Dear Reader Column 01-08-08

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Dear Reader,

I decoratively strung 10 pairs of new socks all over my husband's desk yesterday. Socks hanging down from his computer screen, socks zigzagging across his keyboard, a sock pinned underneath the handset on his phone, socks slid over anything on his desk I could find. Sounds strange, silly and absurd and it was, but my husband got a chuckle out of it when he discovered my craziness and I was smiling while I was decorating his desk.

Sometimes my life gets to feeling a little too routine, and there's a seriousness that permeates my thoughts and everything I do. Can't be a silly girl all the time, must keep my nose to the grindstone, after all I'm an adult. Certain things are expected from me. Besides there's serious stuff going on around me all the time. Sad stuff, bad stuff, but it's more than I can take in. I stopped watching the news a couple of years ago. At first I felt like it was a sin--running away from reality. I should keep up on the latest happenings of the world. I shouldn't pretend that bad things don't happen to good people. And when I quit watching the news I also stopped watching the cop shows. Outrageous, disgusting things that people do to each other--makes for a top rated television show, but it colors my life a shade that doesn't look good on me anymore. Simply flipping through channels to find an old Andy Griffith rerun, keeps me up-to-date on anything I need to know about the world.

This Christmas I filled a stocking for a friend of mine with kid stuff--bubbles, a Pez dispenser and 10 miniature containers of Playdough each a different color. I was a little leery when I first handed her the stocking, wasn't sure if she would appreciate the playfulness, but you should have seen her eyes light up when she found the Playdough. She told me that years ago she worked with children in therapy sessions and Playdough was one of the things she used to get the kids talking. Working with kids gave her an excuse to play with Playdough back then, and now, I was giving her permission again to get a little silly, be a little crazy--who knows maybe tomorrow she'll be stringing socks on computers.

I don't have to do big things to break my routine and set me free. Blowing bubbles in bed before I go to sleep, walking around the block barefoot, or making paper chains and stringing them around my house--yes, just a little bit of craziness gets me in touch with the Suzanne that I adore. I might be a bit of a nut, but I'm a happy one.

If you're looking for an excuse to do something silly, I have four paper chain sets to give away to readers. It's the paper chain set that I used to decorate my house. Go ahead, enter the drawing, and if you're a winner, send me a photo. I'd love to see the silly side of you.

To enter the drawing, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/33vg2c

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

Comments

[Jonathan Mallard]

Suzanne: And when I quit watching the news I also stopped watching the cop shows. Outrageous, disgusting things that people do to each other--makes for a top rated television show, but it colors my life a shade that doesn't look good on me anymore. Simply flipping through channels to find an old Andy Griffith rerun, keeps me up-to-date on anything I need to know about the world.

My response:
But, but Andy Griffith is about a town sheriff and his deputy. It's a cop show. You may have to find a different alternative to the current police dramas. Maybe Dragnet? Or Adam 12?

[Doris]

Dear Suzanne, you are indeed a goofball but a lovable funloving goofball - loved the chandelier - would love to visit your home - thanks for sharing so much of it and yourself with us in the club - don't ever lose your spirit of fun - Doris -

[Doris]

Dear Suzanne, you are indeed a goofball but a lovable funloving goofball - loved the chandelier - would love to visit your home - thanks for sharing so much of it and yourself with us in the club - don't ever lose your spirit of fun - Doris -

[Kuma-chan]

Thank you for posting all of those stories (I felt it was high time I actually thanked you). They are really great to read (and a wonderful distraction from schoolwork.)

Be silly! You're only as old as you feel! (Though, maybe you shouldn't take advice from me, considering that I'm 15, with no worldly experince...)

[Alyson Noel]

Oh, I love this post-- thanks for putting a smile on my face!

May your days be filled with Playdough!