What the...???

In a convoluted continuation along the theme of my last post....

Here's the deal. All my life I've been something of an outsider. On some levels, I totally understand why. A new school every year till I hit middle school. At times, a new state or city. New classmates. New teachers. New culture.

But on other levels, I still don't get it. Here's part of why I don't understand.

I have a sister (let's call her Jill) who is three years younger than me. We don't really look much like each other. I'm brunette; she's blonde. I have green eyes; she has black eyes. I've got a sturdy build; she's more slight. I am also pretty healthy in that I rarely get very sick. She, on the other hand, catches everything that comes within 100 miles of her. As a child, she was a regular at the doctor's office and sometimes in the hospital. While I wouldn't say I have an outgoing personality, I do not shy from populous settings. Jill now is the same, but as a child she was reserved to the point of being almost mute in many settings. So, it was natural that I watched over her. I am her big sister.

Sometimes it was like being "The Protector." She was so vulnerable. So I always tried to be there to help her. As we grew older we evolved out of that. Our family settled into a house, so Jill was able to attend most of elementary and all of middle and high school with her friends. My role as her guardian faded away. And my new role? I had absolutely no clue who to be. How to be. Not a fun situation.

How does one act when one wants to be wanted or courted as a friend or intimate? Friendship aside (that's for another post), how does courtship work? Is it looks? Personality? Sex appeal? I read all the magazine articles and tried to put many of the suggestions to use. But it's never seemed to work for me. Going out with my friends in high school and college, I was the one left sitting at the table trying not to look desperate. What was it about me that seemed to repel courters and attract 'just friends'? Oh yeah, I had plenty of just (guy) friends! Some of which I would have really loved to have gone out with. But nooo. They were more interested in being friends with the girl who was friends with the girl they wanted to go out with. I was the sympathy dance at the bar. Or the third wheel at the movies. I tried acting as though it didn't matter; that I was above all that. And for the most part, I think everyone bought it. But at home, alone, I was painfully lonely and perplexed.

So I erred on the side of the East Wind, meaning I attached to any and everything that came my way. Not that I was ever asked out much. In fact, I think I can count honest to God 'will you go out with me's' on one hand. What happened more often was a hook up; 'hey, let's leave this place and go elsewhere'. I "dated" two or three men for a few months, the longest being eight months. My first real boyfriend was in college, and he was a high school dropout. Better yet, he was an alcoholic, heavy-duty drug addict and petty convict. I honestly though he was the best I could get so I stayed with him (on and off) for seven years. It took college graduation, a cross-country move, and a major culture shock to shake him out of my system.

So, you wonder, where is this leading? Here's the deal. Since when is it ok for e-v-e-r-y man you've ever known to tell you that he was 'hot' for your sister, friend, cousin, mom, whoever??? Can you shove the knife even deeper and twist it ever more???

Thank you for telling me you were friends with me because you wanted to get close to my sister! Thank you for saying you would rather have spent alone time with my friends! Can I be honest here? Really? I don't give a flying flip! I would have rather continued my life thinking you valued me as a person, girl, woman, friend, potential intimate than find out my value was only that of a go-between.

When oh when will someone value me and want me?? Am I destined to die second best??

The true "New Moon"

The second movie of the Twilight series, New Moon, was released this weekend. Millions around the world went to see it. Critics panned the movie; the series in fact. The vast majority of the moviegoers loved it.

I've been pondering just what is it that keeps so many people, rather women ranging in age from 10 through 99, so entranced with the books and the movies. I have to admit that I, too, can be counted among those millions. And I've come up with a theory. One that the more I consider it, the more I really do believe is fact - at least for me.

The Twilight series is an otherworldly take of Shakespeare's tragic love story Romeo and Juliet. Edward is Romeo, the prince of Vampires while Bella is Juliet, the princess of Humans. Just by their very nature they are doomed in their love. Vampires and Humans are, and always have been, mortal enemies. Yet they have a love that bridges the taboos of their respective worlds. Why is that? My take? They are soul mates - which in and of itself, answers the question that meanders throught the series; do vampires have souls? Well, they've got to! Edward is bound by something even more powerful than the vampire and human worlds can break, and that is his soul can only be completed with his perfect mate - Bella. And Bella is human. Which funnily enough, answers a very human, and age old, question, do humans have souls? Again, they've got to! Because Bella can only be completed - whole - when she is with Edward.

The difference between the Twilight series and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is that Edward and Bella's ending is happy. They manage to bridge the chasm separating them and their worlds, and in the process, they merge the worlds together (let's not argue that point when we read the 4th book of the series and find out that biworldly folks have existed for eons).

As we all know, Romeo and Juliet is one of the most romantic stories in existence. And my I be bold enough to say that the Twilight series ranks among them. Women love romance, and Twilight is filled with it. And that is why I think the books and the movies are so popular. They fill a feminine need to be loved unconditionally, protected unconditionally, wanted (at all times) unconditionally, protected unconditionally.

In the real world, our significant others love us, but it's just not the same.

• When we have fights it's for less noble selfish reasons. Edward's reasons for getting angry at Bella are because she won't keep herself out of harm's way. In my world, my husband gets angry at me for forgetting to pay a bill.
• We get tired of being with our significant others - they get on our nerves. Bella and Edward can't get enough of being in each other's presence. They never tire of just being together for the sake of being together.
• Occasionally, we tell each other we love each other, even when we don't mean it. Edward and Bella mean it when they say it - always.
• Often, we are on our own when life gets difficult. When I'm shopping and I'm confronted by a difficult situation, my husband isn't going to drop everything to come to my rescue. Edward lives to rescue Bella. She is is first and only agenda.

In short, Edward's and Bella's relation is the relationship many, of not all women, long for. A man (or woman) to put me and my happiness at the zenith of his (or her) existence.  Were I to have a man like that loving me, you betcha I'd be loving him back just as passionately!

But instead, I am married to a man who puts softball above my needs and wants. That said, I seriously doubt he's my soul mate. Doubt? Know! Is there a soul mate somewhere in the world for me? I hope so! A love even fractionally similar to that of the fictional characters Edward and Bella is worth pursuing. And pursuing I am!

Back in the saddle!

It's been a few years now since I last posted. Life got in the way. It is still crazy like before, it is just I am more in need of an an outlet for all the, hmmm, stuff that is comprising my life right now. Not that it will all be like diary entries. I am hoping for some fun stuff like links to beading related topics, book and movie reviews, and more.

So, what should today's topic be? High School Seniors!

Do you know how expensive a graduating senior can be? Here, let me tell you what we are shelling out so far (and it's only 3 months into the school year!)

Now we're not spending money like it's water. We can't! We're barely able to pay our bills, and sometimes not. So, here we go...
1. Senior Year Pictures - $450
2. Announcements and class ring - $575
3. Senior Package (includes senior trip, tshirt, hoodie, entry to all the dances, yearbook, bonfire, etc.) - $400

So far that comes to $1,425.

Add a school-sponsored (foreign language dept) trip to Madrid, Spain, Paris, France, and London, England during Spring break to the tune of $2,000 and we're now at $3,425. The passport costs $120 plus spending money of around $700 and we're up to $4,245.

And guess when it all needs to be paid? All of these need to be paid in full by February - 4 months from now. And Christmas is smack in the middle of all this!

Some may say we're indulging our daughter. But other than the trip to Europe, we're actually spending less than many families. The trip to Europe was planned a year ago, and while it's a hardship to finance, it is an excellent incentive for our daughter to 1) keep her grades up and 2) stay out of trouble. So, just for that it is definately worth the cost. If I can drum up the money.

And somehow I will. I'm in the running for a second job. Not my favorite option, but it will help. And it would only be for a year, if that. What bothers me most about all this is that it will take time away from my youngest son. Well, that and that my husband is not at all interested in getting a second job. Some resentment on my part is natural, and that is but a symptom of why the next chapter of my life will be significantly different in the next year or so. But right now, I'm going to do what I have to do for my children.

So, if you have a high school senior, start planning! And I look forward to sharing our experiences through the first of three senior years.

Ciao for now!