For me, every day in Nashville is filled with questions. Sometimes I ask other people the questions I have, or just wonder them aloud. For example, today at Mercy I asked out loud, “I wonder whose cupcakes those are?” a lady in the office informed that another woman had brought them in to share. In this instance, it definitely paid off to voice my question. Mmm, cupcake!
But other questions, I keep to myself. And let me be clear: I have a TON of questions. The following is a list of questions that I have asked myself more than once… if not everyday, since coming to Nashville three weeks ago. I warn you, its weird, its awkward, but its real.
-Where am I?
-Am I underdressed?
-Am I overdressed?
-Do these people think I’m crazy?
-Do these people think I’m 16?
-Do these people assume I have an eating disorder?
-Do I have food in my teeth?
-Do I have to eat this to be polite?
-How did I get so far away from where I was trying to go?!
-What if my phone dies?
-What if my car dies?
-What if I get lost in the woods, and I die?!
-What if I get bitten by a brown recluse spider?
-Why am I living in a Log Cabin?
-Is 431 the same road as 31? (NO, it isn’t!)
-Am I in Kentucky?
-What is a convection oven?
-When am I gonna get to see Nancy?
-What do I do after Nashville?
-What do I do after I graduate?
-What am I going to do with my life?!
-Where the HECK am I?
This is just a sampling, my friends, of the many questions that bounce around in my brain on a daily basis. As I said, some are solved best when asked out loud or to others. “Where am I?” is a great example.
Some are best left to ruminate in my head. Usually, they help me to laugh at myself after a while when I realize how silly they are. “Do these people think I’m crazy?”, “Do they think I’m 16?”, these questions don’t really matter in the long run.
Some though, I just take to God and try to leave there. When I start thinking about the future, or try to create some huge significant meaning to every action I take or relationship I form, I get overwhelmed. I have to take a deep breathe and realize that it’s ok to have questions.
The important thing to realize is what to do with those questions; to know which category they fall into. And to be able to let them go when they are just out of my hands.
And to be content that the most pressing questions are less about the future, and more about the right now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
-Where am I?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html
-Am I underdressed?
Check for clothing. If unable to locate, the answer is yes.
-Am I overdressed?
Check for clothing. If able to locate, the answer is no. (probably)
-Do these people think I’m crazy?
Do they seem perceptive? If so, the answer is yes.
-Do these people think I’m 16?
Do they seem perceptive? If so the answer is no.
-Do these people assume I have an eating disorder?
Most likely still to be determined. Will probably be based on the amount of baked goods that are shared with them. Assumption of eating disorder decreases linearly as amount of baked goods received increases.
-Do I have food in my teeth?
Take a lesson from Mulan. Look at your reflection in the nearest glassy body of water.
-Do I have to eat this to be polite?
Absolutely not. But it might be impolite to decline.
-How did I get so far away from where I was trying to go?!
Could be one of many factors. A) Compass was purchased on opposite day. B) You MapQuest'd. Google maps is the best, true that, DOUBLE TRUE. 3. Forgot to read Dr. Seuss's "Oh the places you'll go 4. You were attempting to "get away from it all"... and suceeded.
-What if my phone dies?
Allow yourself to grieve appropriately (this may take some time), then move on with your life. There's more phones out there and you'll find one you want to spend forever with.
-What if my car dies?
1. Cry. 2. Repeat. 3. Repeat. 4. Check previous question. If phone is dead, repeat step 1. If phone lives, use appropriately.
-What if I get lost in the woods, and I die?!
It is assumed that neither your death nor the concordant fall of a nearby tree will be heard. Tips for avoiding this: Bread crumb trail. However, beware excessive enamorment with houses fashioned from confectionry.
-What if I get bitten by a brown recluse spider?
Bite it back. You've got to nip that in the bud or they won't respect you.
-Why am I living in a Log Cabin?
a) Vintage is "boss" Remember when the word "boss" meant really really cool? (The Office reference) b) Online realty pictures were slightly misleading. c) Because everyone in TN lives in cabins, of course.
-Is 431 the same road as 31? (NO, it isn’t!)
http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/highways.asp
-Am I in Kentucky?
Absotivelty, posolutely NO! Ways to check: 1. Are you wearing shoes? If yes, you are not in Kentucky. 2. Do you have all your teeth? If so, you are not in Kentucky.
-What is a convection oven?
Think of it like a turbocharged Porsche. Or imagine a regular oven is like getting slapped in the face by heat... a convection oven is like getting Chuck Norris round house kicked in the face with a fireball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convection_oven
-When am I gonna get to see Nancy?
http://nancyalcorn.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/nancy.jpg
Done.
-What do I do after Nashville?
The same thing you do every night, Pinky... try to take over the world!
-What do I do after I graduate?
1. Improve velociraptor impersonation to help boost resume. 2. Complete a fire walk 3. Fly a kite attached to your bike 4. Buy the craziest, most comfortable slippers you can find 5. Hop on an open train car. Who hasn't wanted to do that?
-What am I going to do with my life?!
http://www.lyved.com/life/50-unconventional-things-to-do-in-your-lifetime/
-Where the HECK am I?
See question/answer 1. If reassuring, add exclamation points or expletives to convince yourself of your location.
"Do these people think I'm 16?"
ReplyDeleteHilarious. I ask myself that ALL THE TIME here, except it's more like, "Do these Koreans think I'm 40?" I think it's the beard. Everyone around me looks like they're 16, so I think you'd enjoy it here (or maybe it's because they're around me...) ;-) And there are plenty of questions like "How did I get so far away from where I was trying to go?" that are going through my mind whenever I step foot into a subway train here.
"Anonymous" decided to answer every question. Wow.
Just stay away from the bobcats, and you'll be fine ;-)
Not anonymous, but I had some fun... don't take life too seriously... unless your phone dies, car dies, and that bear isn't Yogi or Boo Boo.
ReplyDelete-Where am I?
May I suggest Garmin?
-Am I underdressed?
What's the occasion?
-Am I overdressed?
See last question
-Do these people think I’m crazy?
Most likely...
-Do these people think I’m 16?
Probably not... you lack the immaturity and bad parents to be in Tennessee and yet from Florida... we call those runaways with "Missing" posters... however, I would have ID ready for age-restricted items.
-Do these people assume I have an eating disorder?
Do you find it ironic that small people eat and never gain weight (or so it seems)?
-Do I have food in my teeth?
May I recommend the following: floss, toothpicks, and a "who cares" attitude... makeup mirror if you're that concerned.
-Do I have to eat this to be polite?
What is it? Have you ever heard of "respectfully declining?" I think it's more polite to decline than to throw up... just a thought.
-How did I get so far away from where I was trying to go?!
In what way? Either you lack a plan, MapQuest, or you're in your early 20s... or some combination thereof.
-What if my phone dies?
Charge it up when you're able to, it's not the end of the world.
-What if my car dies?
Depends on the location, however, if in combination with the result of the last question and the next question, you really need a hug... or a mechanic.
-What if I get lost in the woods, and I die?!
Probably as a result of a combination of the two things in the last two questions happening... I'll guess that you'll get eaten by a bear... or found by the authorities.
-What if I get bitten by a brown recluse spider?
ReplyDeleteSee a doctor immediately... drop everything and get checked out... however, if you are stuck in the woods, pray that this is a "good bite" meaning that significant injury and/or death will not occur.
-Why am I living in a Log Cabin?
I think the answer to the question "Do I live in a Log Cabin?" and "Do these people think I’m crazy?" Probablay have the same answer... something tells me that the rent was good and you were looking for "adventure in the great wide somewhere," and found it... oh look, a brown bear... "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?" "I see Dana Crow looking at me," children's books are great sometimes.
-Is 431 the same road as 31? (NO, it isn’t!)
Much like I-75, I-175, I-275, and I-375 are four different roads in the Tampa Bay Area.
-Am I in Kentucky?
If you've travelled too far north and haven't hit Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio... you probably are... be sure to stop by the Welcome Center just to say you did.
-What is a convection oven?
Looks like a normal oven (and some normal ovens have this option), however "Instead of heating the food from the bottom (like a regular oven does), a convection oven uses a built-in fan to circulate the hot air through the cooking area. Food heats faster because the moving air strips away the thin layer of air which otherwise would surround and insulate the food. The heat is also distributed more evenly, without "hot spots". Food cooked in a convection oven rarely burns and comes out nice, crispy and evenly cooked."
See: http://www.todaysconcept.com/convection-oven-info.html for more information.
-When am I gonna get to see Nancy?
Who? Check for the crazy woman in from of Congress and you'll likely find Ms. Pelosi.
-What do I do after Nashville?
Good question, probably head back to Tallahassee, unless your music career takes off, then it's probably off to Los Angeles or New York for the late night circuit (Hello Jay Leno!)
-What do I do after I graduate?
Get a job, quick!
-What am I going to do with my life?!
"Serve God, whatever that means," hopefully is on top of your list.
-Where the HECK am I?
On the "Third Rock from the Sun." We call it Earth... you're probably in the United States... Tennessee, and somewhere near Nashville.
Did I mention GPS to help solve this problem? It could help you if your car breaks down (GPS still functional), phone dies, and you're lost in the woods... atleast it talks and can be amusing... then again, to solve all these problems, may I recommend OnStar?
In case of further questions with tongue planted firmly in cheek, please please, post away... hope you enjoyed that.
To Peter, they're wondering how you're the big man on campus at your schools, in more ways than one, and wondering how they can be as cool as you are...