I really want to talk about New Years Resolutions or Why I’m Switching to Role Models, but first I think I should explain the title of this blog. The Mona part that is.
I have a cousin named Mona. She is the eldest (by six minutes if I remember correctly) of my uncle Willard’s daughters. She and her twin sister Freddy grew up in New York with their two younger (not twin) sisters and they were all endlessly fascinating to me (the much older – by five years – only child, California cousin.) But my non-resolution this year does not have to do with Mona-My-Cousin. It’s about the other one – sort of.
First of all, I gave up resolutions long ago. They don’t work and, besides, by the end of the first month I could never remember what they were. So, I went to a “Letter of the Year” and aspired to all of the positive possibilities that said letter might represent. Take 2010, for instance. My choice was P – for projects, perseverance, publication, posterity, and positive. I’m not sure what P represented on the balance side of the scales – maybe passive, petty, perfunctory, prosaic.
Mona (l) and Freddy (r)
That system, also, has not worked out to my satisfaction and, as I was thinking about the whole “renewal” aspect of things, FaceBook sent me yet another quiz. I am a sucker for all those quizzes – you know, those what-city-should-you-actually-live in or how-well-do-you-know-the-famous-battles-of-Britain type quizzes. Sadly, they are becoming fewer and further between now that the social media platforms are under scrutiny for selling your private information to advertisers – or something like that.
Over the years I’ve been told that I’m most like Lady Mary from the “Downton Abbey” series, Scooter from “The Muppet Show,” and Amy from “The Big Bang Theory.” I’m even comparable to Yoda of “Star Wars” and, of all the characters Johnny Depp has played, I most closely resemble Willie Wonka! So, the other day when I ran across a quiz that answered the burning question, “Which piece of art best describes you?” I said to myself, “Self, what better role model could there be than someone (or something?) having to do with art?”
Yoda
“However this turns out,” I said, “I wIill turn it into my Role Model of the Year.” No more pesky resolutions. No more alphabet letters that I can’t rightly remember for even six months. Nope. I’m going for the major characteristics of a well-known piece of art. As I whipped through the questions (actually choices, more than questions) I couldn’t imagine what the end result would be. “Mona Lisa” came the answer. Really? The Giaconda best describes me?? Deflated doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt.
Your mysterious and introspective soul can only be Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” Even though you are as calm as an infinity pool on the outside, you harbor a lot of deep thought within yourself. Your friends often wonder what you are thinking about when they see you lost in thought, but they always leave you to figure it out for yourself.
Sydney-the-Inscrutable
Say what? Mona L. and I couldn’t be more opposite. Or maybe that’s the point – maybe I need to be more mysterious and try for a “deep thought” or two. Wouldn’t hurt to give it a whirl, I guess. And her outfit isn’t all that bad. I do draw the line at that greenish complexion though….
… I don’t like your test. I like YOU. The way you ARE!!! As James Thurber’s famous cartoon of the father and daughter clearly states, “But what do you want to be inscrutabe FOR, Marcia?” You Rock, Cuz! I vote for The Statue of Liberty. Clean, Iconic, Brave, Welcoming, Strong, A Gift For All The World! Love, KK