Wednesday, December 19, 2007

just a lil ol meme

Sue tagged me for a meme, and I've really tried to do it for her, but I'm not sure I can honestly answer her questions. Question number one could be easy, and assuming I can be less tagophobic, number four may even be okay. It's two and three I have issues with.

Here's the meme itself, so you can look it over. Most people would probably easily be able to answer these, and I'll admit that I'd love to be able to as well. I'll attempt what I can with the warning that you might not like two and three when I get done. Hell, you might not even like me after that, but them's the breaks.

1) Post a note about a blogger you would like to see something wonderful happen for. Maybe one whose posts have touched your heart in one way or another. Include details as to why you admire them and what you wish for them. Be as supporting and affirming as you can.
2) Post your favorite memory around selflessness, giving, or doing for others. Something that has actually changed you.
3) As a postscript, name one thing you will actually do for someone in your life before December 31 that is born out of joy.
4) Tag 3 other bloggers who will play the game and find the spirit. Don't forget to leave a comment on their blog so they continue to share the good feelings.

1) One L and her family are real life friends. She has a daughter a little older than Big Brother and a son slightly younger. Her children are beautiful and smart and fun to hang out with. Big Brother has always enjoyed playing with these friends. The wonderful thing I want to happen is both for them as well as for kids in general.

One L's daughter is somewhere on the Asperger's spectrum. My wish is for us (all of us/huge collective everyone us) to take the time to be understanding of kids like this child. She's an amazing child to whom the world often just doesn't make sense. I can't make it make sense and don't know if anyone can. But I know that others can take the time to be helpful by not condemning or making assumptions about these children or their parents.

2) I don't know that I've ever really done anything selflessly. I'll sometimes dig a dollar out of my pocket for the bums, but I do so grudgingly. It isn't a selfless act so much as buying the chance for them to piss off and leave me alone in a nicer way than just saying it. It isn't like I'm an asshole, I'm just not not an asshole. This is an area in which I need to do some self improving.

3) See number two? I don't currently have any plans to do anything out of joy. I really have a lot of thoughts lumbering through my head currently. Thoughts of doing things out of joy only bring to mind the really hot British guy I got to kiss last weekend, though admitting that he was trying to kiss more people than his friend sort of takes some of the wind out of that sail. So we'll leave it there. I could discuss joyful acts, but I don't currently have it in me. Let me get to a better place, and maybe I can answer this whole meme somewhat more nicely some time next year.

4) As mentioned above, I'm a little tagophobic. I'm not sure why, but I really hate tagging people. Maybe it just feels like RSVPing someone without their consent and assuming a desire on their part for something they may not want. I will tag three people though, even if I have to leave this as a draft all day while I decide which bloggers I want to burden with this.

The aforementioned One L and her blog Cutting School get the first tag. If I'm going to force her into this by trying to be nice, then I'll just go all out and invite her along for the ride.

Number B is Frankie at Kitchen Table Learners. She and her son deserve a gravy biscuit every morning.

Finally I want to know what Ren of Learning in Freedom thinks, that is if she can find time. She's probably off doing something thoroughly delightful.

9 comments:

Ren Allen said...

Ren is currently sitting in her somewhat cold and very unfinished basement (dubbed "the dungeon") reading blogs and lists, waiting for the bathroom so she can get ready to go face the craziness of Christmas shopping.:)
The kids are all aching to spend some of their Christmas money on each other (which is sweet as all get-out) so I'm finally going to face the crowds I would rather hide from.

I think the thrift stores and second hand stores won't be so terribly crowded though.;)

It will be delightful because I'm with people I really, truly adore.

OH! And I think you named something entirely selfless and joyful when you told of your friend with the child "on the spectrum".
How we value friends that are respectful and kind rather than condemning of Jalen's differences. Though undiagnosed, he has some intensities that cause some people to judge harshly.

Friends that can look beyond the behaviors to see the beautiful person within are rare and a true gift. So there.:)

Frankie said...

I thought your answers were wonderful. I wonder if anything I've ever done has been selfless.

I'll have to think on this a bit before I play. It's going to be hard to single out one blogger and come up with a selfless answer.

Michele said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michele said...

I agree with Ren that number one was probably your selfless, joyful act. I want to thank your family, because there are very few folks like you in my life. I feel like my children are in an accepting and emotionally safe environment when they are around your family. And me too, cause I'm sensitive you know.

Now get back to being an asshole, because I'm running out of kleenex;)

samuel said...

Not sure how you ended up commenting twice, Michele, but I put them both up. If you notice and prefer one over the other feel free to say so.

Michele said...

I fixed it. Blogger gave me an error message on the first one I posted. I liked the second one better anyway.

Appletini said...

I think you probably do selfless things all the time, Sam. What about taking such fine care of your boys? You clothe, them, feed them, bandage their owies, love them. What, exactly, is selfish about that?

jimmycity said...

Gee, could one of the reasons you denied your "true self" all those years was in order to maintain the family unit and not just up and abandon your children? If so, that's gotta be Selfless with a capitol "S"!
The cool thing will be finding out that you can still be the wonderful father you are and give yourself permission to find Happiness at the same time...

Babette said...

Whew. I escaped.