The plot thickens

I was just driving my niece home, and on the way we passed "Friendship Manor." Which, first, how is this the first time I've noticed Friendship Manor? I've driven by it probably dozens of times! 

Second, that is setting a high bar, my friends. Yeah, sure, we all hope that someday we'll have our own little friendship manor. But to put it on the door--you gotta meet that expectation now, buddy!

But, most importantly, that is just a murder mystery waiting to happen. It practically writes itself! "Three friends moved into Friendship Manor, thinking they'd finally found their refuge from the world. But then disaster strikes when one of the manor's 'friends' is killed. As much as they'd like to think it was a random burglary gone wrong, the real friends quickly realize not all is as amicable in Friendship Manor as they thought. One of these friendships may have soured into hate--hate that was strong enough to kill."

And then it sells on Amazon as an eBook for $2.99 and cozy murder mystery readers everywhere feel satisfied. 

The end.

RIP summer

On my way home today, it happened. I knew that it was coming, but it still seemed so far away. I thought I had more time.

But, no. 

I should have known from the darkness when I wake up, from the earlier sunsets. All signs that the time has come.

And tomorrow, I think I am going to have to wear socks. 

The freedom of summer, the openness of sandals, and the luxury of not having to match my socks to my outfit is all over. 

So long summer. Thanks for the memories. 

Theories of change

I don't know how widespread this is, but I, at least, have heard this "being sculpted" metaphor for change: the changee is the stone, and is being sculpted, with pieces chiseled off until they are just the right shape. As far as metaphors go, it's not bad. There's something inspiring in the idea that we are each becoming a masterpiece.

That being said, sometimes I feel more like I'm a blob--maybe of clay, but a little oozier?--and the artist is trying to shape one side but then the piece just bulges out somewhere else. Smooth that little bit into place, and the original side starts sagging. It's like whack-a-mole. There's always another flaw to fix.*

And sometimes, maybe I'm more of the mulberry bush that needs pruning. Sometimes, I need a LOT of pruning, and sometimes more of a trim to keep things under control. I wonder if mulberry bushes ever reach a state--or even if any of their branches reach a state--where you don't have to keep on trimming. If they are anything like life, probably not.

Life seems to be a constant race to maintain equilibrium. And that being said, change is probably more like a mulberry tree than a sculpture, at least on the scale of day-to-day. But I do think there are sculpture moments in life, as well. We have experiences that just change us: we leave home for the first time, go to school or get our first adult job, get married, have a kid, or maybe just have some of the crazy things like an illness or a job change, etc. that just change us. Hopefully. Seems like a waste if we go through those things and come out exactly the same. 

So, wherever you are at with change in your life, be it a blob/mulberry bush/marble sculpture moment, hang in there. And if you are feeling blobby, don't worry. Even blobs can become beautiful sculptures. 

*which, isn't as horrible as it sounds. It's possible that each flaw is a little smaller than the last. The overall arc is improvement. It can just feel tedious at times.