Snow cones and Destination Unknown

There is a virtual carnival of information available to us to improve our attitudes, adjust our perceptions and teach us to be open to riding new and improved waves. Why is it, when the new frontier is there, ready for us to hop on and take a ride, we are still inclined to give away our ticket and go home? When a situation comes along that really challenges us, (and is as clear as red snow cones outselling green ones by ten to one), we easily acknowledge the negative surrounding it, but don’t as easily, if at all, see the blessings in disguise. Is the disguise really that effective?

We can expect an infant in a highchair in a burning building to still wonder: “What happened to my applesauce?” while being carried out. But why do “mature” grown-ups carry on about the “applesauce” in their realities, instead of breathing the clean air of possibilities?

When in a relationship, hopefully we have clarified what we are signing up for. The “job description”, as it were, is defined clearly with caveats, if necessary - sort of an emotional pre-nuptial agreement. It is reasonable and prudent to know just what we are signing up for; unlike solders today that never seem to know just when their tour of duty is over. What you see should be what you get. Sometimes it is. When a fabulous bonus falls out of the sky because of the union, we take it without comment - but when there are trials and tribulations, we go on guard.

Closed up tighter than a ride at the fair five minutes after closing time, we can see the potential pitfalls with razor sharp vision (or we think that we can). We have reason to believe that we are justified in terms of previous experiences, possibilities read from supermarket tabloids and maybe even the well meaning but ever-present fear-monkeys that show up when you least need questionable advice.

It takes courage and a vision of the future (without a crystal ball) to accomplish what you want to be, instead of fearfully backing up and backing down. Many great figures of romantic tragedy show us this in living color. Cleopatra? Couldn’t negotiate properly with the Romans so she took the easy way out and let a snake do the talking. Juliet? Was it really too much to arrange a horse and carriage, grab her man and get out of Verona?

And Miss Kitty’s personal favorite, Henry the 8th! I am sure the Catholic Church and Cardinal Wolsey would have been happy to do a little pre-marital counseling or advise Henry to at least continue dating on Queen.com into his 40’s.

We have more choices in this life than we know what to do with and everything –absolutely everything - is a choice. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, but since we live in the age of embracing “coloring outside the lines” and “thinking outside the box”, couldn’t we be more like Jack and simply jump out wielding our ugly brown crayon that nobody else uses? So this week, Boys and Girls, get “outside” yourself be more like Jack!

Dear Boys and Girls: The following is a relationship quiz for you and your partner to take. (You may also use this retroactively for past experiences).

1. Do you admire your partner?
2. Do you respect the daily choices that your partner makes?
3. On a scale of 1-9, nine being the worst, is there anything that your partner does that rates under a 3?
4. Have you told your partner your answers to the above questions?

Correct answers to the quiz will be available in next Friday’s Kitty in the City!

Have a naughty day!