Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Word to the Wise

Warning: The following post contains an expletive. But it's necessary for the artistic integrity of the piece and it's really not any worse than your grandpa would say. If you can't handle it, don't read it.


I recently went with a friend to see the movie Julie and Julia. Of course I thought it would be good or I wouldn't have gone to see it. But it was really funny, which I wasn't expecting. There was a scene in the movie that struck a chord in me, so much so that I immediately took out my phone and put it in a note.


The character Julie is attempting to cook and blog her way through Julia Child's famous cookbook. When it comes time for the lobster dish, Julie whines and complains about having to kill a lobster. However will she manage... Her faithful readers offer support and encouragement for her plight, except for one. One reader, tired of the whining and complaining, simply comments, "Man up. Kill the damn lobster."


If ever I begin embroidering throw pillows, right next to the one that says "Life can't completely unsuck all in one day" will be one that shares Julie's reader's sentiments: "Man up. Kill the damn lobster."


Several months ago a friend of mine texted me in the middle of church. That's not her normal M.O., that's just how irate she was. A woman in her congregation was bearing testimony of her absolute knowledge that nothing bad will ever happen to her, and if something bad ever starts to happen to her, God will come down and stop it. Are you kidding me?!


I just spent an hour getting caught up on returning facebook messages from people I've lost contact with over the years. Guess what?! Bad stuff happens to everyone. At some point in every life there will come a moment, or a time, or a season that will knock you flat on your butt. But when the shock has passed and you get your land legs back, don't forget to man up and kill the damn lobster.

10 comments:

mbunker said...

I think that will become my new saying! I love it!

Quin's momma said...

That is a great saying! I think it is a superior mantra we should all keep in mind.

Frankie and Krista said...

I think i am going to tell my kids that one when we find the lizard hiding somewhere in my living room. I wonder if it will work on Frankie when we find a spider???:) I love it.

Lauri said...

It has been my observance that the best people in the world often suffer the most. My mother is one example. She has been to hell and back more times than I am sure I even know about and yet her faith in God remains strong. You are another person who I consider full of faith and true goodness (or a desire to try to always be good which is the same in my book) and you have suffered greatly. I believe that God knows that his true believers, the ones who truly rely on him, can handle the weight of the world and even though he is there to get you through it, you still have to kill the damn lobster yourself.
Whew...you got me on a soapbox. Sorry. That comment just made me think of a particular religious following based in BA that you know we have never been fond of. Sigh.

katie said...

Brenda,

You always say EXACTLY what I am feeling. THANKS!!! Love the saying. And I agree 100%.

Miss you!! I hope you are getting settled in your new home. Can't wait for 'Project night' sometime........I so miss project night and YOU!!

Love ya,
Katie

Sara said...

Thank You. I love you. ;)

Staci Kramer said...

Don't forget about the "closure is overrated" pillow

Brenda said...

Staci! I knew I was forgetting one! Thank you.

dustin and amy said...

Love it! Love your attitude!

Britty said...

love it!