RENEE ANTONELLI VALENTE: Two women standing on line at Customer Service -- let's call them Ridiculous Vanessa and Realist Annie -- discuss the meaning of life. Guess which one has a better grip and which one is too busy bitchin' to enjoy the gift she wants to exchange?
Ridiculous Vanessa: People say life is a gift. How so? First thing in the morning, you have to do the dishes, then clean up after yourself (and if you're ultra-lucky, after other people, too), break up fights among your kids, find something to do, hope you have the money to do it, get cut off in traffic, stand on a long line to pay more for something than you know it's really worth, get attitude from someone on the line, get attitude from your kids, get attitude from your spouse, get attitude from your boss, hear a sad song that leaves you walking around with a heavy heart, do more work for less pay, walk the dog and pick up shit, call your parents and eat shit, dirty up your kitchen again, and try to get some sleep -- then wake up the next day and start the same cycle all over again.... Some gift. Where's my receipt? I want to exchange it.
Realistic Annie: Life requires maintenance. If you can do that work with as little disability and resentment as possible, there's your gift. With each day come new challenges that, if we want, can take us to another level. At times, we need to stay in a shallow place in order to understand and appreciate what we have when we finally climb out. It's during those times, when you're uplifted, that you can truly shine.
RV: But it seems I have so little control over any of it. I know the right way to do things. Yet I still can't make it work.
RA: That's because life is a series of events that the universe controls. Like little children, Fate and Destiny play together in an uninterrupted game, giggling and making up rules as they go along. Allow it all to unfold, without trying to force things, and you will be rewarded. The gift? Serenity.
RV: Sounds to me like Destiny and Fate need to be put in a timeout. Allowing "things to be as they are" is like saying you shouldn't swerve from an oncoming car. Can I exchange my serenity for a light coma?
RA: Don't wish away your only physical opportunity to experience time here. There are so many things to savor. It's all in how you look at it. Accept that you have little control over your circumstances. If you were meant to swerve, intuition will kick in and do it. Unscathed, you will learn the lesson of attentiveness.
RV: Look at this idiot on line in front of me... I'm sorry. I didn't catch that. What did you just say?
RA: Nothing. Here's that receipt.
She moved to Wayne, but this Union (City) Hiller never left her city roots. Renee Antonelli Valente is a true 'tweener', book-ended by a feisty mom in her 70s and her own inquisitive grade-schoolers. Still, she finds time to rock out.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
