Mrs. Dalloway, You Complete Me
I’m currently reading Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf. It’s quite the intriguing book…it’s written unlike anything I’ve read before. It speaks through the memory and thoughts of individuals, and from this the story is woven. The book brings the reader through a single day…but when you’re done reading it you’ve actually gone through many years. Actually, I’m not done reading it yet. I’m on page 152, which is so close to being done that I should just lock myself in a closet somewhere and finish it. My friend Neal is reading it with me (actually, he’s been done for quite awhile) and is waiting to discuss it. Sigh. Maybe this weekend.
Anyhoo, that wasn’t the point I was driving at. Here is an exerpt from the book (pub. 1953, Harcourt Inc., San Diego):
“Clarissa had a theory in those days…. It was to explain the feeling they had of dissatisfaction; not knowing people; not being known. For how could they know each other? …It was unsatisfactory, they agreed, how little one knew people. ….to know her, or any one, one must seek out the people who completed them; even the places” (p. 152-153).
(The “seek out people who completed them” line made me think of Dr. Evil. “Mini Me, you complete me.” Hee hee. Oh, how modern movies can ruin timeless novels.)
But I got to thinking about this topic in books & movies. How are people known? How do you know someone? Can you ever really know someone? It made me think of John Cusack’s character in High Fidelity (originally a book by Nick Hornby, also a good read) who says that it’s not who you are, but what stuff you like. He says that’s how you can know a person. “Books, records, films. These things matter. It’s the f**kin’ truth.” Which is why he is obsessed with making top five lists about all kinds of things.
So, I got to thinking about what kind of things complete me. Then I figured, if you knew what things complete me, then maybe you could actually know me and thus our time spent on this blog would be more meaningful and worthwhile.
Things that complete me (in no particular order):
* Horses (especially riding by myself for like 8 hours on a hot day)
* Dogs (particularly Henson & Cooper)
* Teaching Art
* Being with Children
* Jesus (d’ya think?)
* Josh
* My parents
* My brothers (especially when arguing about who caught a bigger fish)
* Painting
* Listening to my iTunes music collection (particularly Caedmon’s Call, Natalie Merchant, The Andrews Sisters, Beck, Carole King, Chris Rice, Dave Matthews, Harrod and Funck, Jewel, Lisa Loeb, October Project, Sheryl Crow, Squirrel Nut Zippers)
* My iBook (her name is Savannah)
* Teaching Anything
* Singing & Dancing Around (when no one is around)
* Talking in silly voices
* Minnesota
* This mall in Southern California called Fashion Island – love it there
* China
* Performing in plays
* Reading Books
Okay, now everybody knows me, right? So, I guess there’s no reason for me to really keep talking.
Er…okay, so while making a list of things doesn’t really help you to know me, it does help you to know about me. So, I’m hoping that other people will make their lists in the comments section. What things complete you? Or, at the very least, what things help identify you and your interests?