Sunday morning last dawned clear and cold at -37 degrees windchill. These were perfect conditions for a sighting of the sundog above. I actually saw two, one on each side of the sun, forming a broken halo. Sundogs happen when the sun shines through ice crystals in a cirrus cloud and even though I'm usually always easily impressed, seeing this for the first time left me speechless.Now, moving from the sublime to sorta the ridiculous. An article appeared in the St. Paul Sunday newspaper from a Los Angeles column by Larry Smith and Rachel Ferschleiser who have written a book called Not Quite What I Was Planning--Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. Whew!
Long story short, they borrowed an idea from Ernest Hemingway challenging readers of their online magazine SMITH to write their life story in just six words. To get the juices flowing they offered examples like chef Mario Batalli who submitted , "Brought it to a boil, often." or Nora Ephron's "Secret of life: Marry an Italian." and Stephen Colbert's "Well, I thought it was funny."
I was totally taken by this simple idea. They added, "As we type this [column], a quick glance reveals that Emily Hambridge 'wanted to write but feared failure.' With a half a dozen words and few clicks of the keyboard, she's just rewritten the story of her life."
Here's some of my favorites:
My second grade teacher was right.--Janelle Brown
Dad wore leather pants in Reno. --John Falk
Where the hell are my keys?--Brady Udall
Fifteen years since last professional haircut.--Dave Eggers
I think, therefore I am bald.--Dickie Widjaja
Its pretty high. You go first.--Alan Eagle
and my favorite:
Became my mother. Please shoot me.--Cynthia Kaplan
So, I'll share mine with you when I figure it out and maybe you'll do the same?
I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.
Jack Handey
