Friday, November 28, 2008

on men

Joyfully, our country home is filled with our people this week celebrating Thanksgiving. We also celebrate Rachel's birthday - this year falling exactly on Thanksgiving day. Her birthday is always four weeks to the day to Christmas. This simple calculation means that Christmas this year is on a Thursday.

As a family, we are nothing if not loud and communicative. During one rare lull in conversation, Megan rose to the challenge to fill the space, and asked this question. "Has anyone noticed that even though there are lots of princesses, there is only one handsome prince? It doesn't matter if it is a book or a movie, the prince is always the same."

Without fail, Meg's thinking cracks us all up.

But is there some truth to this observation? Are men so infinitely boring that they can be captured in one prototype, so anally devout that they have no chivalry unless it is the noble kiss of the princess that can be won? Muscular and chisel featured, just change his hair color and it is the same person? And can it be the princess that has all the adventures?

Now, a more ardent feminist than I could have a hay day with this - but I want to be more truthful. The men I know personally in my life are far from cookie cutter man-bots. They do much more than rescue the damsel in distress, although they might very well rescue her, if she wishes to be rescued (a fine point they must learn to discern. Nothing is more difficult to deal with than a damsel who is rescued by the prince just before she was about to rescue herself. It is undoubtedly confusing to be a handsome prince.)

But on to other things. The Elliott tribe has produced very good menfolk. Take Vincent for example. On the morning of the twenty seventh of November, several factors converged in Vincent's life. His sister was celebrating her birthday. The party was taking place at breakfast - dubbed the HPP. (Harry Potter Party for those of you who are unhip.) A scull was centered on the table. We had a poetic reading, a song, an HP quiz (all presented by little girls in full regalia) and gifts.

Vincent, though, was thinking back to his year in Germany, where, on his birthday, Bjorn, a buff and rowdy fellow and friend, arrived in Vincent's room wearing a dress and carrying a cake. Apparently in some (possibly narrow) strands of German culture the best friend of the birthday person dresses in a fancy German dress and presents the celebrated person with a cake.

Vincent was able (to my great surprise) to locate the very dress Bjorn had worn and although it was a little tight in the boosum, took on the roll of best friend, and greatly enhanced the birthday party with the cake presentation. Now, n0t quite the rescue of a princess, this was a grand gesture on behalf of a brother to his lovely sister. Write this in to the story, fable writers, and you will find a prince of unique disposition.

I will say it again. My handsome princes are not all the same. Nor are they limited to a narrow constellation of adventures.

We can only hope, however, that next November twenty seventh the dress has 'accidentally' been burned. GRIN


44 comments:

Unknown said...

I did not know that HPP meant Hairy Potter Party, so apparently I am unhip. I do, however, have bangs now, which means I am now cool. So while I may be unhip, I am at least cool, and I think that is all I was really asking for this break.

PS. I simply have to say, I am no princess and do not wish to be rescued by any human being. I'm not quite sure what I would be rescued from. Well, maybe I wouldn't mind being rescued from Asbury Theological Seminary, but that could be an entirely different matter.

Hope your time with family is going well. I have a few amazing, Portland-like things to give to you. This place is so full of character that I find it hard to believe it doesn't explode all over the country. Meanwhile, on the family front, I'm simply pleased that my mother's husband finally figured out how to turn on the wireless...with the help of my ultra-nerdy cousin, Jordan. See you next week;)

Anonymous said...

HA....no one but Jordan! What a blessing to hear from your Rachel and you yesterday. I'm sure your house has been quite a buzz.
HPP....sorry, out of the loop on that one. But now I am educated!
I thought all night about being rescued. I have another perspective. I do not think that a man...or any other person coming in to take over what I am working on or SHOW ME UP is a rescue. I do not want it nor like it.
But I do love the whole concept of TRUE rescue. Of course it can only come out of kindness and/or love.
I rescued a woman coming out of a public restroom with a long tail of toilet paper coming out of the top of her pants. I saved her from a world (or store full) of embarrassment. My husband rescued three in one blow this weekend. Our daughter had plans of going shopping on black friday, her husbands friends made plans to go 4-wheeling (Jody has the 4-wheels). Kevin was the knight in shinning armour while volunteering to take all three grandkids home after Thanksgiving Dinner. They both got to do their thing...and they were not "grumpy" with each other. He rescued me by sending me off to bed when we got home and took over with the kids...I worked black Friday at 3:45 am....the next day he brought Chinese food home so I didn't have to cook or go out.
Sometimes we misunderstand a rescue. When Kevin first started traveling he was home only on weekends. I mowed his lawn...thinking he would be so happy that he had the weekend to play and be rescued from a chore. He felt he was not needed except for his pay check. Needless to say...I haven't mowed the lawn for 25 years!
We sang of rescue in worship yesterday. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A MAN COULD, RESUE THE SOULS OF MAN.... WHO HAVE HOPELESSLY HAVE LOST THEIR WAY. another song
CAUSE I KNOW MY GOD SAVED THE DAY.
Rachel talked of rescue (or kindnesses) yesterday...walking a dog, driving a mother's friend.
Well, just some of my thoughts.
Becky
Marilyn...this is a reminder about the short blessing or note you said you would write. Thanks

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