"The Monument And The Bungalow"

Reading Lewis' essay has opened my eyes to a different world. I have to admit that I never have read the landscape, nor have I thought about this concept in the ways Lewis described. I do enjoy listening to my parents and Grandparents when they talk about the way things were when they were little, but this is only using my ears, not my eyes. I believe that listening to the past being told to me is one way to learn, but I now want to try and read the landscape and introduce myself to a new way of learning.

Sight is an important sense of ours, and it is capable of opening up the past if we believe in what we are seeing. We should always be willing to question what we are seeing, not turn away if we are confused or do not like what we are viewing. We need to look in areas which we have not looked before. To expand our world. We also need to not be afraid to touch different textures, to ask questions as to why it feels the way it does. We need to be excited and not feel stupid if someone catches us on our hands and knees looking at or touching an item.

Once we discover an interesting item, we need to use very descriptive words to describe it. Words can keep a reader interested and wanting to read more. We should not be afraid to let our feelings come out, to put these feelings into words which will open our world up to others. Technical words may help some, but I feel that other people may get lost with the use of technical words. Our words may help others see an item in a very different way. This is an important role we play, a role of teaching others to value and appreciate the world, or landscape around us.

We all need to read the landscape which is our world. By doing this, we will learn about our past. Not only should we explore the landscape close by, but go explore. Explore the buildings, the rivers, and the monuments we are so lucky to have in our world. Don't be afraid to open up and learn from them.