On Indecision

So, I love Anne of Green Gables, and have probably read all the books in the series multiple times.  In one of the books, Anne makes a friend during her college years named Phillipa.  Anyway, Phillipa is very indecisive.  This comes into play because Phillipa has many suitors, being, of course, extremely beautiful.  It sticks in my head only because the two guys she whittles it down to are Alec and Alonzo (alliteration!).  She can't decide between them - both are handsome and rich, of course.  Phillipa is not just indecisive about love, she is indecisive about other, smaller decisions.  She can't decide which hat to wear when she leaves the house, etc. (about now, all the boys are going, why do you like these books?).  On the hats, she eventually has to close her eyes and stick a pin in the hat.  

Eventually, Phillipa meets a friend who tells her "just do whatever you will wish you did when you are seventy."  In other words, pretend you are 70 years old and looking back on your life - what will you wish you had done in that moment?  It works for Phillipa but I don't think it really works for me.

One of my main personality traits is indecision - I have trouble making decisions ranging from choosing something to eat to choosing a job to choosing a car, etc. etc. etc.  And now, having spent hours on the following dilemma, I am no closer to a solution.  We are turning a spare room* into a guest room and I have to buy a bed.  I've researched the options and prices and finishes until I'm blue in the face but I am no closer to deciding between the two of these daybeds.  I know I want something that can double as a couch when it's not being used as a bed.  So here are the options:

Option #1:

Option #2:

This is a ridiculous "first world problem," I know.  But it is not making me happy to worry about it.  Eventually I'm just going to have to pick one, especially as we have a guest staying with us in February who will need to use it!

*And yes, in Anne's (and Miss Barry's) honor, 'twill be the sparest of spare rooms.

We, The People

As I watched the inauguration today, it was easy to be proud and excited - after all, I voted for President Obama and was happy that he won.  Perhaps it was harder for you, because you wanted to see someone else speaking at that podium today.  I totally get that (this is written by a person who was sad to see one, let alone two, inaugurations of President George W. Bush).  But I hope you were able to find something to like about today.  If only that it's the last time Obama will be inaugurated!

Last time I was privileged to be there in person, but today I had to settle for TV.  Here are some of my favorite moments of the inauguration:
- Obama's beautiful daughters :)  I think Obama is a good example of a family man who loves his wife and kids.
- All of the American flags waving on the national mall.  I really do love America!
- Beyonce's beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.  Gave me the chills!
- The closing prayer

This is my favorite quote from President Obama's speech today:

"What makes us exceptional, what makes us America is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today we continue a never ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they’ve never been self-executing. That while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by his people here on earth.

The patriots of 1776 did not fight to replace the tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few, or the rule of a mob. They gave to us a republic, a government of, and by, and for the people. Entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. And for more than 200 years we have. Through blood drawn by lash, and blood drawn by sword, we noted that no union founded on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half slave, and half free.

We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together."

Obama emphasized the "we" of America - we must move forward together.  We certainly will disagree about many things but "we the people" deserve a voice in the debates of our time.  Let's not leave them to the blathering talking heads of cable TV - let's take an active part in building America together.

Stand (In the Place Where You Live)

One of (the many) reasons my parents are awesome.  They planned a church youth conference around Gordon B. Hinckley's book, "Standing for Something," and during registration they played this song (in the church!  Ok, the church lobby, but still).

"Stand" by R.E.M.

Yep, be jealous - my parents are pretty awesome.

Hanging Out in Heaven

One of the book clubs I'm in is doing a poetry night where everyone shares their favorite poem.  I don't often read poetry, so I found myself reaching back to my favorite English class in high school, which was my senior year class.  Two of my good friends were in the class with me and we read some really stellar literature, but what made the class truly great was the teacher, Mrs. LC.  Mrs. LC loved reading, and she was able to convey that to her students and inspire in them the same love.  She also tried to make us better writers and better interpreters of what we read.

Interpretation is the part of reading poetry that has always been difficult for me.  I often feel like I just don't "get it" and am not smart enough to interpret poetry.  I enjoy it once someone explains it to me but I am not quick enough on the uptake to grasp its meaning intrinsically.  However, when we read the poem below in Mrs. LC's class, I immediately loved it.  I think it is because I generally like Emily Dickinson and this is a fun poem about her.  So, without further ado, here is the poem (which didn't make it to book club, as I shared this poem instead).

“Emily Dickinson and Elvis Presley in Heaven”
Hans Ostrom

They call each other E. Elvis picks
wildflowers near the river and brings
them to Emily. She explains half-rhymes to him.

In heaven Emily wears her hair long, sports
Levis and western blouses with rhinestones.
Elvis is lean again, wears baggy trousers

and T-shirts, a letterman's jacket from Tupelo High.
They take long walks and often hold hands.
She prefers they remain just friends. Forever.

Emily's poems now contain naugahyde, Cadillacs,
Electricity, jets, TV, Little Richard and Richard
Nixon. The rock-a-billy rhythm makes her smile.

Elvis likes himself with style. This afternoon
he will play guitar and sing "I Taste a Liquor
Never Brewed" to the tune of "Love Me Tender."

Emily will clap and harmonize. Alone
in their cabins later, they'll listen to the river
and nap. They will not think of Amherst

or Las Vegas. They know why God made them
roommates. It's because America
was their hometown. It's because

God is a thing
without feathers. It's because
God wears blue suede shoes.