This is the scene I found when I checked on Carsten just before bed tonight. It appears that he had selected one of his book collections after "lights out" and proceeded to read every single one of them prior to passing out with a heap of evidence all around him.
All I could think to myself was, "SON OF A..." but I figured that ending it there might be misconstrued by some.
Here's the translation of the actual thought: "SON OF A(N) AUTHOR!" Way to start 'em young!
Lisa Kogan has always been one of my favorite writers, partly due to her
unparalleled "real-woman-wit" and partly because of her marksman-like
ability with words. Give her any topic, from any distance, and she
consistently hits a bulls-eye. She may be best known for her wry sense of humor, marrying the ordinary and absurdity of life in observations about everything from mattress quality and late-night television to the often unanswered dilemma of appropriate volumes of lasagna consumption (how much is enough, how much is too much to indicate one has lived well?)
But I personally love her spot-on commentaries about life, both in her O Magazine column and in her new book, Someone Will Be With You Shortly: Notes From a Perfectly Imperfect
Life.
While many (and I mean MANY) of Kogan's quotes have made me stop to laugh out loud over the years, an equal number of them have made me stop and think. Consider the following:
Ok, with identity theft at an all-time high and everyone being as careful as they possibly can to protect their sensitive information, you'd think I'd have jumped on the bandwagon by now. But evidently identity theft can be at the hands of unexpected people at unexpected times in unexpected ways.
For instance, my son, Carsten, had been doing various craft projects on the floor of my office and was actually quiet for an extended period of time (always blissful but never a good sign). On this particular occasion, though, his uncharacteristic silence had allowed me to complete my deadline that morning so I was grateful to say the least. When I looked down at him, though, I realized what activity had bought his silence.
Sometime during the previous twenty minutes, he had switched artistic mediums from crayons and markers to the deposit stamp for my bank account, and (innovative modern "artiste" that he is) decided to use himself as a human canvas.
And so, I ended up sending him to his childcare center that day
literally covered (yes, including some of his most delicate regions) in stamps that say "Deposit to the Account of Applied
Insight, Deanna and Michael Davis, (insert our bank name here), (insert
our checking account number here)."
I have to say that in this economy, if I'm going to be the victim of identity theft, I'd like it to be at the hands of a really cute thief (done). If only everything else were so simple. Wish I'd had the sense to take a picture of his handiwork, but his cute face will have to suffice!
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Ok...technology meltdown time and my life is on hold. My laptop battery is dead (for good), so I can't unplug my computer without having to wait for six billion years for it to re-boot elsewhere, and the new one won't be here for a couple of days. My Outlook e-mail program crashed yesterday, with no short-term repair in sight. And, my cell phone works only randomly (most specifically when I don't need it to).
Unfortunately, my work depends on my computer, my email/calendar/task software, and my phone working correctly. I thought technology was supposed to make things easier. But it does seem that I'm attracting some seriously counter-productive technology mojo my way.
I'm thinking there are two possible lessons I'm meant to take from this experience. One is that I could demonstrate that it is, indeed, possible (though perhaps not particularly efficient) to revert to age-old methods of communication to achieve remarkable outcomes in work and life. Thus, it is possible that calligraphy pens, carrier pigeons, and tin cans connected by strings are in my future.
The other potential "aha" is that it's time for me to take a deep breath, exercise a heretofore unprecedented level of patience, and find creative solutions to move my projects forward in the absence of any 21st century conveniences. While one would be far more entertaining to write about (and to read about, I'm sure), the other seems more likely to prevent a technology meltdown from becoming an emotional meltdown.
Breath executed, patience iniated, creativity engaged. Backup plan: carrier pigeons waiting in the wings.
In one brilliant sweep of her pen...and her wisdom, we are called to be in this moment...to be intentional with our lives.
In Lean Forward Into Your Life: Begin Each Day As If It Were On Purpose, Mary Anne Radmacher has gifted us with a truly stunning book, one as thought-provoking as it is action-inspiring, and as practical as it is lyrical.
During this time of endings and beginnings--the end of one year, the beginning of another--we have the option of living "on purpose" if we choose, and this book offers us the framework on which to build that life of intention.
A gifted artist and powerful writer, Mary Anne provides readers with a joyous nudge to lean forward with the inquisitive nature of a child and the peaceful assurance of a wise mentor, all the while realizing that both of these beings exist within you. Enjoy this book yourself and share it with those you love during this season of giving and the next season of "fresh starts."
Enjoy the following brief excerpt from the many treasures in this book:
"in each moment seize the opportunity to experience grand wonder . . after the wonder, joy comes in.
there is a song so deep within the soul it is only heard as laughter. from the fountain of our beliefs come the graces of our lives.
hope flies on its own wings,
carried on winds of laughter,
it will always find its way to the
heart it calls home.
laugh. it is the quickest bridge between strangers and the finest path between friends."
