"Special Topics" Post 6a

Vocabulary
bogie (346): an unidentified aircraft or missile, especially one as a blip on radar
Trevor Rees-Jones (347): (also known as Trevor Rees; born 1968) is the former bodyguard for Dodi Al-Fayed. He was badly injured in the car accident that killed Diana, Princess of Wales, Dodi Al-Fayed and the driver Henri Paul. Because he suffered a head injury in the crash, Rees-Jones does not recall particulars of the accident. Blue references him as a miraculous survivor; she does not wish to become like him, confined to that role.
sangfroid (347): coolness of mind, calmness, composure [literally "cold blood" in French]

Three Literary Devices
Allusion: "I had no desire to be the Otto Frank, the Anastasia, the Curly, the Trevor Rees-Jones" (347). Here, Blue expresses her feelings about her rescue by alluding to other famous rescuees. She does not wish to be in this situation, feeling like the lucky one, as many may assume. She wishes to suffer with the others, because she doesn't want to raise herself above them. In the Bluebloods, especially with Hannah gone, this is a dangerous thing for Blue. It's interesting that she uses the article "the" in front of each of the people, as if they are not unique but part of a class, a defined role in which she does not want to become captive.
Simile: "It read, 'A Stich In Time Saves Nine' and sat there like an unpopped blister" (347). This lovely quote shows Blue's definite personality, as well as gives the reader a feeling of the sickness that Blue feels in regard to her treatment. She doesn't want to be the lucky one. She wants to be the martyr, the one who did something to help the others instead of the one who simply got rescued. Even though her father is trying to make her feel better, all of his antics are simply making her feel closed in, nauseous, sick.
Metaphor: "By the following morning, Sunday, my fly-by-night infatuation had congealed into obsession" (349). By using the word congealed, one can see how this habit is extremely unhealthy for Blue, how it "glues" her to the television and sticks her happiness to the rescue of the others.

Quote
"Norvel's sole distinguishing characteristic was his male pattern baldness, which mimicked the stiching of a baseball" (348). I enjoyed this quote simply because of the wit and sarcasm imbued in it; I can imagine Blue saying this with a matter-of-factness that would make it hilarious.

Theme
Don't confine your happiness on the expectations of others.
Good intentions can go seriously awry.