Sometimes I like to look at and reminisce in my accomplishments.

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/o/odysseus.html

The Battle

I finally got my chance to get my revenge on the suitors. They were all trying to sting my bow that Eurytus’ noble son had given me, for the first one to string would wed Penelope. Clever Penelope, she knew that I was the only one who could string it. As they were attempting the impossible, little did they know they were being locked in. After a brief distraction from Penelope and Telemachus, I had the bow in my hands. How good it felt to feel such a familiar object. The smooth wood felt like it belonged in my fingertips. The sturdy string that had accompanied me on dozens of hunts had never felt stronger. I quickly strung the bow, and to the suitor’s astonishment, shot an arrow cleanly through all twelve ax handles.

After I fired the arrow through the ax handles, the slaughter began. I quickly put another arrow onto the string of my strong boy and fired a screaming arrow through Aninous’ throat. Then with my gallant son Telemachus, and my loyal companions Philoetus and Eumaeus at my side, we destroyed the rest of the suitors. It felt as though one thousand pounds had been removed from my back after the battle was over. I realized that after twenty long years of war and painful traveling, my journey was over.

I am so grateful for all Athena has done for me.

Ithaca At Last

Reaching Ithaca was a dream come true. After the amiable and noble Phaeacians dropped me off, and the mighty mist cleared, I wept. The land that I had longed to see for twenty grueling years, the land that I wept for everyday at the island of Calypso, and the land I begged Aeolus to blow me to for the second time, was finally in front of me. From the great shore of Ithaca, overwhelmed with joy, I made my way to my loyal swineherd’s house disguised as a beggar. Soon after eating a hearty breakfast I was surprised by another joyous sight; my own son Telemachus. No other word could best describe how it felt to hold my own son, after waiting twenty long years, in my hands, the same hands that brought him into this world. No other word than magical.

After our loving embrace and after we caught up, we quickly devised a plan to bring down the suitors. A little while later, I found myself sitting in my own house. One might have thought I would be overwhelmed with joy, but it was quite the opposite. I was in my own house as a guest, sitting in a corner, disguised as a beggar, watching suitors try to win over my wife. How I hated the suitors. How dare they try to wed my wife, take over my kingdom, and take everything that’s mine when I am still alive! I wanted to kill each and every one of the suitors at that very moment. I wanted each of them to suffer a long and painful death at the end of my blade! But I restrained myself, for I could not risk dying and letting my son down over my anger. I would have to just wait until the right time to put my plan into action.

Penelope

When I look at this picture, I am reminded why I fight so hard to get back to Ithaca.

Scylla

As we entered Scylla’s dark, murky cave, a wave of fear rose from my stomach into my chest. The thought that no one has ever made it out of the cave made my heart want to leap out of my chest. The fear that the great beast could jump out at us at any moment grew and grew until I couldn’t take it anymore. I would not just stand around and wait for death. I decided I would be ready for Scylla’s attack, so I went below deck to arm myself. I did not care what Circes said to me that I shouldn’t arm myself. I, Odysseus, great ruler of Ithaca would not die like this.

As I came up to the deck of the ship I saw her. Her heads were lined with jagged twelve-inch teeth on the top and bottom and had a terrible odor to them. Though the gigantic monster only had six heads, it felt as though she had dozens because heads kept popping from every direction. Standing there in my suit of armor, holding my spear, witnessing my comrades, my brothers, my fellow soldiers getting picked off the ship was the single saddest, most gruesome thing I had ever seen. And the worst part was that I could not do anything to help them. I was forced to just stand there dumbfounded watching my friends of battle die.

http://www.unrv.com/economy/wine-chart.php

I love my wine!!