- Ithaca = To go to a convention.
- The journey = Earning enough money/getting enough resources.
- Trojan War/Returning home = Moving to Oregon/Going back to Forks.
- Lotus Eaters = How much more Glide/Roseburg has to offer than Forks.
- Poseidon = All the evil, little people I’d have to deal with.
- Wind King Aeolus = Encouragement from parents (help with transportation, etc.)
- Talks to Teiresias = Gain knowledge of conventions via talking with people I know, such as Rastro. And find out times, dates, etc.
- Sirens = All the tempting places to stop me along the way and elay me from getting to the convention.
- The bow = having enough will power to even go and talk to all the strange, little people I don’t know.
- Athena = My friends, Rastro, Allexxis, Sammy, and Koyka, who help me along the way with encouragement and support. They never let me down.
- Goal reached (gets home) = Goal reached (gets to convention)
There are many goals in my life, if I thought hard enough, that would parallel Odysseus’ struggle to return to Ithaca. Here, I will tell you of some of them. My goal is to someday go to a convention. I don’t know what type, probably sci-fi or Forever Knight, but I really, REALLY want to go. This is like Odysseus’ trying to return home to Ithaca. He wished to get back to Ithaca as much, or more, than I want to go to a convention.
The journey is one of many difficulties. Odysseus had to overcome many seemingly insurmountable odds and trials as I have to gather an unimaginable amount of money and time. I have to figure out a way to earn some cash as Odysseus had to figure out how to get home. I must also try to arrange transportation. For me, of course, it will most likely be by car. I am going to have friends come along, that way they can help pay for gas. Odysseus had his ship and crew along the way to help him return to Ithaca.
And then there was Odysseus’ problem with the Lotus Eaters. This mirrors the difficulty I have in bringing myself to go back to Forks. Yes, Forks is where I grew up, but after seeing what else there is out there, I don’t really want to go back. After one had eaten the Lotus Plant, one had no desire to return home. After I have seen what else there is, I do not have any desire to go back. I mean, down here in Oregon I have new friends, new places to go, people to see, and a whole lot of other good things. Up there, I had frustration, all old things; nothing seemed shiny or new any more. Eating the Lotus plant had much the same effect. One would have no desire to see one’s homeland again. Everything was just fine, and happy where you were.
Poseidon was another constant obstacle for Odysseus. Poseidon was always after Odysseus, bound on revenge for his son, Polyphemus. All the bad, little people I’m sure I’d run across could compare to this quite well. People like mean registration people, or ones who thought I was crazy and never talked to me, or anyone with an attitude problem who I would have to deal with. (Or those stupid beretta cops at the fair...)
The Wind King Aeolus helped Odysseus by giving him all the winds in a bag so he may return home. My parents have offered encouragement for me to reach my goal. They have been very helpful. They have provided me with a car, support, and a lot of other things I would need. This is a lot like what King Aeolus offered Odysseus.
Teiresias provided Odysseus with a knowledge of what was to come. He told Odysseus what to expect and how to deal with it. But this knowledge still demanded that Odysseus make choices on his own. I will gain knowledge about what to expect at a convention by talking to friends, such as Rastro, who have been to them before. They can tell me what to expect and how I should act so I don’t make people think I’m a Raving Lunatic (in action, anyway, not word. I AM a Raving Lunatic in word). (g) They could also direct me to webpages and other reference resources to find out dates, times, and places of various conventions I could attend. This gives me an idea of what is ahead, yet still allows me to make decisions for myself.
The Sirens sang a song no man could resist; once you heard their song you were a goner unless you were bound in someway (as to a mast). This compares to all the little tempting places to stop and stay along the way to the convention, wherever that may be. Places such as the beach, tourist traps, nice, comfy hotel rooms with a pool and spa… Just as the crew helped Odysseus, my friends would be there to slap some sense into my little head and remind me of our ultimate goal. So we would head on, not being stopped or waylayed (at least, not for long) at any place along the way.
When Odysseus finally reached Ithaca, he had to beat the suitors in the test of the great bow. This he did and then destroyed the suitors and reclaimed his kingdom. The test I would have to beat would be to actually go around talking to people. All those strange, little people I don’t know would be scary! And getting up enough guts to actually talk to whatever actors/actresses are there, too. But once I did that, then I could say that I had conquered that fear, and, and would be able to feel more relaxed at any other convention; I could be myself.
A parallel for Athena in my little adventure would be my friends. Rastro, Allexxis, Sammy, and Koyka would all be there to lend support any time that I might need it. Any time I would have a question or a problem, I could ask them and they could help me with a solution. They’d always be there and wouldn’t let me down.
Finally, Odysseus reaches his goal, which is to return to Ithaca. And finally, I would reach my goal and get to the convention. I’m sure I’d have a lovely time with my friends, and make many new ones at that. I would live happily ever after, after actually having met some of my favorite actors, as Odysseus lived happily ever after on Ithaca.
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