Dear ,
Okay. I admit it. I never studied Shakespeare. I'm not sure if I should be relieved or resentful that my Appalachademic education fell short in this major corner of the literature world.
But since you can't miss what you never had, I don't feel too awful about it, usually. But this past weekend, I was reminded that, once again, my enthusiasm has a way of carrying me beyond my rank. I went with my daughter and a few friends to watch a local performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was an idyllic setting; in an outdoor seaside amphitheater, over which the sun was setting on a breath-taking summer Sunday. We also brought a picnic supper. How good could life get! Looking back I see that my main reason for going was mostly based on these past few features but I also hoped that I'd somehow, understand Shakespeare THIS time. I could already hear myself the next day, dropping Shakespeare's name into any and all conversations. Earlier last week, when I saw the listing for this performance in the newspaper, having seen the movie The Secret, I guess I thought the Planets were finally aligning so that I could sync up with Shakespeare. This time, I thought to myself, it was Meant To Be (or not be, I quickly discovered).
In a similar fashion, every ten years or so I taste an olive to confirm that I still loathe them, even though my sophisticated friends adore them and I've come to accept this about myself, that my tastes run more towards canned mushrooms than Provencal tapenade. I'm okay with that, I really am.
And News Flash-I still don't get Shakespeare.Or even want to get Shakespeare.
In spite of the fact that my favorite spinning teacher has Hamlet memorized and can recite A Midsummer Night's Dream verbatim and my best email pen-pal Georgie can whip himself into such a frenzied whirly-gig about this poet that his eyes spin in his head like an old-fashioned cartoon character that's been konked on the head with a sledgehammer. He's even tried, GodBless him, to give me the crash course in Shakespeare for Dummies. But I still.
Didn't.
Get.
It.
It gets worse. I realized on our drive home (we ditched my friend during the intermission when she was at the porta-potties. Alas! This blessed plot. Methinks I dare not stay for mine death draws ever closer!) As I drove home that night I saw myself in the glaring light of what my authentic self truly is at it's core. A William..... Farrell fan. Yes, folks, Ricky Bobby can make my heart sing! I GET Will Farrell! And the plot always has metaphors that apply to my life (sigh). I've never yet watched a Will Farrell movie where I had to lean over to my husband and say, "Huh? I don't get it. What just happened?"
Nome sayin?
Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr Judith Wright say that we all can benefit from creating a vision of the life we want and this means finding out what really makes our hearts sing and doing it. It means thinking about what you want (I'm talking big picture), then looking around you and noticing if you are living in a manner that resembles your vision. Rather than spending your time eating olives, we can all benefit from feeling our feelings and honoring them. This means getting up in the morning and putting on what YOU want to wear. It means being less cool and being more REAL, even if it means never seeing another Shakespearean play again.
So! In my attempt to be daringly REAL and present with what authentically rings true for me
I've compiled a list of
MY IDEA OF WHAT SHAKESPEARE MEANT
When he said- "When sorrows come, they come not single spies"
He meant- If you lay down with the dogs, you git up with fleas
When he said-"All that glitters is not gold"
He meant-You can't judge a book by it's cover
When he said- "All the world's a stage" He Meant-Fake it til you make it
When he said-"To be or not to be, That is the question"
He meant- If you can't stand the heat, git outta the kitchen
When he said- "The lady doth protest too much me thinks"
He meant- Something smells fishy
When he said-"Ere, he by sickness had been visited"
He meant- Talking to Ralph on the Big White Telephone
When he said- "Lord, What Fools these mortals be"
He meant- Some folks are a few sandwiches short of a picnic
When he said "Love look not with the eyes but with the mind"
He meant- I've seen better lookin legs on a table
When he said- "These above all, To thine own self be true"
He meant- Go ahead.March to the beat of a different drummer
When he said- "Good Night! Good Night! Parting is such sweet sorrow"
He meant- You take care now. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
When he said- "Et tu, Brute?"
He meant- Well this is a fine how do you do
When he said- "Adieu! Tears exhibit my tongue. Almost beautiful"
He meant- Here's your hat. What's your hurry
When he said- "Take thou thy pound of flesh"
He meant- I'm gonna get my clock cleaned
When he said- "Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again!"
He meant-Whee Doggies! Outta sight, outta mind.
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