Haven
Grealy writes, "Diamond D was a haven. Though I had to suffer through the pony parties, I was more willing to do so to spend time alone with the horses. I considered animals bearers of higher truth, and I wanted to align myself with their knowledge, I thought animals were the only beings capable of understanding me." Being at Diamond D enables Grealy to be content and relaxed because the horses there do not judge or discriminate against her due to her appearance. Diamond D offers Grealy a sanctuary where she relaxes without being concerned about stares, which are inevitable when she is in the presence of humans.
"Launching Pad"
Grealy explains, “This singularity of meaning- I was my face, I was ugliness - though sometimes unbearable, also offered a possible point of escape. It became the launching pad from which to lift off, the one immediately recognizable place to point to when asked what was wrong with my life. Everything led to it, everything receded from it-my face as personal vanishing point.” Grealy’s distorted face defines her Self entirely. Equating the face to a 'launching pad' means that the face is a dominant force influencing how Grealy feels about herself. It makes her to feel unappealing. She is conscious of the ugliness which her face represents and this diminishes her self-esteem. Everything in Grealy’s life, including her happiness, is reduced down to her face.
Osmosis
Grealy explains, “I was cursed with terrible teeth. We were told it was a common trait among people of Anglo-iris descent, but my mother felt personally affronted by this bit of information and, as if by osmosis, I too felt a sense of shame about my teeth." Metaphorically, osmosis underscores Grealy’s consciousness about her unpleasant teeth. The bad teeth contribute to Grealy’s mortification with her face. Feeling cursed due to the nature of teeth implies that Grealy is not comfortable with her appearance.
Tomboy
Grealy recounts, “I was accorded a certain amount of respect in my neighbourhood, not only because I once jumped out of a second-story window, but also because I would kiss an old and particularly smelly neighbourhood dog on the lips whenever asked. I was a tomboy par excellence.” Grealy exhibited masculine attributes although she is a female. As a tomboy, she engages in daring and dangerous activities which ordinary girls would hesitate to participate in. Equating herself to a tomboy underscores her energetic and courageous nature which would not be inhibited by her gender.
Weak Link
Grealy narrates, “For the most part I was an abysmal athlete, and I was deeply embarrassed whenever I failed to jump bravely and deftly into a whirring jumprope. Ever threatening to sting if I miscrossed its invisible boundaries, like some science-fiction force field. Or worse, when I was the weak link yet again in the school relay race.” Being ‘a weak link’ describes a situation whereby Grealy disappointed her group during relay competitions due to her bad athletic skills. She would be the reason why her group would be trounced by competitors. She has an athletic mindset but her body does not permit her to endure the grueling, overwhelming competitions.
