My Rebuttal

Isabella wrote a fantastic post tonight.  Before you venture any further with this one, go read hers below.  I’ll wait here for you. 

Welcome back.  It’s really good, isn’t it?  She’s a funny lady and a very gifted writer.  I want to put that out there for the universe to take note of (and any passing editors or literary agents that happen to stumble by).  The specific conversation that she is referring to was one the three of us have had quite frequently the past 6-8 months in one form or another.  That big ball of Karma has bowled each of us over like lowly pins in that really hateful bowling alley of life lately.  Unfortunately, that wretched bowling ball nearly did me in a while back (almost 8 years ago.  Holy Cow has it really been that long?).  As I stumbled around trying to make sense of a senseless tragedy in a cruel and unfair world, I discovered Buddhism.  With the help of an amazing counselor who metaphorically smacked me around a little bit, I came to realize that the childish view that Westerners hold of fairness is a hindrance more than an aid.   At some level we all know this.  How many times are we told, “Life’s not fair”?  We tell it to our kids and we think we get it until real trouble arrives and the concept seems crushing.  We obey the rules, we do unto others, we try to be good people, but none of that means anything.  We all want to believe that there is some giant tally board in the universe that keeps score, but until a person lets go of that ideal, they are doomed to a life of frustration.

On that depressing note, I’d like to add a little levity.  I love writing.  Isabella loves writing.  Ava loves writing.  We are fortunate that the universe directed us to each other because it’s always a blessing to find others to share your passion.  I love these women.  They are good for me.  We will all work hard with a goal of publication and fame and a visit to Oprah’s couch (You are coming Ava so just hush up) but more than that, I hope that I continue to write even if I never get published.  I know that I am good at it, and it gives me pleasure.  Isn’t that all one can hope for from a life’s pursuit when so much is out there to bring you down?

So those of you out there typing away towards that goal, I’m cheering for you.  Enjoy yourselves and the people you bring to life.  The best part about writing is that you are “The Universe”.  You can make the bad people come to justice, and the lovers live happily ever after. 

Besides, what the hell do I know anyway?