The past ten days have thrown me on a learning curve. I've had a novel experience. With my brother in Ontario and my parents in Maine, it's just been Hopper (my dog), Zach (my friend), and I (myself) at the house. Many people stay at their house without their parents for an extended period of time before they turn twenty. I did not. When I was four years old, my parents decided to take a trip to Montreal for a weekend, so they left me with my great aunt in Nova Scotia. When they came back, I apparently refused to acknowledge their existance. From then on, they've never taken a trip without me... until now. I must say, I've enjoyed myself. Zach and I have been making meals together (something I love doing but rarely have opportunity to do), watching Firefly, listening to 'our music', and drinking lots of Jones.
For those of you who have not had the honour of downing a Jones, I will explain. Jones is a soda that comes in odd flavours (like bubblegum and gravy). Each bottle has a random photo on the label and a random phrase or fortune under the cap. I've been keeping the caps. One day, we got the most awesome caps I've ever seen. As Zach and I sat down for a home-cooked meal and an episode of Firefly, we wrenched off our Jones caps (which is truly the test of a man), and read our fortunes. Mine said "A friend will soon give you a present." His said "Give somebody something". When the episode was over, he gave me his empty bottle.
For my 'serious thought of the month', I have been reading "Wild at Heart". I believe I disagree with the author's view on nearly everything I've read thus far. I probably wouldn't have continued reading it had I not just finished "Blue Like Jazz", in which I learned that it is important for me to be offended by things sometimes; it teaches me where my sensitivities are. I also learn a lot more from people I disagree with. After all, if I agreed with the guy in the first place, I wouldn't have really learned anything. Nonetheless (such a cool word), one of the things he's been talking about in the book is that men can't get "The Answer" from their wives. He talks about "The Answer" a lot. I think what he means by that is a reason to exist, the one that makes you complete. That was important for me to realize, that I can't put all my hopes into a future wife who will turn out to be simply human (that is, if she turns up). As much as I'd like to believe it, people don't suddenly figure out who they're supposed to be because they get married. In fact, that's probably an important thing to do before they get married. I think I'm going to have to find my place in life and the strength to live it alone before I find the one to live it with. And that will be OK.
For those of you who have not had the honour of downing a Jones, I will explain. Jones is a soda that comes in odd flavours (like bubblegum and gravy). Each bottle has a random photo on the label and a random phrase or fortune under the cap. I've been keeping the caps. One day, we got the most awesome caps I've ever seen. As Zach and I sat down for a home-cooked meal and an episode of Firefly, we wrenched off our Jones caps (which is truly the test of a man), and read our fortunes. Mine said "A friend will soon give you a present." His said "Give somebody something". When the episode was over, he gave me his empty bottle.
For my 'serious thought of the month', I have been reading "Wild at Heart". I believe I disagree with the author's view on nearly everything I've read thus far. I probably wouldn't have continued reading it had I not just finished "Blue Like Jazz", in which I learned that it is important for me to be offended by things sometimes; it teaches me where my sensitivities are. I also learn a lot more from people I disagree with. After all, if I agreed with the guy in the first place, I wouldn't have really learned anything. Nonetheless (such a cool word), one of the things he's been talking about in the book is that men can't get "The Answer" from their wives. He talks about "The Answer" a lot. I think what he means by that is a reason to exist, the one that makes you complete. That was important for me to realize, that I can't put all my hopes into a future wife who will turn out to be simply human (that is, if she turns up). As much as I'd like to believe it, people don't suddenly figure out who they're supposed to be because they get married. In fact, that's probably an important thing to do before they get married. I think I'm going to have to find my place in life and the strength to live it alone before I find the one to live it with. And that will be OK.
