Life Lines

I know, I know. It's been so long since my last entry, you probably thought I'd given up. There's just not much happening at CasaTini in the winter months. It's so darn cold out, warming up the logs at Camp Liz could take all day. It's a tiny place, and a tiny electric fireplace that heats it up.

So, today, I write from the warmth of my home, in full pajama regalia. Down slippers, to boot!

I'm thinking about "lines" I've heard through life - sentences that someone said to me long ago, that still resonate strongly in my memory. Some are important, some touching, some completely absurd...and most are nothing that the person who said them would expect me to remember.

Of course we remember the cute lines of those children we love: "You touldn't wun awound a pool cuz Mommy PANK you!", a niece once said. When I called a young nephew for his third birthday, his response was: "I don't Be-mem-bo you!" Heartbreaking!

I was once given a note from a little freckle-faced red-headed boy passenger on one of the worst flights I'd ever worked as a flight attendant. On it, he'd drawn a picture of me, with stars all around, and the exclamation: "You are happy!" It was so untrue that night, you can bet I still have THAT drawing!(2-24-09: I just found it! Of course, I had to post it!)

Some "lines from life" are voices from the past, or advice from our elders. "Just go to sleep, and everything will look better in the morning". Dad was usually right on that one. "Maybe you should get a job that doesn't wear you out so much." (Thanks, Grandma! I periodically wish I'd listened!) A lady I respected gave me peace, when she said "Those schools have been around a lot longer than you have, and they're not going anywhere just because you take a year off!"

When I land in Chicago at night, I still think it looks "like a glistening tiara!", which is a line that my friend and I thought was so hilarious for some reason over twenty years ago. Soon to be followed by the words of a catering man - words so succint, they're etched in my memory, too. "It comes wif da turf, Baaaa-by! It comes wif da turf!"

We all joke about the "lines" we've heard during the days of dating. So I won't even go there. But I did have one unforgettable line (from a passenger who was NOT trying to pick me up), which was the most unforgettable compliment ever: "Your eyes are like two spoonsful of the Mediterranean!" I've never been to the Mediterranean to check that out, but it WAS quite nice to hear!

Speaking of passengers, I'll never forget the two most distinctive answers I've gotten in response to the question, "How do you take your coffee?" (because, oddly, most people don't seem to know!) One man said, "The color of a buff cocker spaniel." Perfect! But not as funny as the man who responded, simply, "Orally."

Does anyone else hear lyrics, and wish that some of the lines of those songs had been said to them? Boy, some of those songwriters have great lines. Wish I could think of one. Feel free to comment with your own memorable lyric.

It humors me to think of the "important" things we'd like our younger generations to remember. We give them sage advice, only to have them remember nothing, except the "lines" you said to them about something else. One must be careful of the things one says!

Admittedly, I'll never forget the words, "I will", nor the look on his face when my husband said them. Wow. Talk about a powerful line. (...and, he has!)

I look forward to hearing your favorite "Life Lines"...and to having plenty more of my own in the coming years!