Tuesday, February 9, 2010

my address book

I've got a really ugly address book. I got it years ago for a birthday present. It was one of those presents that people give you who don't know you, like lotion and candles and velvet journals with matching pens. I didn't use it for ages, but then one day I needed to jot down an address some place other than a post-it note, so I was like, 'well, this will be okay for * now.* ' And here I am, years later, with a full and heavily-annotated address book that I STILL can't stand the sight of. It's got a black and white flower on the front and some quote in swirly script about friends being 'like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself.' I don't even know what that MEANS. But I do know it makes me want to hurl this book through a window, so apparently it's inspirational. 

I know what you're thinking: 'Why don't you just REPLACE it, Rona?' And I'd be happy to--so very happy--but I never * remember * that I abhor it when I'm out and about. And it's not like replacing it is something URGENT that merits a single-minded quest from card shop to stationery shop to bookstore. Maybe I'll just SEE my new address book one day, the book I need/want/have always longed for, and that will be it, as neat and easy as you please, and I'll spend a glorious afternoon in a sunny window transcribing addresses in my best hand before setting this old thing on fire. Or maybe not. Maybe I'll still be glowering at these awful romantic flowers when I'm 80, with the book bursting at its spiral binding from stray stamps and postcards and penned updates scrawled up the margins, when the number of addresses I have for Deee has gone from four to sixty, and when I can no longer part with it for sentimental reasons.

Oh, NO. I have to get rid of this before it gets sentimental. Someone help me.

14 comments:

  1. Just toss it and go with an e-address book. Or is it digital address book? Or online address book? Computerized, you know what I mean!

    ReplyDelete
  2. But I like the paper! I can't bring myself to e-it yet...

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL, replace it QUICK! I've got one now that I should've replaced looooong ago. due of course to "sentimental reasons" I still have it. aaagggghhhh!

    ReplyDelete
  4. four addresses! makes me tired just thinking about all that moving. it's too late. It's crossed over into sentimental.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've got you all the way back to Sanchez, #6!! Maybe I could transcribe all the x'd out addresses, too...just for posterity's sake...

    ReplyDelete
  6. isn't that the one i gave you years ago? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. wouldn't friends be like mirrors then?

    i hate those quotes... like "reach for the moon. even if you fail you will be among stars." like, what? stars are WAYYYYYY further than the moon.

    i'll comment again later. because i'm stewing over your dumb address book quote.... it makes you want to hunt down the publisher and force them to give you answers.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's not all I want to do to them...and yes, do stew with me. Then when we're done we can shoot for the moon and land on a pile of space trash.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Proposed address book quote *clearing throat*:

    Shoot for the stars, that way, even if you fail, you have a miniscule chance of landing on THE moon, a slightly larger change of landing on ANY moon, a much much larger chance of landing on a pile of space trash and almost definite success in floating off aimlessy in space and landing on nothing. because it's space. (hence the name.)

    is the motivational quality completely lost with that one?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have never felt so motivated. This is definitely what I want written on my address book.

    ReplyDelete
  11. it almost has a Douglas Adams ring to it...

    i can't bring myself to do anything. i want to make zucchini muffins and clean a wooden peice of furniture but since they are on opposite sides of the house, I'll just sit in the middle and think about Sharona ;)

    ReplyDelete
  12. It's like you've just described my every day. I MISS you, dinana! Now about that zucchini muffin recipe...

    ReplyDelete
  13. Here's an odd thought. Maybe you get some glue and pretty paper and cover up the awful art. Perhaps go wild and add glitter, a photo, jewels, and a quote that speaks to you. Don't take a trip to the store, just use what you have. 

    I have addresses in 3 places: gmail contacts, my hardbound book and in an excel file so I can have the computer print out addresses. Of course, not one of them has a complete list. That is my project for this year.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great idea!! Why did that never occur to me?!

    ReplyDelete