Rhoda Janzen's Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

I did not really care for Rhoda Janzen's Mennonite in a Little Black Dress book. I think that it might be because I do not prefer books from the first-person (or even the second-person) point of view. Also, I am not one for books, short-stories, essay, etc. about someone's life. Although, I did like reading J.K. Rowling's and Clay Aiken's autobiographies. One, I love J.K.'s books and her life is interesting (goes from having practically nothing to having everything). And two, I love Clay Aiken's first CD (I haven't either listened or heard much of his music since after that). But, that's it for autobiographies. I'll even say the same for movies. I only enjoy movies that are based off of something (Flags of Our Fathers, Pearl Harbor, Titannic, etc.) and not off of someone (Finding Neverland (had to watch movie in high school), Pirates of Silicon Valley (also had to watch in high school), etc.). That is my personal opinion and it may not be anybody else's opinion.

I think that there were some good details in the book. The section of chapter 3 where Janzen talks about mosquitoes was really relatable. I mean, how many of us have been bitten (probably many times in only one day!) by mosquitoes, been around a swarm of them because you had to do something, and even used things such as OFF! (you practically gag by the smell and try to get out of the area where you were sprayed as soon as possible!) to try to keep them off of you but it seems like it won't work? Yeah, I can say that I have. At one time, I even had up to several mosquito bites at once.

When Janzen mentions the McChicken sandwiches from McDonald's, I was able to understand what she was talking about. When she mentioned it, I could practically taste the sandwiches. Once in a while now, my family will go to McDonald's and get a couple of sandwiches for each of us. Okay, I think I'm making myself hungry for one now!

I can kind of relate to Janzen when she talks about the surgery she receives towards the beginning of the book. When I was about five or so when we were living in Gary, I had to get stitches in my elbow because I had fallen and my elbow went through the fan that sat on the floor (a box fan). Also, hopefully this summer, I can go in for some surgery that I need to have done. Also, this past winter, my mom had to go and have surgery done, and my dad and I waited for a few hours before we were able to leave the hospital with her.

I can't really relate to Janzen about relationships, seeing as how I've never been in one, but I did have feelings for someone years ago. Besides me, I see that my sister can never stick to one boyfriend (or as she would say, he is NOT a boyfriend). My parents will have been married for 24 years this July. When they got married, the entire family was basically placing bets on how long they would be together. Some said a week, others a month... If I recall, I don't think anybody said any time over a year. And here my parents are! Never divorced. With one of my uncles on my dad's side, he finally got married when he was 39, I think. He and his wife have two kids, going on 8 and 6. My aunt on my dad's side has a boyfriend (she had two divorces and one son from each marriage, both of whom are going on 20 within the next few months and going on 16 (I think) within the next few months also). My grandparents on my dad's side were, in a way, together but they never divorced, even though they lived in separate houses. My grandparents on my mom's side divorced when I was probably only a few years old. My parents say that my grandfather had said something to my grandmother and I told him to get out of the house. I guess that surprised him. You wouldn't think that I was like that, giving how I am now. So, even though I have not been in a relationship at all (and most likely will never be), I see how it all goes, just by looking at my family.

When I was in high school, I took three years of German. After I told my parents that I was taking German, he said that my grandfather (his father) would be proud of me. When Janzen mentioned some words in German, I was able to understand what that word meant, even if it was only part of the word (such as Kalendarblatt).

And my heritage... I am Irish (probably why I loved the play Translations so much!), Dutch, German, American, Cherokee, and Norwegian. My great-grandfather on my dad's mom's side of the family is a direct descendant of the Vikings. My great-great-great grandmother on my mom's dad's side was a full-blooded Cherokee. Apparently, with there being Native American and Viking blood coursing through my veins (one from each side of the family), it is not a good mix because "my people" scalped people (Indians) and burned villages (Vikings), and my family is a group of people you probably do not want to mess with. I may be calm and sane, but that probably is not said for the rest of my family (including my aunt). We have such a bad temper.