MeaganHerrera

SBFC

WheredYouGoBernadette
SpringHonorsResponsetoLiteratureEssay

Mostpeoplewakeupinthemorningandimmediatelyshuttheiralarmoff,takingafew
morepreciousminutesofshuteye.Whatthisreallyisthough,isignoringyourproblems.Your
problemiswakingup,andyouknowthatyouneedtobeoutthedoorinthirtyminutestomake
sureyougettoworkontime.Whenyourerushingoutthedooryouforgetthings,likeeating
breakfast.Thatwillcomebackatyouwhenyousuddenlyfindyourselfexceedinglyhungryat
lunch.In
WheredYouGoBernadette
anovelbyMariaSemple,theauthorexplorescharacters
whorunawayordenytheirproblems.Denyingourproblemswilleventuallycatchuptousand
forceustodealwiththem.
ThenovelcentersaroundBernadetteFoxthegeniusarchitectfromLAwhocurrently
residesinSeattlewithherhusbandanddaughter.Afterafewbumpsintheroadshesimplygave
upandignoredeverythingthatneededtobedone.OneexampleisMyintentionwasneverto
growoldinthisdrearyupperleftcornerofthelowerfortyeight,IjustwantedtoleaveLAina
snit,lickmyconsiderablywoundedego..(Semple123)Bernadettesintentionformovingwas
torunawayfromherdestroyedhouse,andfromthepeoplewhoknewaboutit.Shenevermeant
tostaybutsheendedupdoingsobecauseshewastooscaredtoreturnandfellintoaslump.She
alsocleverlytriestoavoidthingsinherlifeincludingherfamilysbigtriptoAntarctica.Ill
claimmyteethhadbeenachingandIpoppedbyDr.Neergaards.ThenextthingIknew,hehad
removedfourwisdomteethandnowIcantgotoAntarctica.(Semple124)Sheisliterally
willingtoundergominorsurgery,whichatheragethisspecificsurgeryjustgainsmore

MeaganHerrera
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complications,thanaccompanyherfamilytoAntarctica.Bernadettehasspentherentireadult
liferunningawayfromherproblems.Asamarriedwomanthishastohaverepercussionsonher
husband.
ElgininitiallywasonboardforthemovetoSeattleunderstandinghiswifesneedfor
spacebutoncesettledintohisnewjobElginsfocusanddriveforhisworkhasledhimtoignore
anyproblemhiswifemayencounter.WhenSooLinopenshiseyestoalloftheissuesthathave
poppeduparoundBernadette,Elginimmediatelymakesdecisionswhichendupbeingrash.
Bernadette,BeeandIarescheduledtogotoAntarcticaintwoweeks.Bernadetteobviously
doesnotwanttogo.Ithinkitmightbeabetterideaif...BernadettechecksintoMadrona
Hill.(Semple97)Elginisallofasuddenfindingoutmanythingsabouthiswife.Hescometo
theconclusionsheneedsmentalhelpbutinsteadofgoingtoalocaltherapist,hesplannedto
sendhertoamentalinstitutionwhilekeepinghisdaughterunaware.Ashisfocusturnsto
Bernadette,Beeinvariablybecomesaffectedbyhisquickdecisionmaking.Inowconcurthatit
isinBeesbestinterestthatherimmersioninChoate'sacademicabundancecommence
immediately(Semple130)AfterElginbrieflydecidesthatBernadettebesentofftoamodern
dayasylum,healsodecidestosendBeetoboardingschoolearlydespiteneitherBernadettenor
Beewantingtogo.Fromignoringyourproblemstotryingtoattempttofixthemallatonce,the
leastyouthinksomebodycoulddoisjustacknowledgingtheirissues.
DespitevariousoccurrencesinwhichKylehasshowedsignsofdrugabuse,Audrey
deniesanyissuehersonmaybehavingwithsubstanceabuse.Evenafteranemptybottleof
narcoticshasbeenfoundinhersonslocker,clearevidence,Audreycontinuestodenyhersons
problemwithvarioussubstances.Adisturbingallegationhasbeenpresentedtomeinvolving

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Kyle.AparentcametomeamonthagowithanaccusationthatKylehadbeensellingdrugsto
studentsinthehallways.Irefusedtobelieveit,foryoursakeasmuchasKyles(Semple155)
BothAudreyandtheprincipalbelieveKyleissuchagoodkidthattheybothchoosetodenya
concernbroughtupbyanotherparent.Theyrelookingatthissituationthroughrosecolored
glasses.Ms.GriffinstartedscreamingatmewithprofanityImamodelcitizen.Thesedruggies
aretheonesbreakingthelawandcorruptingmyson.(Semple176)Eventhoughthedrugswere
foundinhishotelroomandthedruggieswereunderinvitationfromKyle,Audreystillchooses
tobelievethathersonhadnothingtodowiththesituation.Evenifissuesarentyourown,it
doesntmeantheyarentaffectingothers.Wecantavoidourlovedonesproblems.
Ifyoubegintoignoreyourownissues,theywilljustkeepbuildingupandoverwhelm
you.Asyourownproblemsbuildup,theystarttoaffectthosearoundyou.Whenyourownloved
onesbeginareenablingyoutocontinueinyourslump,youstarttofeellikeitsvalidatedtolive
thatway.Itisagroupefforttoovercomeanythingthatmaycatchyouunawareinlife.Thisbook
wasareminderformetofacemyproblemsheadonandnotletthemaccumulateandstackup.
Forsomeonewhodoesntdothatveryoftenitsagreatremindertostopandpickapartyour
problemsonebyone,becauseusuallythemostoverwhelmingthingislookingatitasawhole.
Whenyoubegintobuildapuzzle,youdontdumpoutallthepiecesandtheycomeout
tumbling,perfectlyarranged.Youvegottostartwithonepieceandslowlybuilduptofinishing
theentirething.Itmaytakealotofworkbutyoullbeamazedatthelastingimpressionitleaves
behind.

MeaganHerrera
SBFC

WorksCited

1)Semple,Maria.Where'dYouGoBernadette.Little,Brown,2012.Print.