"Could you let down your hair and be transparent for awhile,To see if you’re human after all?
Honesty is a hard attribute to find when we all want to seem like
We’ve got it all figured out
But let me be the first to say that I don’t have a clue
I don’t have all the answers
Ain’t going to pretend like I do
Just trying to find my way, just trying, the best that I know how…
…Well I haven’t memorized all the cute things to say
Maybe I’ll master this art-form some day
If I quote all the lines off the top of my head
Will you believe that I fully understand all these things I’ve read? "
Some of the words from a favourite song of mine: "Trying" on the album No Name Face by Lifehouse. If you don’t know it already, do yourself a favour and track it down next time you’re in a CD shop and have a listen- beautiful, moody and mellow. I love the words and so identify. Aren’t we all trying?
The best that I know how…So if we improve our “know how”- we improve our best? Sometimes, I feel like I cling to a very stale “know-how”. I’m not talking about books here. As a wonderful and funny friend of mine (David Jeffery) once told me, “You can’t read yourself clever.” But boy have I tried. There’s that word again.
Starting a friendship over the e-mail with Nola (my cousin), has reminded me of the most important source of this special kind of “know-how”. The example set by others. Someone who inspires you to do something different… To be something different- even if only in the tiniest of ways that might leave you a better person. Wish that my path would cross with this sort more often. Do we ever stop and think- how many people we allow to leave us a worse person- even if only in the tiniest of ways…
Reading Nola’s blog- I felt uncomfortable at first. Where is the cynicism? We all wear our cynicism like a medal, like an armour. God forbid that we should show our vulnerabilities anywhere, but especially not in the public domain. So nice to find someone who has and who will- but in such a wonderful, light-hearted and joyous way. Someone to reintroduce us to the art of open praise and devotion to those we love.
So enough of the deep stuff. In one of your blogs you mentioned putting on your big girl panties. Did you mean these ones? This has to be my all time favourite movie! Someone that I completely identify with- especially in the kitchen.
This is one of my favourite scenes and reminds me of when you and I were about 20 years younger. Can’t remember where exactly we were- somewhere in Natal- Howick or Pietermaritzburg. You and I “stole” a row-boat moored on a dam’s bank and went for a “joy-row”. Regrettably, we did not have the delectable Mr Grant to amuse us with rude limericks.
Anyway, Nola- I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the beautiful blog. Wishing you many happy days and new joys to blog about in the next 150…I look forward to reading them all.
With love,
Kristy
x
