A Little Animal in all of us

While we ponder the news of our weak economy, the debt ceiling debate, and yet another rise in unemployment, it's hard not get depressed. Trying to balance being informed but not getting obsessed with the woes of our country and the world is not easy. But adding a little frivolity to our lives, the sort that doesn't require spending any money, can help lighten our spirits at least temporarily.

Recently, we had dinner with lifelong friends and quickly became embroiled in a discussion of what's happening in this country. A heavy pause followed. Seeking to shift the conversation in a more positive direction, I asked a question from one of my blog postings, "A Pumpkin Pie Sort of Woman."

Our friend, John, just couldn't get the concept, insisting on naming his favorite pie, instead. "Well, then, what kind of animal would you be?" asked his wife. "Oh, that's easy," he said, "a lion. After all, I'm a Leo and like a lion, I depend on the female providing the food. I'm proud, too, just like a lion." We all giggled. So much easier than describing yourself in pie terms, it seemed. My significant other, Will, is a horse, of course. Dependable, stable, strong, while friend Elizabeth is a bird, free and able to fly.

A few days later, I found myself thinking about the evening and how much fun it was to imagine magical, semi nonsensical matters so I decided right then and there it was time to do another survey. This time to bring out the animal in some of those I know and love. Surprisingly, there were few repeats. With a little help from my friends, perhaps I could open a small "menagerie."

Here are the "animals" that would populate it:

A tiger: Like a tiger, Julie, part of our West Coast family, sees herself as an introvert and so relates to the tiger which is a solitary creature. Like the tiger, Julie is smart and a bit mysterious. I believe she has an inner strength that's not always visible to others.

A dolphin: Julie's fiancee, Sandy, chooses the dolphin as her alter ego. She has a playful nature similar to the dolphin's. Sandy adds, "while the dolphin is often solitary, she also enjoys the "pod" life spent with loved ones. I concur with her choice because like the aquatic creature, Sandy is also a great communicator and brings joy wherever she goes.

A cat: Janni, our dear longtime neighbor, chooses the feline because she likes the idea that "they have nine lives—imagine that—no chores to do but chase mice." She adds the idea of being able to be so independent and to curl up on a window sill in the sun whenever she pleases sounds just about right. I can attest to her choice because no one enjoys her days more than Janni does.

A puppy: Pat, fellow book lover, definitely views herself as a canine, albeit a young one. She likes the idea that she would become part of a nice family and could grow and be part of the whole. "Faithful, loving, and kind," she adds. It's easy to imagine as Pat consistently demonstrates those qualities as an integral part of our St. Francis Book Group.

A koala bear: Julia, my youngest participant and beloved granddaughter, says she's a koala because like this lovable little figure, she says, "I look calm and innocent, but you mess with me, I'll bite back." I see her as this Australian marsupial for both her athleticism and her ability to hang on to her beliefs and values as the koala clings to the tree.


A chameleon: Elizabeth, the adult daughter of a close friend, loves all animals, but most identifies with her lizard, Charlie. "I see myself as not shy, but reserved. And like my chameleon, I tend to be most happy in the background rather than standing out in a group." A good choice, I think, because in talking to Elizabeth, the colors of her mood and emotions are visible to the listener.

So, tonight, if you feel weighed down with the news, turn it off and turn to your family members and ask, "What kind of animal are you?" After all, there's a little animal in all of us.

Now this rabbit has to hop away…

A Pumpkin Pie Sort of Woman...

Recently, my friend, Beth wrote an excellent piece on OpenSalon.com, entitled "I Like the Pie" All about coconut cream pie. Such a delicious and funny story that I e-mailed her to tell her how I could taste her pie.

Just reading her essay, I added, resulted in a weight gain even though I didn't like coconut cream pie.

She wrote back and asked me what kind of pie I liked. I didn't hesitate. Why, pumpkin, of course.

My answer didn't seem to surprise Beth since she could visualize me as a "pumpkin pie sort of woman." That got me thinking. What exactly is a "pumpkin pie sort of woman?" Could I be on the track of a whole new way to define personality? I decided to test it out by asking some family members and friends what kind of "pie man or woman" they were. Some of the answers surprised me; some didn't. One thing I did discover was how much fun it can be to consider ourselves in a light hearted and unexpected way.

Pick a color: Grandson John's answer didn't surprise me. Color helped determine his choice: Blue. "A relaxed color," he says, "I am very laid back and blueberry is low key, but delicious." A sophomore in college, John is the only person I know who seems both laid back and focused. That's not an easy feat!

Laura concurs with John, but takes it a step further. Then again, what can I expect of a fellow writer who wrotes both prose and poetry? "Blueberry is so vivid, decadently gooey and rich as King Arthur's Court…blueberry is earthy and darkly mysterious. It smacks of fingerpainting and opulence, wild bears in Alaska—all neatly packaged into an oozing purple mess. Blueberry pie is contradictory and complicated…"

Consider a singing apple: Jackie, who I've always seen as an upbeat person had this to say: "The apples of a new season are crisp, sometimes a bit tart, but pleasing. That's me, and apple pie, desiring to please and surprise, to bring a smile. (Do apples "sing?" I do!)"

Dare to dissent: Beth, my favorite niece, is always honest and she didn't disappoint when put to the pie test. "The real truth about what kind of pie I would be —None! I'm more of a homemade chocolate cake. Soft, comforting, friendly welcoming, true to the end, and it gets you through the best and worst times. Why would I want to be a pie that only comes out during the holidays when chocolate cake is there all year long—day in and day out?"

Search for versatility: Tracie, who provides help whenever she's at the library desk, chooses cherry. "Each piece of fruit is compact, individual, and always offers a surprise. Sometimes sweet, sometimes not, but definitely not always what you're expecting."

Go for the unexpected: Richard and Sandy, both fellow bloggers, went for pecan. Individualists, these two, who look beyond the traditional fruit pie mindset.
Richard says, "Like I see myself, pecan pie is a little nutty, but sweet. Crusty, too. "

Sandy, who also happens to be my daughter, on the other hand, opts for the view that "it is the sort of sweet that makes you feel at home and that's what I want to do for my partner, Julie." She has loved the "brown sugary flavor" of pecan pie since she was young. One of my favorite pictures of all times is with her holding our grandson, Joe, and looking with adoration at one of my home baked pecan pies many Thanksgivings ago. I think Joe is also looking at it, too!

Feed the world: I loved all the answers, but my all time favorite has to be my neighbor and friend, Steve's. "As someone who has always liked to be liked, I would want to be a pizza pie. Who doesn't like pizza? One of my fantasies is to be able to start a huge pizza manufacturing company. I would then ship pizzas all over the world, especially to the most impoverished areas. It would all be done anonymously and freely under the banner of 'Pizzas for Peace.'"

As far as me, Beth is right—I am a "pumpkin pie kind of woman." Like pumpkin pie, I search for authenticity in my life and relationships—no drama, please, just pure, uncomplicated and unconditional love. Yet, I hope to always add some spice to my interactions, too, just like that wonderful taste and aroma cinnamon brings to that dear pumpkin.

So, what kind of pie woman or man are you? If you're having trouble deciding, one of my interviewees told me while she was pondering her answer, a coworker googled the concept and found the following website:
 http://www.blogthings.com/whatkindofpieareyouquiz.
I resisted checking it out until I finished this entry. Now I think I'll go see what it suggests…

And by the way, Beth, what kind of pie woman are you? I have trouble seeing you as coconut cream pie…