Foucault's Quilt

I changed my background from the lemons of summer to a quilt.  For one thing, its warm and seasonal and for another it means something to me.  Foucault (the French philosopher) had a theory that our individual worlds are made up of bits and pieces that we each may choose to incorporate into it.  For instance, although you may grow up in a capitalist country, you could be a staunch proponent of socialist policy. You may have become a believer in Islam despite growing up in a Judeo-Christian culture.  It all depends upon the bits and pieces, the squares of the quilt that you were exposed to and decided to interweave into your life.  It may be as simple as what television show you decide to watch, the way the words affect your outlook on life.  Of course, for Foucault, it was about enculturation and a process that allows us to view the world and reality.  The main focus is about knowing what you are choosing and not falling into the trap of confusing your view or reference upon nature or the interpretation of facts as the only one.  In other words, be aware of the patches you have sewn to make your quilt and don't confuse them for the only one. Indeed, being cognizant of the fact that humanity operates on a give and take basis is a major idea.  (Note: his ideas deal with philosophy and viewpoints, please don't confuse my silly example about t.v. programs with his sophisticated interpretation of linguistics and philosophy.)

Ok, so I am trying to consciously choose what I need to put in my quilt because right now it's falling apart at the seams.  Seams are a strange word, when you think about it.  When done correctly, they overlap and remain strong, bound together.  When done perfectly, when everything has gone right, it is 'seamless', as if there are no seams there.  The reverse? Being undone.  A seam is broken loose. 

I started this semester taking 6 classes.  I know this is exactly what the University says not to do, but my husband and I had our reasons.  Now, however, after taking 8 classes last semester in a 6 week period, I find I cannot schedule any more than 3 classes without a problem.  If I had only school, well, I think it would be fine.  However, there is daytrading, the conversion of the corp. to an llc, all the taxes and contracts, a beautiful highschooler that I don't give enough attention to, loving in-laws, 3 dogs, a cat and a bird to think about as well.  Although my husband is probably the most supportive, loving man in the world and I feel terribly lucky to have married him, he's not around during the week (and even if he were it probably wouldn't make a difference). The think is I have responsibility.  I love them, chose to have them and wouldn't change them.   These things make up my quilt and although the bright exotic squares of classes and lectures add pizzazz, the neutral blending of colors that constitute the backbone of the design are also really important.  After last semester, I have a lot of bright crazy patches but the rest of the quilt, the support to it, was largely ignored.   Let's face it, as any quilter knows, you will wind up in a mess if you continue sewing pieces together like that and that is exactly where I am.

So here's to double-stitching the seams, choosing to make family important and taking care of business and most importantly, seeing clearly what is most dear to me.  I could say to Foucault that I believe in a culturally specific way of raising my daughter, that education is important but not the only thing, that love and the effects of family strongly influence my perspective on the world and most importantly that I believe God is in charge of it all.  These are the ideas and beliefs that affect my view of the world, the basis of my reality and the quilt that is my life.