Making Aliyah

The most interesting thing happened to me on a recent trip to Chicago. I ran into a girl, who previously, I would have defined as the quintessential Jewish princess (and not in the religious sense). It turns out that she's decided to make Aliyah and move to Isreal intent on studying torah. She's become an ultra orthodox, dressing modestly in long, plain skirts. At first, it shocked me. I'm not gonna lie. This type of thing really throws me. I have found in my life, that even as hard as I try to change certain things, I continuously return to my core self. I am who I am, no way around it. And so, those that have the ability to experience something life changing and can re-define their reality, I really envy. Of course, I began thinking that this girl was completely ridiculous, but after hearing more about the background I came to actually feel like she may have something to teach me. Not about Judaisim, but about following your heart no matter how awkward it is to the people around you. I really struggle to find the courage to pursue some of the things I know I'd love, that maybe don't fit into my "normal" life & career. Instead I spend a lot of wasted time dreaming about them. But not this girl, she wanted this, it felt right, and she's going after it. She took control of her story, and it's inspired me to take control of mine.

Why I Love Holidays, and You.

After one of the best Easter's I've ever endured, I thought hard about what it is that made it so memorable. Was it the clam chowder at Hog Island (the best I've ever tasted)? Or the buzz about my neighborhood? Dolores Park is surely at it's best on Easter Sunday. Or the freaking HUGE and AWESOME Easter basket my roommate and I were gifted? Or the mischievous fact that as a Jew, I made a WAY bigger deal out of Easter than Passover? Nope. While all of these things certainly made the day interesting and special, I realized that mainly it was the fabulous company. It may be an obvious conclusion, but it's one that has made me stop and smell the roses. I love that feeling, being able to love my friends. To feel blessed just to be around them, and create a memory. That's what holidays are about, milestones to help us remember to appreciate those around us. And I do.

Current Obsession

My Girls

Animal Collective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zol2MJf6XNE

Is it much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse I only want a proper house
I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace
I don't mean to seem like
I care about material things like a social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

I will be loyal to you...

Obsessed. It's true. I am officially mesmerized by the Duggars. For those of you missing out, please tune in this week to the glory that is 17 Kids and Counting on TLC. This is a band wagon you need to be on.

It seems like the folks at TLC got my number a long time ago, starting with Little People, Big World, and then I moved on to a healthy dose of John & Kate Plus 8. Terrified for a little while by Half Man/Half Tree, but now 100% committed to learning all I can about this uber-religious family from Arkansas. This sitcom is my people watching dream come true.

I like to think though that my interest comes not from thinking their behavior is strange, but from really admiring their ability to hold true to a simple, wholesome belief system within our over-stimulated, over-sexed and over-worked environment. That quality, the resolve to stay committed to something no matter what forces pull at you (I mean, that was some serious hand holding), is so fascinating to me. Bravo, Duggars!

I guess that's the eternal question, what's deemed "better" by the cosmos, a protected life following strict (and maybe a few outdated) rules, or a wild and free existence learning as you go. It seems in the end, that we all sort of end up with the same truths. The importance of family, to love and honor your partner, that education is key, that material things do not bring you any closer to happiness, the list goes on...

Maybe I should just skip all the heartbreak and drama of sorting out my individual self, become a Baptist and marry a Duggar!?? Oooh, I shudder at the thought.

For your listening pleasure:

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/17-kids-and-counting/wedding/slideshow.html

By Yankee

Yankee, my man, you have no idea how great you made me feel. Tapping on the glass, interupting my totally over-the-top, beer induced bitch session. You only asked for $5, but we felt compelled to double that price. Your masterpiece was perfectly timed and pure poetry. It would take two lifetimes to thank you.

It's a small world...

Another bright soul, also obessed with buffalos: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97713912

"When I found this thing, I didn't know what it meant — but I knew it meant a lot to me," he says. "And out of that emerged sort of an insatiable interest in the animal." - Steve Rinella

There's a really powerful comment on the buffalo as an American symbol at the end of the interview. Definitely worth a listen.

Inspiration

A combination of buffalo romance and and some amazing TLC programming on the obese inspired me to create this blog. No, seriously, as the title suggests, I am obsessed with the obsessive, and as a friend recently pointed out, that makes for quite an amusing blog theme - well, at least I hope it will. As someone who tries to live humbly in the middle of the road, accepting and in some senses identifying with all the oddities of life, I am absolutely fascinated by those who go to the extreme. It could be anything from religious views to addiction, from fetish to adventure - I love stories about people who tip the scale heavily in one direction (no pun intended). I find it impossible not to look at things from all angles, so when I discover someone who strongly takes just one perspective I want to learn all I can about why they feel that way.

So how does this relate to buffalos? It doesn't really, other that it was one of my "secret obsessions" to visit the buffalo paddy in Golden Gate Park ever since I learned of its existence. You may be saying to yourself, "what a strange thing to desire"...but I think it has something to do with the bizzareness that there is a random gathering of buffalos in the middle of San Francisco's nowhere. Not at a zoo, or a safari, or even around other animals. No, they are just alone in the middle of our huge park. Can they really be happy to have us leering at them all day? With all the people that visit, they must think we're obsessed! I know they were happy at least the day I was there, because one of them fell in love with me. He (or she) came close enough to the fence to give me a deep stare and the rest is history. Well not really, but that brings me back to my main point which is the power of the mind.

It seems clear to me, either from watching these "obession" tales, or from dealing with my own ups and downs, that the mind is both completely vulnerable and passionately stubborn at all times. What we spend our time obsessing over, for some can become a frightening, maybe crippling reality and for others can become the motivation that drives them towards profound success. I hope to examine that balance and report my musings, so stay tuned...I may just get you hooked. ;)