees how much better the conditions are for the workers and performers. He also remembers marlena when he sees a bunch of horses. He sees his friends being taken with their families to see the circus and when they come back he criticizes how cotton candy comes in a bag instead of beig freshly spun like when he was working. At dinner he is still bitter towards McGuinty and refuses to sit with him and sits at a table alone. He sees the dinner and is so overcome with anger he asks a nurse for real food and pushes his tray off the table after making a very convincing argument. The nurses however don't take so kindly to this and call a doctor. The doctor talks to Jacob for a bit and thinks he has depression that is manifesting itself in anger. Jacob overhears this and yells that he is old not deaf. Later, he is given a new pill for depression but refuses to take it and throws it on the floor because he is not depressed. However, he is forced to take the pill and is also given an injection which he thinks is unfair because he took the pill. He becomes sedated and falls asleep but not before making a mental note to be anger tomorrow in the morning.

I like how he contradicts the nurses. They say he is a resident but they refer to the people as patients and Jacob points this out to them much to their dismay. I like how he stands up for himself and isn't afraid to say things the way they are even if it could be bad for him. It's a clear display of how badly elderly people are being treated and they have no dignity and are shown little respect which isn't right.

I read well today because I was in class and the class was silent.