mlerules

EDIT: Got off my butt and looked it up: A three-pronged fork, such as a pickle fork, curved like a spoon and having a cutting edge.

I've forgotten, just what exactly IS a runcible spoon again?

The Owl and the Pussycat - Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

**********************************************************

Whilst showering this morn, it hit me: what's the diff 'tween love & friendship? Does one give more, give up more, expect more? Is it a qx of giving or getting or being? When we (royal, just don't wanna say me, or rather, I, as that's better grammatically) declaim - or whisper softly into the falling water - "Nobody loves me!" what are we really saying ('cause we KNOW we're loved)? Do we want - or need or expect or hope for - expressions of love, proof, evidence, detritus, excrement of love. Yeah, yeah, high time to read The Five Languages of Love - it's in/on the stack, waiting patiently to reveal its secrets to me, to trigger thoughts and feelings and excite memories and longings and hopefully help shine a bit of light on what 'tis I want/need/expect/can hope for/should hope for. Of course, once I start thinking one way (me me me), it eventually gets twisted back around to wondering/examining/articulating what 'tis that I give/bring to a r-ship type situation. Back & forth. Hmm, methinks this is one basic essence of a r-ship: give & take, but not at ultimate cost to those giving & taking...it's gotta be a total-sum gain along the way, w/satisfaction derived from the giving & taking and investments of time & energy producing worthwhile outcomes. How/Where the hell do I get off on/by conducting cost-benefit (economic system) analysis on emotional/spiritual/physical stuff?! Argh!

Preview thoughts on my feelings: Actions speak louder than words, yet I really really like words...and speaking is acting (which makes me once again toss out my "thinking is doing" line). It's not just a qx of time & energy, it's also consideration, taking note of what's important to someone else, quietly being there, standing by, ready to provide a hand/arm/shoulder/ear as needed, and reaching out when you think it's needed (w/the ability to pull back if'n it's not right right then, w/out taking it personally - X doesn't LIKE/LOVE me b'c s/he wouldn't blah blah blah). It's someone who cares...who cares enough to...figure it out. And where does one go to find someone willing & able to reciprocate?

Contentment's here, hovering on the surface, mine for the asking, for the taking. Now and again though, murmurings of "there's more, you deserve more, you want more, you need more" burble up and make themselves heard. Tricky - but possible, I think - to balance BOTH at the same time, to be content as 'tis, yet still be open-minded/hearted for something more/else...to be swept off my feet, to conk my head on the hard throne of love, to lose my balance, to fall into a pit, to pitch a fit...to lose myself yet again...but I'm not gonna lose it all, I'm gonna think of myself, too. 'Nuff giving up of me/my needs for another...that ain't gonna cut the mustard no more. Harumph.

Yes, I want & need a day, some time, an hour or two, just for ME. And so I take it...