Survivor - Candy Land & Nostalgia

You realize that our mistrust of the future makes it hard to give up the past. We can't give up our concept of who we were. All those adults playing archaeologists at yard sales, looking for childhood artifacts, board games, Candy Land Twister, they're terrified. Trash becomes holy relics. Mystery Date. Hula Hoops. Our way of getting nostalgic for what we just threw in the trash, its all becuase we're afraid to evolve. Grow, change, lose weight, reinvent ourselves. Adapt (Palahniuk, 150).

This is Tender reflecting while he's climbing up the stair master. I think his words are a interesting observation, and easier for him to say than others. One thing that's challenging for me while reading this book is remembering where he came from. When you first start reading the story, he's in 'our world' so its hard to shake that for 17 years of his life, which are the most impressionable on a person, he was isolated in the cult. I've never experienced something as extreme as having every one you knew as a child kill themselves. So sometimes I just assume he's "normal". Anyways, this is a interesting observation for him because the life he grew up in was simplistic. In contrast, I had most of the things he mentioned and I do wish I still had those toys in my possession. I guess some people buy the relics to hold onto the memories, but is that really fear of death? Everyone, possibly to some extent, is afraid of death but I don't think they buy those things to hold ONTO their youth they buy them to reminisce about their youth. That's a big distinction. I will admit that the concept of how absolute death is, is very intimidating to me. Once again, concepts of the book fall into concepts discussed in Oedipus Rex. Also, Stranger Than Fiction. Tender accepts death, and is condescending to how the out side world reacts to it. On the other hand Harold wants to avoid death, and i think shares the sentiment of many people. In addition, this passage shows how detached Tender is. A few chapters back he said "The truth is you can be orphaned again and again and again. And the secret is, this will hurt less and less each time until you can't feel a thing. Trust me on this (Palahniuk, 162)." The farther we get into the book the farther we see Tender become more of a shell of a person, and less of a actual person. Maybe this is why he decides to take the plane? Lack of emotional investment in life?

Questions:
1) Will he become famous?
2) Where is the book heading?
(This whole agent thing that happen has thrown me a curve ball)
3)What all does Fertility Hollis know about him? (She has visions, extremely accurate)
4) One of the engines on the plane have died, what is he thinking/feeling about it OR is that even on his mind?