I like metaphors.
Okay, I love them very, very, very much. I have an obsession of trying to simplify the chaos in my mind verbally in a way that merges literal objects and my fondness for trying to tell stories. This doesn’t always work.
My Mom and I were talking today about the duality of genetics that I might be fighting internally. I realized where I was going with this chasm of absurdity, but I just could not stop.
“So imagine Dad hands me a box and you hand me, okay - no. We’re all sitting at a table. Dad gives me a box with his genetic code of restlessness and wanderlust and you slide a box over from your side full of the desire for security. Wait - this is better - in the boxes are bears. Baby bears. So I pull out these bears and they just fight. It’s the baby bear of “The Grass is Greener on the Other Side” and stability bear duking it out on the table.”
I exhaled.
I could feel my Mom furrow her brow over the phone. She slowly and tentatively said, “At least you know… about this…that might make you ahead of the game already.”












10 comments
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February 25, 2008 at 12:14 am
strangerandstranger
I get that feeling from people all the time.
February 25, 2008 at 12:17 am
a lee
Only TWO? Wow. You ARE way ahead of the game.
February 25, 2008 at 5:54 am
thebutton
Ok, now I’m just stoked that I can read your blog again. I’ve felt conflict like that before though too. Many times and I know I can identify each side by how my parents were.
February 26, 2008 at 5:38 pm
The Rebuker
It’s probably a moot point, but were these bears real baby bears, stuffed bears, or gummi bears?
February 26, 2008 at 7:46 pm
firewings
Real baby bears. I think I had this picture in mind: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/gallery/0221_bears?pg=6
February 27, 2008 at 1:32 am
a lee
A Limerick for Lacan
I have a big box full of creatures
Who carry all manner of features
I keep it well sealed
Lest all be revealed
And the world rebuff its sole keeper
I’ve counted dozens of these creatures strange
Too many by far for me to arrange
On paper it seems
They’d make a poor team
After all they’re fractured, crazy, deranged
Most of them are kind but others are not
A few are courageous but many fear-fraught
The poor battle-worn
The anxiety-torn
From whence they came I have never been taught
Some of them handsomely masculine sure
A few feminine and dainty demure
But most all a fiddle
Gathered right in the middle
Cry that a gender is never quite pure
Some saints some sinners, saviors and slayers
Losers and winners, faithful and players
The strong and the weak
The proud and the meek
And a bastard or two claiming no cares
Some creatures are chaste and some quite slutty
Inspired perhaps or just wholly nutty
They see few clues
As to what might be true
So they wallow in grey matter muddy
They’d make a grand case these creatures of mine
For Freud or Lacan or similar mind
Enjoying our slouch
We’d sit on a couch
Daring a whole soul Sir Doctor to find
What of these creatures I just cannot say
Someday oh to simply shoo them away
But what use are good locks
For a big empty box
So me thinks I’ll enjoin them to stay
February 27, 2008 at 9:00 pm
firewings
Wow! Did you write this? This is crazy awesome!
February 28, 2008 at 12:40 am
a lee
Yes *looks over shoulder cautiously* i did. Thanks. We all decided we didn’t want you to worry about a couple of little bears duking it out.
February 28, 2008 at 11:03 pm
firewings
The baby bears and I thank you. ^_^
March 3, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Lisa
“I have an obsession of trying to simplify the chaos in my mind verbally…”
I LOVE THIS!!!
Your unique voice and style never cease to amaze me!
Kudos,
Lisa