English106-01-03 Introductory Composition

Great Blue Heron: Terry starts out by describing a heron at the edge of the lake.. in it's own solitude but peaceful at the same time. I feel like she is describing herself through the heron, it knows how to protect itself, it has weathered the changes well, through the highwater and all the hard times, it has stayed home in the refuge.

Refuge is not a place outside myself. Like the lone heron who walks the shores of Great Salt Lake, i am adapting as the world is adapting (267)
You have to look inward to find your refuge, you have to use your inner strength to find what makes you happy, and makes you feel whole and safe.
Any place can be your own personal refuge.

Screech Owls: Mimi passes away- and Terry tells of a strange happening of how Mimi is expecting to see an owl one morning a week before she dies- four days before she dies she asks Mimi to send her a sign when she does saying that she is okay
Mimi tells her it doesn't work because she already tried with her father.

Avocets and Stilts: The refuge is unrecognizable- the water level has dropped significantly...

The clan of one=breasted women: We find out that Terry, her mother, her grandmother, and six aunts all had cancer.. seven of them are dead.
The survivors have just completed chemotherapy and radiation treatment.... it is likely they will also die a shorter life than they should have

We also learn a likely reason to so much of the cancer victims in Utah-- it was an atomic bomb test area during the 50's and 60's
The story ends with Terry being arrested for protesting in a nuclear test site in the nevada desert-
she is standing up for the clan of one breasted women and finally speaking out and expressing her thoughts : she is showing the results of destroying the land...
the bombs are only breeding death and destruction on the land.. instead of breeding fertility and new life