Rip looked and saw an exact mirror image of himself, --[It appears Rip saw an exact mirror image of himself -- the way others always perceived him]- - as he climbed the mountain--[This was how he was before his "sleep", or his journey up the mountain]--: apparently also lazy, and certainly also in rags--[Before meeting the group on the mountain, he was a laid-back, rough and lazy person]--. The poor boy was now completely confused--[It seemed to everyone that Rip Jr. was confused in his thoughts, however, just like Rip Sr., he knew exactly what was going on in his head--it seemed that he had a plan. for everything]--. He doubted his own identity and wondered if he was himself or another man - I believe Rip had experienced some sort of self-realization and was beginning to realize this change - wondering if he was the same old Rip , or the newer, more conscious one. Rip]--. In the midst of his bewilderment, --[I'm trying to figure out here if Rip was just very confused with what was happening upon seeing his son, or if he's still drunk and "dazed."]-- the man the cocked hat asked who he was and what his name was? I know, no one knows except God himself], he cried, at the end of his nerves; "I'm not myself-I'm someone else-it's me over there-no-it's someone else, I put myself in my place--[He sees that he passed on his traits to his son, and his son took on Rip's identity and habits We "grow up" in the skin of others]-- -I was myself last night, but I am myself. am asleep on the mountain, and they changed my weapon, and everything changed, and I.... . middle of paper ...... the closest to his heart and guide his family, what he does remains, and give him a direction to follow. He slept for the last twenty years of his life, and more than likely - in a sense, he slept for many years before climbing the mountain. waking up and dealing with the issues that arise and correcting any mistakes or acting on the awakenings that he may have had involving his regrets in life is something that Rip Van Winkle has to offer us, I think. it's about paying attention to ourselves. As many of us often do, we get absorbed in other people's affairs and don't take care of our own lives. for the perfection in everyone's life and the lack in ours. Rather than sleeping for so many years and letting time take its toll on us and those we love, we need to act now and be a little more selfish in taking care of ourselves..