Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

Alternative Title-My Life Isn't Fiction.

If it was, I'd be good at more things and have only a few character flaws. I'd have good-looking and nice men fighting to win my affections. I would have been seen off at the airport by a gentlemen. I'd speak several languages and my hair would always be perfect.

But alas and alack! None of this is so. No swash and buckle for me. Oh no. I can think of multiple personality defects, things I'm changing about myself, things I'm stuck with. Examples of the later include my height. Who ever heard of a 5'4" heroine? Please.

And as far as my hair goes, have you seen me in the mornings? I call it Medusa Hair, affectionately. You know how Medusa's hair was snakes that all had a mind of their own? Mine is like that, only not made of snakes. And straight, can't hold curl to save my life (unless it's been steam curled-that lasts almost half a day!). Languages, my Spanish is passably ok and I've forgotten all the French I knew. As for attractive men fighting to get my attention, ha. That is all.

I love to read and I love a BBC mini-series as much as the next girl. Songs about romance, true love, looking perfect, movies with love at first sight and where people always say the right thing (or at least it always works out in the end) are all over my world. And, to be fair, every one's world.

Is this fair? No. Is it right? No. Not only can it affect what I want to be and how I want to live, but it can also effect what I look for in a guy (But let's be fair. We all have our literary crushes. Be honest. You know you do). Is this bad? Not necessarily. There are good things to be learned from fiction. But really, Mr Darcy is a jerk. I'm sorry, but it's true. Who actually wants that? Not me. Then, thanks to fiction comes the "no one will ever face down a political rival for me" or "when will someone say 'as you wish' to me" thoughts. I hate those. I'm not saying that people can't be romantic, but I'm saying sometimes fiction-where everything always works perfectly-is different from reality.

The important thing I'm trying to get across is that I know what is reality and what isn't. I realize that fiction is fun, but that's all that it is.

And I'm okay with that. When I write my autobiography (and I am totally writing my autobiography, complete with poetry and photos. No, no photos. Just lots of medicore poetry), I want it to be the story of an ordinary woman used by God in extraordinary ways.

That's how I try to lead my life, and trust me, it might be stranger than fiction and have some different elements, but I think it's a lot more fun.

I'm not obsessed with romance these days, but I'm 24 now and in most of my favorite eras, I am now offically an old maid. This gives a girl pause. Added to that my thoughts on fiction these days...and you get the above post.

And, just for fun, some Tolkien:

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost.
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not touched by the frost."