Middlesex

Family Heritage: My family comes from a largely German and English background. My great great great grandfather, Johann Wilhelm Plank immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1844 with six dollars in his pocket and started a farm in Pennsylvania. I was unaware of this information until recent years when my uncle made a genealogy of the entire Blank extended family. I do not feel extremely connected to this immigrant past and it does not really influence my daily life. Although I know that my family background is German and English, I consider myself an American.

Taboo: A taboo is something that society considers improper or unacceptable. The purpose of a taboo is to prevent people from practicing or taking part in things that are deemed socially unacceptable by society. In my opinion, taboos were probably created because certain practices or customs made others feel uncomfortable or caused potential problems for others.

Definitions: Eros-in Greek mythology, Eros was the Greek god of love. Cupid is his Roman counterpart. In some myths he is the son of Aphrodite. []

Tiresias-In Greek mythology Tiresias was the blind prophet of Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and being transformed into a female for 7 years. He was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph Chariclo. Participated in 7 generations at Thebes beginning as the advisor to Cadmus. []