The Snake Who Swallowed an Elephant
One of my favorite books ever is The Little Prince. It is so much more than a children's classic. It always makes me cry.
There are so many things that resonate with me in this book, but none more so than the first chapter. The pilot narrating the story draws a snake who has swallowed an elephant. The resulting sketch looks an awful lot like a hat. At least to grownups. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writes about meeting adults:
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say: "That is a hat." Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
I hope I am never sensible. And perhaps that is why I am a writer. I cannot make myself talk of sensible things. Only characters and dreams and strange thoughts of murder most foul. What if . . . and then . . . what if . . . ?
Oddly enough, though, when I want to find out, upon meeting someone new, if there is ANY chance he or she will be my friend . . . I tell them I am a mom.
Why?
Because Americans most especially are so focused on what you DO, as if that is the sum total of who you ARE. And just like the pilot, I have my test. I will say, "I'm a mom." Because really, that is a huge part of who I am. I love children. I love my children. I like how they laugh and who they are. I find them interesting. And if someone sort of glazes over, as if I cannot be someone important to know, then I discuss bridge or golf or neckties. But if they ask me questions about who I am as a person . . . THEN I often say I am a novelist. And if they ask me questions about that and don't seem as if they are trying to peg me a certain way, then we might be friends.
So how about you? Do you have a version of the snake who swallowed the elephant? Do you like sensible people? I usually don't. :-)
Peace,
E
There are so many things that resonate with me in this book, but none more so than the first chapter. The pilot narrating the story draws a snake who has swallowed an elephant. The resulting sketch looks an awful lot like a hat. At least to grownups. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry writes about meeting adults:
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say: "That is a hat." Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
I hope I am never sensible. And perhaps that is why I am a writer. I cannot make myself talk of sensible things. Only characters and dreams and strange thoughts of murder most foul. What if . . . and then . . . what if . . . ?
Oddly enough, though, when I want to find out, upon meeting someone new, if there is ANY chance he or she will be my friend . . . I tell them I am a mom.
Why?
Because Americans most especially are so focused on what you DO, as if that is the sum total of who you ARE. And just like the pilot, I have my test. I will say, "I'm a mom." Because really, that is a huge part of who I am. I love children. I love my children. I like how they laugh and who they are. I find them interesting. And if someone sort of glazes over, as if I cannot be someone important to know, then I discuss bridge or golf or neckties. But if they ask me questions about who I am as a person . . . THEN I often say I am a novelist. And if they ask me questions about that and don't seem as if they are trying to peg me a certain way, then we might be friends.
So how about you? Do you have a version of the snake who swallowed the elephant? Do you like sensible people? I usually don't. :-)
Peace,
E
posted by Erica Orloff at 4:17 PM
11 Comments:
When reading this post it reminded me of a friend of mine. Well, the husband of a friend (someone I used to work with). The first time he meets anyone he tells this one particular joke. (I can't remember it now). And if the person laughs he knows he's going to like them. He has a unique sense of humour.
So, the first time we met (we went out as a foursome) he told the joke and I laughed and laughed. And the four of us became great friends and whenever we were out anywhere we laughed all night long. And we'd often play harmless practical jokes on each other.
Now we're in NZ we don't see them, which is a shame.
Hi Sara:
That's a wonderful story, too!
My own take, I guess, is I hate to see how stay at home moms seems to be dismissed at cocktail parties, as if they have nothing to add. If I wasn't a novelist, I feel I would still be the same person, have the same value--but "grownups" don't seem to see it that way.
|E
I'm not even grown up enough to think of asking people what they do for a living. That reminds me of a line from the Gilmore Girls - Lorelei telling Rory that grown ups don't call themselves grown ups, they call themselves adults!
One of my acquaintances is a very sensible person and whenever she has a party, everyone stands around talking about their jobs and trying to be impressive! How boring.
I don't have any way of testing people but I think you just know when you meet someone. If they even ask what you do for a living, it's not a good sign!
Is this in the same category as judging someone by the style and make of their shoes?
I notice people's eyes. Their expressions. Listen to their voices.
My day job is high-end technical...no one gets it anyway. It's a pain to explain and, to me, it doesn't mean diddly as to who I am.
What is that saying . . . something like, "Where ever you go, there you are."
We could add, "regardless of the vocation / avocation".
kathryn:
I like people who are passionate about life--regardless of what they do.
E
kathy:
Or what kind of car someone drives. So immaterial. To me, a car gets you from point A to point B.
E
Whenever I meet someone new, I answer the phone with my Hannibal Lecter impersonation.
If they laugh, and still want to talk to me, I figure I've made a friend for life. :)
That's funny! Man, I'd fail. That's like the people at the cafe. I'm always dying to ask, but what do you *really* do? Because, usually, they do something else, or have some other dream.
But what if I do ask, and that IS all they do? How insulting is that? That's almost like saying, "You're just a mom?"
Jude:
Having HEARD your dead-on impression, I am convinced you are either one of the funniest, most adorable men I know--or a serial killer. I remain on the fence.
E
spy:
I know. "Just" a mom? I mean, it is withut the doubt the most exhausting, difficult, amazing job ever. I work ten thousand times harder as a mom than at anything else I do.
E
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