Ceremony Discussion (#5)

Last week our class had a visit from a Navy Seal. He talked about his experiences as a Seal; he talked about how P.T.S. (D) affected his life (e.g he talked in detail how he would revisit a scene from his past, having to kill someone and seeing their face). He mentioned how all of it resurfaced without him even having to think about it - like the sight, sounds, smell and taste of the place he was in. He also talked about how it was to regain the use of his legs after having been shot near his spine - he spoke of the difficulties he endured. Of the friendships he formed while training and in the field. It was was difficult at moments to hear and enlightening all the same. He also mentioned how in ceremony - how it was to be able to relate to some of the strife noted in the book (p.t.s (d)).  In similar relation Tayo - in the novel 'Ceremony' constantly recalls memories of the past, be it the war, time with his uncle or his cousin Rocky. "Tayo didn't sleep well that night. he tossed in the iron bed, and the coiled springs kept squeaking, even after he lay still again, calling up humid dreams of black night and loud voices rolling him over and over again like debris caught in a flood. Tonight the singing had come first, squeaking out of the iron bed, a man singing in Spanish, the melody of a familiar love song, two words again and again, "Y volvere," (Silko 5). This particular scene in the beginning of the book shows the nightmares Tayo has as an after effect of the war. What is interesting to see are the differences in reading a book about the p.t.s.(d).of a war vet, and talking to someone in person about it. The differences in speech and how the story is told contrast in how someone might perceive what is being told to them. When listening to (Clay) talk about his experience as a navy seal it was intriguing to see how he told his story and how it could be in relation to Ceremony.