DIfferences

I think Pride and Prejudice (the new one) is my sister's new favorite movie. I think she's watched it about 20 times in the past several months. Occasionally, she'll say something like, "I'm in the mood for a Victorian evening. I think I'll crosstitch this Victorian rose and watch Pride and Prejudice." And then she does. . . although I think she's only gotten about three lines of the massive crosstitch done. She has a habit of starting projects and not finishing them. It is funny because I'm quite the opposite. I love the finished product. Amy is an enjoy the process person. I'm a hurry through the process and get to the end person. It has been fun to live with her and learn from her. . I still like the finished product, but I'm trying to enjoy the process as well. . .

Another thing that we've found is that we have completely opposite taste in television, movies and books. I love chic flicks with a little adventure. I love reading LDS novels (mysteries and romances). I love shows about psychology. And when I read, I tend to analyze what I'm reading. . .think about my reaction to the characters. .. . what I would do in their place. . . find the symbolism. . . enjoy the imagery. On tv, I like shows I don't have to think about (ie Monk), or shows that I can analyze the people involved in the plots. I have this strange fascination with the shows, "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny". I think it is fascinating what happens in a system when someone else is there. I like to analyze what is happening and learn from it. My sister hates any reality show, especially "Wife Swap". She hates how they fight. She is innately a peacemaker. However, she watches shows like CSI, Without a Trace, Numbers, etc. I think it is funny that she has no problem with watching about murder and kidnapping, etc. .. . but a verbal fight is so hard for her to handle. She says that she knows that the things on those shows aren't real. . .I guess the difference between she and I is that I've seen lots of stuff both in my own life as well as in the lives of people I'm trying to help. I know those things happen and I hate watching it be glamourized for tv.

Amy also likes documentaries. . . BORING documentaries about history and science. . . Snore! Just kidding. And when she reads, she likes fantasy books that she can escape to. She doesn't analyze anything, just reads for fun. Here's an example. There's a book called, "Enna Burning". It is about a girl who learns to control fire with her mind. But she also learns that the desire to control the fire and the fire itself could become all-consuming. There are some scenes in the book where she lights people on fire because she hasn't learned to control the urge to do so. When Amy read it, she was horrified. She saw the surface and thought that lighting people on fire was terrible. When I read it, I noticed how similar Enna's struggles with fire were to many people's struggles with anger.. . and as fire can be either destructive or helpful, so can anger. You can let it control you in searching for revenge and hurting others, or you can control it. . . and use it to do good and grow. When we were discussing the book and what we both thought about it, she said, "Dawn, you think too much!" Funny.

I just think it is interesting. . .We have so much in common and so much not in common. We get along well. Her strengths and my strengths interact to compensate for each other's weaknesses. I hope that someday I can find something similar in a marriage situation.

Yesterday, just as we were getting ready to pray, Amy said, "I must be PMSing". I said, "Why, are you craving pickles?" (I was kidding. I crave pickles and cheese and chocolate. . .she just craves junk food. . .cakes, donuts, chocolate, cookies). She looked at me and said, "No. You haven't noticed that I've ripped your head off three times tonight?" I thought and thought and thought and had absolutely NO idea as to what she was talking about! She is such a gentle person. . . I told her that I couldn't even think of a time that evening when I thought she was being particulary assertive. How funny.