Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Rainy Days, Lost Luggage, and Tangled Lights


Maya Angelou said this: "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage,

and tangled Christmas tree lights."

Now that the holidays are upon us, I’ve dealt with two out of these three in the last few weeks. Happily, not the lost luggage. Although, it’s not hard to imagine how I would handle this—with lots of frustration, especially if I had a work in progress or even a good book in the missing bag. However, I’d be reminding myself not to kill the messenger. The person delivering the bad news that my luggage went missing in action probably wouldn’t be the same person who hurled my bags out the back of the plane somewhere over Missouri.


As for a rainy day. . . Well, if I have the luxury of staying inside and I have my good book and my trusty laptop (assuming they didn’t get lost with the luggage), bring on the sloppy weather.


Christmas lights are another story. No matter how hard I try to wrap these little buggers while taking them off the tree, they somehow tangle themselves in the basement from January until the following December. Every year I curse them and call them ugly names. It doesn’t help that while unknotting and detangling, I am thinking about how much writing I could be getting done.


What conclusions might Maya Angelou draw from these scenarios? Probably that I adore writing, revising, and reading enough that I get cranky when life keeps me from indulging in them. Something tells me she’d understand.


How about you? How do you handle rainy days, lost luggage, and tangled lights? What does this say about you?


Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah!

23 comments:

  1. LOL!! Worse than tangled Christmas lights despite meticulously keeping them untangled when storing - are tangled Christmas lights with one or three little bulbs not working! Aaaaargh! LOL! I'm pretty evil mind you! When this happens I go out and get another set! LOL!

    The wonderful Ms Angelou speaks to my soul too!! Happy Holidays!! Take care
    x

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  2. Old Kitty - that's the biggest mystery of all - how the bulbs stop working when the lights haven't actually been plugged in for an entire year. How can they go bad when they haven't actually been doing anything?

    Happy holidays to you, Cynthia.

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  3. Oh, dead bulbs are the worst, Old Kitty! How did I forget about THEM? Too funny that you go out and buy new lights!

    LOL! Great point, JeffO! One of those mysteries that leave us scratching our heads. Thanks and enjoy! : )

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  4. Hi, Cynthia,

    I'm one of those people who loves rainy days. Of course, I'd prefer being at home on those days, but things don't always work out like that.

    As to the lights, no matter how frustrated I get, I handle them gently 'cause you know how delicate they are. Plus they help bring good cheer when they're unravelled and up on the tree.

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  5. Hahaaa, love that quote. I love rainy days too, because they are good writing weather. I don't have much patience with tangled lights though--I just want to get stuff decorated and done with!

    A very Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 to you too!

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  6. About the same as you :)
    We finally gave up and bought a pre-lit tree.
    Merry Christmas!

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  7. I always have a back up plan. Not sure what that says about me! LOL. Have a great holiday!

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  8. I always try to see the good in any situation,even the bad ones. I'm a glass half-full kind of gal. ;)

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  9. I'm impressed with your patience, J.L.! : ) Merry Christmas!

    Thanks, Carol!

    Ah, Carol, I've been giving a lot of thought to a pre-lit tree. Maybe next year.

    Good for you, Lisa! I think that says you're ready for anything! : )

    That's great, Heather. And thanks for following and commenting!

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  10. I can answer gladly to how I handle a rainy day ... Rainy day = Writing day :)

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  11. Oh dear, this is a hard test. However, since I've handled all of these I'll be honest in sharing how.

    I love rainy days. I'm not tempted as much to put on my hiking boots and find a trail. Sunny days are totally different matter, so I'm always torn between writing or hiking when the sun comes out.

    Lost luggage. Arrrg! I've learned to carry a change of underwear, a toothbrush and makeup remover pads in my purse. So far my luggage has always caught up with me within a couple of days.

    Now those lights that won't disentangle are a whole other matter and I'm likely to hurl them on the tree or under it. Fortunately, I have a wonderfully patient husband. He does the lights. :-)

    Lovely post. Thanks for your visit at the Write Game. I really appreciated it.

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  12. What a great test of character! I love rainy days so I'd probably curl up with a good book or sit at my desk and write stories. As for lost luggage--I've thankfully never had to deal with it. I always carry on things when I'm going on trips. LIghts? Hmm...lights are fun--once they've been put up that is. :)

    Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  13. Well, I'm lucky. I don't have to untangle lights for Hannukah! :D But I've had lost luggage before and I also LOVE reading on rainy days. Merry Christmas!

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  14. I was so exhausted the time my luggage was lost that I don't remember how I dealt with it. Rainy days are OK, nice even, unless they go on for three or four at a stretch. Tangled lights are my husband's bailiwick.
    But stuck zippers--now THERE'S a challenge!

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  15. I've experienced all those things.

    I had to tell my Finnish grandparents, who didn't speak English and I didn't speak much Finnish, that my suitcase was still sitting on the runway in London. Boy, did the airport get an earful once my grandmother found out what happened. :D

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  16. Yes I'd hate for my luggage to be lost and worse still if it was a pet.
    Drizzle can be comforting if you're warm & cosy inside and have a good book.

    LOL! I get hubby to do the cursing, I mean putting up of the Christmas tree light ;O)

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  17. Joanne: Yea! : )

    Welcome, Cleemckenzie! And thank you for your honest and wonderful comments.

    Merry Christmas and happy new year to you, too, Nutschell!

    And happy Hannukah to you, Lisa! Enjoy.

    Stuck zippers! Awesome addition, Jenn. That's hilarious.

    I love that story, Stina. Hurray for your grandmother.

    Oh, Madeleine, I'd go ballistic if one of my pets ended up lost. And too funny about your husband doing the cursing. . . I mean, the stringing of lights. ; )

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  18. These are the "cranky makers" in our life but I can welcome the rainy days and even the snowy days in Montana. Here's to tangle-free lights and may you have more writing time.
    A very Merry Christmas to you.

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  19. Happy holidays to you, too, Nancy! : )

    Thank you, Manzanita! I lift my glass to tangle-free lights and more writing time! : ) Merry, merry Christmas!

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  20. What an interesting quote.

    I love rainy days. It's a great white noise sound, so I take naps or read.

    I've never suffered from lost luggage, thank goodness.

    I used to have lights. Anytime something is tangled, I dive into untangling. It's like solving a puzzle.

    Happy holidays!

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  21. I love to write on rainy days.... But often get caught doing something with the family. I guess they'll only be small for a couple more years.
    Xx

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  22. Great answers/responses, Medeia. : )

    Ah yes, the most important thing is to enjoy the little ones while they are still little, Michelle. Thanks for the comment.

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