Meme of the Arts

Jeanne from At a Hen's Pace has invited her readers to join her in this arts meme. I don't have much experience with memes (I think this is just my second), but I always loved those e-mail forwards where you had to share interesting things about yourself, like what color socks your wearing and who did you talk to last on the phone.

1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies.
I think the only books of mine I've ever given away more than once because I liked them were the Bible and Outlander by Dianna Gabaldon.

If the question is meant to get to the heart of what my all-time favorite book is, however, I'm not sure it does. In fact, I'm not sure what book that might be. Maybe something by Beverly Cleary, like Ramona Forever. Actually, come to think of it, I have given that book to other people, just not my copy.

2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music.
The one that comes most readily to mind is the song Adam wrote for me. The first time I heard it (I'm sheepish to admit) I didn't like it very much. Adam is a classically-trained pianist. So, naturally, he wrote "classical" music. I use the quotes because it is not classical in the official sense (i.e., Mozart is classical, but Beethoven is romantic) but in the general cultural meaning (i.e., Beethoven is classical, but Garth Brooks is country). For me, "classical" music was all about needing to understand it, analyze it, and compare opinions about it using specific technical terms. Music theory, if you will. But listening to the song again, especially coming to grips with the fact that, while not in my preferred style, it was written in love for me, I really started to appreciate it. Now I only wish we had a decent recording of it. Unfortunately, the sound tech at our wedding had to turn the tape over at that point, so we never got the full song.

3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue.
Ooh, there are lots. Most of them goofy romantic comedies like While You Were Sleeping, My Best Friend's Wedding, and The Parent Trap remake (I like the original, too, but I wouldn't watch it as much). Probably my favorite non-romantic comedy watch it over and over film would be The Rookie.

4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief.
Uhm...David Copperfield? Or is this supposed to be somebody I like so much that I'm willing to sit through their not-so-inspired movie (or listen to their second-rate CD) just because it's that person. Hmmm.... I'm not sure there is anybody like that. Maybe Tom Hanks. I tend to put up with a lot from him. (On the random facts front, did you know when he was just a young thespian, he went by "Thom"?)

5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with.
Does Adam count? He's already in my house, though. Probably one that would mean a lot to me would be a scale model of Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse (more images here). I was born in Grand Rapids and the big orange "Calder" is an indelible mark on my childhood. It would be rather nostalgic to have one in my living room.

6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life.
Sisterchicks on the Loose. The first of the Sisterchicks books by Robin Jones Gunn. I was reading it shortly after my daughter was born and it was the first grown-up book I'd read in quite a while (I spent most of my pregnancy re-reading some of my favorite children's books). Even though I had virtually nothing in common with the characters, I loved the travel and the interweaving of faith and life--unlike so many examples of Christian fiction that read more like expanded gospel tracts. I think I read it three or four times right in a row, just to absorb everything.

The second book in the series, Siterchicks do the Hula! is also a light and fluffy really deep book that does a great job of showing life and faith as a whole, not two separate pieces.

7. Name a punchline that always makes you laugh.
Okay, bear with me. I was visiting Cornwall a few years back, and I watched the local news one evening. They had a story about a nearby football (soccer) team that had gotten into trouble because their ball boy was wearing shorts on a cold game day. Some official body was giving the team management grief about it. I probably missed some of the details, since I don't understand UK organized (or should I say "organised") football, but I was under the impression that the big concern was the ball boy's age and making sure he wasn't working under unduly harsh conditions.

At any rate, the news show had an interview with the team's manager and he pointed out that the boy had been wearing plenty of other warm clothing (mittens and wool socks and a jacket and so forth) and he never even complained of the cold. The interviewer asked some question about the upcoming game and what the plans had been made to be sure the ball boys kept toasty.

The team manager kept a completely straight face and said, "Well, if the boys get cold, we can just wrap their legs in red tape."

That kills me!