Thanks for stopping by. Every Wednesday I post a note about my writing and/or a rumination on life events. I try to be interesting (or at least funny), so I hope you'll come back often.

By the way, I'll start answering to the name Laura Alden as soon as Laura's first book comes out. Tentative publication date of Murder is Elementary is September 2010.

Wednesday, February 3

My husband and I were discussing the antics of Eddie the Cat the other day. I was shaking my head at his refusal to come inside out of blowy, snowy, 20ish degree weather, and said something along the lines of: "He's such a doofus."

Through the window we watched him crouch on the corner of the porch, fur ruffled up against the cold, his slitted cat eyes peering out into the dark.

My husband shrugged. "You gotta play to your strengths."

Which makes sense, because it'd be dumb to play to your weaknesses. But then I started thinking. "What happens if you don't have any strengths?" I asked. "Like me?" (Yes, there was a small whine in my voice.)

"Don't be silly." My husband rolled his eyes. "You have lots of strengths."

"Like what?"

Another eye roll. "You figure it out."

So I thought some more. Though I'm not always the brightest bulb in the box (I'll never claim calculus as a strength), I'm dependable. Reliable. I do what I say I'll do, and I get things done on time.

And I'm organized. I can retrieve information from paper files or computer files in a flash and I don't lose things. The bills are paid on time, the checkbook has never bounced, and I can't think of the last time I paid an overdue fine at the library.

Which brings me to my second whine: "My strengths are all boring!"

Why can't one of my strengths be stand-up comedy? Or the ability to memorize music? Or the talent to sketch a decent portrait? Or the drive to climb mountains?

But if I could do any of that, I wouldn't be me, and most days I'm pretty happy being me. And me must be okay, since that's who my wonderful husband fell in love with. Having him by my side is worth being me, even if my strengths aren't the stuff of Hollywood.

See you next Wednesday,
Janet

P.S. Last week I read 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs and A Common LIfe by Jan Karon (2001).