English106-01-03 Introductory Composition

“With mother I buried my innocence. With Mimi I will bury my haven.” This quote struck me as a very strong quote with heartfelt meaning. This simple, two sentence quote can reveal many different feelings and attitudes. Innocence can be defined as the lack of knowledge or understanding. This is what Terry lost when her mother died. She had never experienced the loss of someone she loved so dearly. She had the unfailing connection that can only be felt between a mother and a daughter. The death of her mother was the loss of innocence in never having dealt with death. When Mimi dies she describes it as a loss of her haven. By definition, a haven is described as a place of shelter or safety. She felt this sense of comfort when she was around her. This is connected to the fact that Mimi and Terry shared many things in common. They understood each other in a way that they could interpret what the other was saying. Terry also explains that what they share is a sort of secret which could then be compared to the migration of birds. This is comparable because even though people can study the migration of birds, they still do not know the exact reasoning or exact pattern of all birds. It is a sort of secret. When she buries Mimi she feels that this safety net she has had suddenly disappears. She is trying to show that death is not just death, but is something that can affect people in many different ways.