When I was little, I was quite the philosophizer (if that is what you would call it). I often pondered interesting dilemmas. Generally they took on the form of an either/or question -- which I would then pose to the family. One that became most famous was, "Would you rather eat a pig (yes, the ENTIRE pig) or die?" To this day people in the family still debate the best answer to that difficult question (or at least still ask it of me in a mocking fashion every now and then).
I couldn't help it though. I wondered a lot about various miserable choices. Maybe it wasn't that I was a philosophizer (though there is something "which came first, the chicken or the egg"-ish about my pig verses death question). Maybe it was just another manifestation of the worrying nature which was acutely developed in me at a young age (my dad used to fear that I would never function in society with all my worries -- I guess panicking over things such as "what if on the morning of the resurrection I get resurrected and then can't find my mom and dad" weren't typical five year old worries?).
It turns out I function quite well in society (though one might point out that the only "society" I am very much in is the society of my five children). In fact, I don't even worry one bit about finding my parents in the resurrection (because clearly I will need to be finding Mike and my children).
Really, I don't think I am much of a worrier anymore, and I always remember that when I fear that one of my own kids will not be able to grow out of some similar nature.
BUT, the point of this was to copy the message my older brother Chris left for me last night:
"Nancy, two things: (1) would you rather have one eye in the middle of your forehead that has 20/20 vision, OR have two eyes in the normal places but be virtually blind? (2) Would you rather have your feet replaced by wheels (without brakes), OR have your hands replaced by hooks?"
One might think that this is just another example of my family mocking my complex thoughts. I prefer to see it as an example of the strong influence my early ponderings have had on the thoughts of my own siblings.
P.S. I love that my feet wheels would have to be "without brakes." Does that mean that if I chose that option I would have to agree not to install brakes later? Hmmm . . .
5 comments:
oh that gave me a good laugh. chris is the best. very thought provoking questions.
sometimes grace reminds me of you when you were younger with her worries. luckily i can see that you do function fine--although tend to perhaps still worry a little more than the average person??? not sure. anyway, i love you. you were the best little sister to have and i often feel guilty that maybe i took too much advantage of your peaceful and kind nature in our younger years. if your weakness is worry, mine is guilt.
i do remember suddenly having a conversation and feeling quite frustrated with you because i was telling you that the pig question was stupid because if you tried to eat a whole pig you would die because i'd hear about bad diseases in uncooked pork so i said i would rather just die than have to do something so disgusting and then die anyway.
oh that gave me a good laugh. chris is the best. very thought provoking questions.
sometimes grace reminds me of you when you were younger with her worries. luckily i can see that you do function fine--although tend to perhaps still worry a little more than the average person??? not sure. anyway, i love you. you were the best little sister to have and i often feel guilty that maybe i took too much advantage of your peaceful and kind nature in our younger years. if your weakness is worry, mine is guilt.
i do remember suddenly having a conversation and feeling quite frustrated with you because i was telling you that the pig question was stupid because if you tried to eat a whole pig you would die because i'd hear about bad diseases in uncooked pork so i said i would rather just die than have to do something so disgusting and then die anyway.
hm...that comment posted twice. and now this one so it will look like you already have lots of comments. and you do. but they are all from me. sorry.
I saw that from Chris on the old FB today. What trigured that cool line of questioning from Chris? Pretty sweet. But seriously wheels for feet would be pretty hard to get up and down stairs in a hurry....I might reconsider if I were you....Because your thinking, sweet wheels for feet i would run/roll so much faster. But really I am thinking lots and lots of accidents. And if it were up to me I would totally give you one big eye, because you have already experienced life being virtually blind with two eyes.
Funny!
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