Riding Freedom

By: Pam Munoz Ryan

Date reported: Sunday, June 07, 2009

This story is about a young girl named Charlotte. Charlotte was a kind young girl who loved horses. She lived at a very strict orphanage because her parents died when she was 3. Now Charlotte was 9 and she still didn’t get adopted because people wanted a boy to help them work in the farm not a girl. Her only friends were Hayward, a cute 7 year old boy, and Vern, a stableman who let Charlotte be his stablehand. Charlotte always helped Vern with the stable.

One day she ran away to a place far from the orphanage, Rhode Island. There she cut her hair and dressed as a boy. Her name, sorry, his name was Charley. She then went to California and became a stagecoach driver. One day she lost her sight because a horse kicked her in the face. Later she proved herself by using her sense of smell and hearing to drive. She was called One-eyed Charley. She bought her a home with an apple orchard and chicken coop. She settled in California. She was the first woman to vote in California and in the United States.

“One day”, she said, “I will reveal my real identity.”

This is a very inspiring book. In this book I learned that you should always follow your heart. This book is based on a true story of Charley Parkhurst. It happened during the Gold Rush period.

Diwali

In my culture, Diwali the festival of lights marks the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom Ayodhya after defeating Ravana (the demon king) - the ruler of Lanka in the epic story of Ramayana. It is also believed that it is the day Lord Krishna’s wife Satyabhama defeated the demon king, Narakasura. It depicts the victory of good over evil.
Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atma. With the realization of the Atma comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (inner joy or peace). Diwali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing of sweets, and worship. Diwali being festival of lights, across India people celebrate it via symbolic diyas or kandils (colorful paper lanterns) as an integral part of Diwali decorations. Rangoli, decorations made from colored powder, is popular during Diwali. Diwali celebrations are spread over five days[5] in India and all over the world. All the days except Diwali are named according to their designation in the Hindu calendar.
Hindus wake up well before dawn, as early as two in the morning, have a fragrant oil bath (it is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges) and wear new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams outside their homes. They perform a Lakshmi puja with offerings to Krishna or Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. Lakshmi puja: Diwali marks the end of the harvest season in most of India and Nepal. Farmers are thankful for the plentiful bounty of the year gone by, and pray for a good harvest for the year to come. Traditionally this marked the closing of accounts for businesses dependent on the agrarian cycle, and the last major celebration before winter. Lakshmi symbolizes wealth and prosperity, and her blessings are invoked for a good year ahead.There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, the incarnation he took to kill the demon king Bali. Thereafter it was on this day, that Vishnu came back to his abode, the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi on this day, get the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being. After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends.
Melas: To add to the festival of Diwali, fairs (or 'melas') are held throughout India.[11] Melas are to be found in many towns and villages. A mela generally becomes a market day in the countryside when farmers buy and sell produce. Girls and women dress attractively during the festival. They wear colourful clothing and new jewelry, and their hands are decorated with henna designs.

Among the many activities that take place at a mela are performances by jugglers, acrobats, snake charmers and fortune tellers. Food stalls are set up, selling sweet and spicy foods. There are a variety of rides at the fair, which include Ferris wheels and rides on animals such as elephants and camels. Activities for children, such as puppet shows, occur throughout the day.