Stuff I Believe

     I read an article about writers needing to write from their belief system.  I decided I'd work on clarifying my own belief system by coming up with my own personal manifesto.  

     Knowing myself, as I do, I figured this would take the form of a snarky little list where I mentioned that I believe "God didn't make little green apples, and it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summer time", "I believe in music, oh I...believe in love", "I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows", I believe paper cuts hurt.  I believe in empty threats.  I believe in having my cake and eating it too...
   
     Stuff like that; you know...obnoxious stuff.

     But I sat down at the keyboard and the following list materialized on my screen.  I guess I also believe in surprising myself.

Plane Talk-P.A.'s Flight Attendants Wish They Could Make

Photo by Arlene Denning

 Flight attendants are required to make certain announcements over the public address system.  (P.A.'s)  

   I usually stick with the company-approved announcements.  That doesn't mean other ideas don't occur to me.

Here are some of my fantasy P.A.'s:

Lost Conversations

   

 I've been thinking about all the conversations we no longer have.  

     As a kid our mail went to the post office.  Every day or two someone had to stop by and get the mail.  Invariably my mom would say:  "This'll take two shakes."  But I knew if I didn't roll the window down in the summer the car would get awfully hot before she got back.  

Green-Eyed Monster

     I was talking with two coworkers.  One was saying she needed to get a new car and asked what I drove.  I said I have a Mazda Miata.

     "I always wanted a convertible!", they both said at once.  They looked upset...and resentful. 

     I was confused by the way they'd phrased their response.  They both said they always wanted a convertible.  Past tense. 

Happiness Rocks

"Forget your troubles come on get happy..."

     I've been happy and I've been sad and the fact is: happy beats hell out of sad.

     I know that sounds obvious.  Who wouldn't choose happiness when given the option?  But, the sad truth is, most of us miss the opportunity at times.