From “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll.”
(And right up front – no, I have not been visiting Wonderland and hanging out with the Hookah-Smoking Caterpillar….)
“Well, now that we have seen each other,” said the Unicorn, “if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?”
I’ve done this – believed in someone because I have truly seen them.
“The horror of that moment,” the King went on, “I shall never, never forget!”
“You will, though,” the Queen said, “if you don't make a memorandum of it.”
I’m as guilty as the King. I think I have quite a few memorandums stored in my mind. Must get rid of them.
"Oh, don't go on like that!" cried the poor Queen, wringing her hands in despair. "Consider what a great girl you are. Consider what a long way you've come today. Consider what o'clock it is. Consider anything, only don't cry!"
Excellent advice. I’d much rather consider what o’clock it is than cry.
“I can't believe that!” said Alice.
“Can't you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.”
Alice laughed. “There's no use trying,” she said. “One can't believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven't had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Oh, yes! Believing in impossible things! Such a marvelous childhood occupation. Perhaps as an adult I can try for just one impossible thing? Just draw a long breath and shut my eyes….
“O Tiger-lily,” said Alice, addressing herself to one that was waving gracefully about in the wind, “I wish you could talk!”
“We can talk,” said the Tiger-lily, “when there's anybody worth talking to."
So, if I’m quiet, you know why….
18 comments:
Alice hon....sounds a touch rough.
I love believing in things that aren't possible. Once you get into a bit of practice it gets really easy. Only, don't do it in public so much. Made that mistake once, wasn't pretty. The cake went everywhere, and I can't even tell you what happened to the caterpiller.
I also love the fact that you're quoting from that book...tops!
oreneta:
Hey, I'm fine! No cryin', no nothin'. These are just some favourite quotations from my old journal - with a bit of my own commentary thrown in.
(you're so sweet...)
all mod cons:
Glad you think it's "tops!" I love his way with words.
(Why can't you tell me what happened to the caterpillar? Don't remember?)
"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
I think that's my favourite quote from Alice in Wonderland.
How many impossible things did you believe in today?
patricia:
One impossible thing.
Three unbelievable things!
I thought this was a cryptic post, so I was reading between the lines (probably like Oreneta). Couldn't help it! Glad all is well. Great book, great quotes.
bec:
Guess I'm going to have to be careful as to what I post. Sigh.
Heeee, great quotes! I like collecting quotes in a journal too....but I never thought to make commentary with it.
What a lovely post. I do love the quote that goes something like, "Begin at the beginning and keep going until the end. Then stop." I need to google it. It's delicious.
As far as believing impossible things, I couldn't have stayed married to my ex as long as I did if I hadn't perfected this skill. Reconciling my beliefs with Truth has been harder than hard. I still haven't quite done it. Apparently I enjoy good fiction ever so much more than reality. I only wish someone would pay me to give them lessons.
Wonderful, Beth. Just wonderful. Keep posting just the way you do! Edited stuff is crap. ;) (Okay, not always, but you get the idea.)
trish:
Old journals are like old friends - it's great to visit them once in awhile.
angela:
Thanks - I believe I do get the idea...I shouldn't have to edit "me."
And while I've always had a preference for fiction, I've been "reading" a lot of non-fiction lately...
I loved the hidden meaning behind it, even if it wasn't intentional.
I have a dream...(Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
shari:
You're right - we can dream as adults and achieve what only seems to be an impossibility.
OK, so what o'clock is it?
You're right ... this does feel better. :)
Beth, I totally loved your post today. It was so clever and very fun to read and re-read. I read it 3 times and each time found something different and fun. Some of those quotes were my favorites and I loved how you inserted your own voice. So creative, so fun, so playful and yet it was insightful. Thank you.
XOXO
Fabulously creative! Made me think about things just a little differently.
dan:
It is thirteen o'clock - the witching hour! And I'm smiling!
eileen:
Thanks! You "got" it! Playful...
lynn:
Well, if you read enough Lewis Carroll and hang out with the Caterpillar, you definitely see things differently! And that's a good thing.
(thanks, pal...)
That's the prettiest painting of Alice I've yet seen!
On another topic: I was SO close to being in the top three on All Mod Cons, I could almost smell it!!!
momof3:
Congratulations - maybe next time!
(I went from the greatest heights to just plain BAD.)
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