Social Norms, A "Bad Gene"? Or What?

Some people live their lives in total bliss. They grow up, marry, have children, a house, "settle down" and, to simplify, enjoy life.

Some people go against the "norm". These are people who have, for numerous reasons, taken the wrong path in life. Their "home" is a cell, away from society, and for good reason.

Some people are considered the strange people, weird, if you will. These people don't adhere to the "social norms".

Is it heredity? Is it a "bad gene"? Or are some people simply born with ideas and thoughts that are not what is considered by society to be "The norm"?!

Some people love the idea of marriage. Of having that special one, that all encompassing feeling that this one person can bring. Some aren't as passionate about it, but they do it all the same (marriage that is), and have the 2.5 children.

Then there are "The Others". These people enjoy their solitude. They also cannot fathom the monogamous lifestyle that goes with marriage. Not to say they don't marry, for most do, but devoting one's life to ONE individual? For some people this is not comprehensible.

Not that there is anything wrong with those who find happiness and contentment with a "soul mate", no, nothing wrong at all.

I'm one of "The Others", The group that is boggled by the monogamous lifestyle. One who stands and watches. I hear and see what I'll call "group A". I am in daily contact with "Group A". But I'm NOT a member of "Group A".

Is it a "bad gene"? Did something "go wrong" somehow within me? I just know that the euphoria of that "someone new", is totally awesome. I can only conclude that "Group A" must stare at me as I do them. Both of us in utter bewilderment at the other.

To toss in yet another twist is the fact that I view, even wish, that I were like "Group A", to some degree. The social "norm" person. It must be a calming feeling to be content with one person, to be happy with life as it comes. To not wander about throughout life. To be faithful. Content.

I'm "programmed" to this. Life is so short and there are so many people to be attracted to, to enjoy, to learn and love (in our own ways). I'm always awaiting the new adventure, travel, moving, a new "person" who always seems to come along. Always wondering what is around the next corner.

I'm a good person, though an "Other", and the newest person to cross my way in life is HOT!!! And I'm THRILLED!!!

And I know, beyond a doubt, that this will run it's course, and when complete, I'll still have the person I co habitate with.

AND....that is priceless!

My Virus got a virus

Norton Virus Protection! Yup! It got a virus. Wednesday night. I'm on AOL, it pops up with it's "blocked attempted blah blah" and then off went AOL. Called AOL. Got the Prime Minister of India, who has a part time job, according to David Letterman, at the AOL Help support tech., and was told they were aware of the problem. Turns out it was with Norton. THEY got the Virus. Norton and AOL.

Last night Norton put the "Patch" on the "boo boo", as I call it and now I'm back online, and the world is right.

The Eyes

I have a passion for art and photography. I'm the type of person who can be brought to tears when viewing a painting. Some paintings "call" to me and I stand, mesmerized, lost to the world about me.

Some photos do this also. In my basement are thousands of photos. Hundreds are of strangers. People I do not, nor will I ever, know. Then there are others that I find I have known. While looking through boxes and scrapbooks some time ago, I came upon two, one of which is this.


From the back of the picture I know that the girl was 19 years of age. Something about this photo made me look beyond the picture itself. I think it is something in her eyes. As I continued to look, questions came to me, such as, what she was thinking as she posed for this picture? What did the downcast eyes say? Was she sad? Shy? Was she wondering what her life would be like? Maybe she was just posing for a photographer and it is as simple as that. But then again, maybe not, and for that reason, this picture haunts me.

SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE

What it is ain't exactly clear.

Bush morphs Bin Laden into Saddam Hussein and off to war America goes....to Iraq, not to Afghanistan, where Bin Laden resides, comfy in the knowledge the US President is a complete idiot.

What a field day for the heat, a thousand people in the street. Singing songs and carrying signs....

Bush gets Saddham. Trial is a joke. Will there be an end result? Don't count on it. It's a joke.

In a Country where there were no WMD's, there are now more terrorists and insurgents then ever. Bush's desire to be the BIG BULLY has created terror just as Bin Laden.

CIVIL WAR IN IRAQ

There's a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware

America's young men are dying, and for what? The ego of an insipid President. Was America safe before Bush? I have no real answer. But did I FEEL safer? YES, YES, and YES!!!

Am I the only one who feels Hussein should have been left in power? Not that he isn't a tyrant, a murderer, and heaven knows what other names I could use. But the Country was not in the shape it's in now when he held power.

We better stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down.

Comes down to this. Bush needs to keep out of other Countries problems. Not everyone wants life to be the same as "Bush's America". Get another ruler in Iraq? Yes, but that is Iraq's issue, not Bush's.

"For What It's Worth"

Words, Stephen Stills

Performer: Buffalo Springfield

WHY IS IT????

That, much as one used to do when using a pencil and scratching on paper to see a word emerge, that I have to left click on my mouse and "go over" the black space which is my previous blog, to bring up the writing? Hmmmmmm

DANA REEVE 1961-2006

Life just isn't fair, so you'd better stop expecting it to be.....

~~Dana Reeve

WHAT'S MY NAME?

What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Seriously! What is my name?

I never gave much thought to my name, until recently that is.

I know my birth name. I used to have the birth certificate (long since lost).

Throughout the years my name has changed. Marriage, divorce, marriage, divorce, you get the picture.

First marriage I did the "normal" thing. Took my husbands last name. That never felt right so as soon as we were divorced I took back my maiden name. I learned then that I'd never give up my name again. I'm not my husband. My birthname is who I am, a part of my family tree. I'm not someone else, I'm me and I want to STAY me!

Second marriage and without even remembering, I hyphenated my name for some legal paperwork we needed to sign. As I said, I didn't even remember this. It took my getting something in the mail, a legal something, which told me I'd hyphenated my name, this after I'd been divorced and was on my third marriage.

I went to the powers that be and had my name changed to what I've always used.

And so, until recently, I've been thinking I'm back to my rightful name. However, for some reason, several months ago something began bothering me.

To begin, I shall say that my first name, my birthname, I shortened back in the 6th grade. Not legally mind you. I just began using a shorter version of my name.

Anyhow, I've recently began wondering WHAT my name is. I thought about this when I recalled signing the papers to get the hyphenated name gone. I signed the name I wanted, never giving thought to anything but making sure my last name was returned to me.

It thus has been only in the past several months that it occurred to me that I have also only ever signed my "shortened" first name to all documents. Even my passport shows my shortened first name.

Ever since I realized this, for some unexplainable reason, it has bothered me greatly. Have I lost my birth name? Not that I was ever fond of it, but still, LOSING it is something else.

When speaking to HR at the company I work at, I mentioned this. The HR person told me "whatever is on your Social Security card is your name".

OH! Oh DEAR! I looked at my social security card and was dismayed to find my first name in the short version, as I have always had it, but only the initial of my MIDDLE name is listed!

Being that my SS card has always had my shortened first name, I've never given thought to the fact that it may now be my LEGAL name. I mean, my original name only showed on my very first SS card which of course was changed upon my 1st marriage.

SO...........................................WHO AM I???

Am I the person whose name is on my birth certificate? Or in signing the name I want on my divorce papers am I no longer the person I was when born? Add to that, do I still have a middle name or is my middle name a single letter?

How do I find out? If this is so, should I change my name completely? Go by one name? (i.e. "Cher", "Madonna"?). Maybe preface it to "Lady" and my name?

HELP!