Anne

One of my favorite literary characters of all time is Anne Shirley. I loved reading about her. I loved watching her come to life through Megan Follows. I personally relate to Anne on so many levels. I see the same characteristics in myself that I see in her. Just a joy from start to finish to be a part of her imagined life. Do yourselves a favor sometime. Immerse yourself in the culture of Prince Edward Island. Of Green Gables. Engage the spirit of friendship that, in my opinion, might be unrivaled. Friendship of the heart that knows no hindrance. Two hearts that so naturally bond for life. It's what we long for.

Now. Anne. Utterly delightful. Has some flaws about her. She, like myself, reacts quickly and emotionally. She breaks her slate on Gilbert's head after he calls her "Carrots" because of her red hair. She has a great deal of trouble holding her tongue. She is thoughtful but very reactionary. There is one particular instance that I am going to relate today.

A neighbor lady, Rachel, complained to Anne that her cow had been getting into her field and had been destructive. Anne promises to rectify the situation, but driving along one day, looks up and sees a cow in the field chewing on the produce. Instantly. Despite being in her best clothes, she hops out of the buggy, convinces her somewhat prissy friend to help, climbs the fence, and both attempt to corral the cow out of the muddy field. Both are drenched in mud and sludge when a local farmer happens along, and, in anger, Anne sells him the cow on the spot. Turns out the cow in question actually belonged to Rachel....

I've been particularly busy at work. I'm trying my best to hold a lot of processes together, and it happened to be the responsibility of my department to empty the garbage two weeks in a row. By day 9 of hearing complaints about the timeliness of this project being done, I had had it. My inner dialogue was something like this... "I'm juggling 354.8 balls right now. If the only one that falls to the ground is the garbage, so be it. I count that a success. If you have time to come complain about the garbage, you must have the time to do it yourself." Anne. Angela. Reactionary.

I push two of the bins out and empty them into the dumpster. I come back and grab the other two and notice a metal container on the floor. "Seriously?! You missed the bin in your haste to dump your trash?" is my question. I schlep it into the bin and proceed emptying those into the dumpster. As I return, I notice there are more of said containers. And. Further. There are labeled signs numbering the containers. Now you've gone and done it. In your haste and anger you have thrown away company property. When will you ever learn?!

I go out to the dumpster. In my best clothes, mind you. I find the container which isn't too far in but I can't reach it. I search to no avail for something to help me get it. I hike up my skirt, much like Anne, to avoid getting too dirty. I climb INTO the dumpster. Into the dumpster. Bless it. I retrieve the container. But I can't get out of the dumpster. It's seemingly the same height on both sides but I am actually a little shorter on the inside. I cautiously look out, and see the UPS guy chilling and watching the whole scenario. It's like Gilbert Blythe! Humph. I will handle this with as much dignity as I can muster at this point. Thankfully it's quite dark at this point, I hike up my skirt and ungracefully emerge...errrrr....fall out of the dumpster. I dust myself off and haughtily saunter past him. Anne to a "T."

As I'm replacing the container, a co-worker walks by and says something like, "Oh, what are you doing with that mousetrap?"

Mic drop.

I couldn't be more like her if I tried. Oh the situations I find myself in. Honestly I'm not sure I'm even as delightful as her to see past my transgressions. But we're all a work in progress, yes? Some of us apparently have more work to do than others....