Sometimes I'm a hopeless cynic who feels the world and everything in it is on it's way to Hell in a handbasket. (Don't ask, I just happen to think that expression is bizarre and funny.)
Sometimes I'm a hopeless optimist who feels that there is so much beauty and goodness around me and in this world and in others that I can't take it all in .
Perhaps both are equally annoying.:)
Most of the time I have a healthy balance of both although I seem to be easily fooled sometimes and believe almost effortlessly that the man selling roses in Rome really does just want to give me one or two because he has never before beheld such beauty as mine. Or that the Jamacian men making bracelets at the bottom of the steps of Sacred Coeur in Paris honestly are fascinated by me and all I have to say and really do see very good, wonderful things coming my way because I am just so young and vibrant and lovely...I am almost shattered by the harsh reality of it all when they then demand money, for the roses or bracelets they have just offered me with such goodwill. I gasp in dismay, I stare at them with hurt eyes... I find it difficult to believe that they are so enterprising. I find it easy to believe that they honestly adore me until they explain that now they need money for the service they have just done. Service?? Service??!! So it wasn't that I bowled them over with my beauty and charm after all. Ouch. I must sometimes suffer from an extraordinarily high opinion of myself. ;) I sometimes feel bewildered and betrayed for days after such things...in Rome, I immediately threw the roses that had been "given" to me under such devious and false pretenses onto the top of a garbage can, sniffing with wounded pride. In Paris I tore off the bracelet and stepped on it, grinding it into the filth of the cobblestone street. My husband finds this all quite amusing and perhaps slightly exasperating.:)
And I don't even have the excuse of being new to travel. I have backpacked and traveled with the best of them! There is no excuse or explanation for my occasional gullibilty...and no point to this entry. Sorry if you assumed there would be.
6 comments:
Oh, man! I only saw the "A healthy..." part of the headline, and my heart immediatly started racing, thinking you were gonna tell us about a healthy, little baby waiting for you in Sri Lanka.
My own waiting neuroses aside: Your entry DID have a point - it amused me. As good a reason to blog as any! :)
I must give a snicker cause I just saw you in my minds eye stomping on the bracelet and throwing the roses into the nearest basket, LOL I love reading little ponderings like that by you :) - I have quite a few moments like that as well ;) LOL
Oh my but if not for you I would be going to bed sad and upset. Thank you...Everything you write I see in my mind's eye...you have a talent Coleen, and wonderful talent to go with your beauty. If nothing else your entry this day made me feel better. It made me smile... Thanks Judi
Sesselja, I am SO sorry that that was not the news I had to share!:) Believe me, I am hoping and praying every day that soon it will be! I am happy though that you enjoyed it and now hopefully others won't be fooled the same way when coming accross such atrocities in the future!! Haha!:)
Sæunn, I'm sure you do also have many such moments! Maybe we should compile them into a book...you know how they have like "Around the World in 80 Treasures? Religions? etc.?" We could do "Around the World in 80 Scams"...a shocking exposee of things most other people already are aware of...:)
And no Judi, thank you. Thank you so much for always writing such kind and supportive comments. I really appreciate it and feel that you have a lot of empathy and a very good heart. I'm so sorry if you are feeling sad and upset lately and I hope that this weekend gives you a chance to be refreshed and feel better. Take care of yourself. I'm glad I could make you smile!:) Hugs!
Of course they are charmed, fascinated and bowled over by you! Believe me! I have been since the day you were born! Kate Olson Wilson. And if I am, why can they not be?
Hehe, well then, you see my dilemma then when I find out they aren't as charmed by me as you are?!:)
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