For the Benefit of Mr. Kite, There Will Be a Show Tonight on Trampoline
Last night I attended Enrichment for the first time in . . . I don’t know. A long time. The only times I’ve attended Enrichment in the past several months were when I was asked to play the piano or when the Relief Society president had somebody call and remind me. I honestly forgot almost every month. I’ll need to remember that for the future—some people just don’t come because they forget. Plus there’s nothing quite like a personal invitation to (a) get a person excited about it or (b) guilt the person into coming.
Anyway. As evidenced by the Good News Minute recently incorporated into R.S. Sunday meetings, women just really love to share stuff about themselves—but sometimes you need an excuse. So, last night’s theme was “What’s Your Bag?” and everybody brought a bag containing something that represented a hobby or interest of theirs.
One dainty little lady who’s like renowned for her quiltmaking skills—she’s probably in her fifties or sixties—opened her bag, and instead of the exquisitely pieced quilt I expected, she had brought a Diet Coke because she loves to drink Diet Coke and in turn to have belching contests with her family. That second part was a little bit of an overshare in my opinion, but I enjoyed the Diet Coke part.
Another lady who’s probably in her eighties brought a book by Bill O’Reilly and said she loves Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. This was not a surprise, but I found it funny anyway and it reminded me of my grandma.
A cute thirties-ish mom confessed she loves to listen to rap while she exercises (I’m not sure if this is closer to the gangsta end or the De La Soul end—my curiosity was piqued though), which prompted the fifty-year-old woman next to her to admit that she blasts ZZ Top when she’s on her stationary bike and has recently gotten “way into” heavy metal.
Yet another woman revealed a few pieces from her collection of vintage Disney Cinderella items.
My across-the-street neighbor divulged her obsession with mowing the lawn. She mows it three or four times a week. I’ve noticed this.
The tough-talking woman behind me announced that she once won a gold medal in karate at the Utah Summer Games. The soft-spoken woman next to her timidly volunteered that she likes her family, second only to traveling.
Note to self: go to Enrichment more often.
Music: Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite – The Beatles
5 comments:
Funny you should ask! I brought the picture of me and Hannah at D.I. in pantsuits, because I like shopping. Haha. Especially bargain shopping.
I'm not sure what I would have put in my bag - probably a roll of stamps!
Good for you for going to Enrichment - I'm thinking of reproducing your posting for the benefit of the women in the ward - our attendance was way up - and now is plummeting. There were women who thought we should not even have it in August - many years ago Primary, Mutual and Relief Society were cancelled in August because everyone was busy canning - which is not the case anymore, but our ward had continued to not have it in August - so I feel like I am swimming upstream!!
I noticed you are reading The Body Project. I think a year or so ago I heard a very cool interview with the author on the DR Show. How did you run across the book?
Mom had me read it several years ago. In fact she had me reading all sorts of books like that when I was a teenager—a good way to make me think about the “issues,” I suppose. I read it when I was probably 17 or so. I’m re-reading it now for a project I’m doing for a class—creating a Web site of resources for parents and teachers of adolescent girls. Other books I’m re-reading (that Mom also handed to me when I was in high school) are The Girls in the Back of the Class by LouAnne Johnson; SchoolGirls by Peggy Orenstein; and Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher.
The Body Project is fascinating, BTW. All four of those books have different things to offer, but this one in particular I think would probably be interesting to anybody.
And if any readers of this blog know of good resources for my Web site, please feel free to share. It's due in a week and a half, so I'll post a link when I'm done with it.
well eliza i copied your enrichment post for heather - she's on the hfpe board in her ward - hope that was ok -
i read - or rather skimmed the body project a few years ago - liked it a lot - it's something i worry about because i have 4 daughters and i live in malibu and bit of a body conscious place (although not as bad as a lot of other places - which shall remain nameless) and because they are blonde and people seem to make such a big deal about how they look - which is nice and all - but i want to say - hey they're smart and funny too! and good at soccer and reading! etc etc. enough ranting -i think it's a good subject to ruminate upon
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