Friday, December 05, 2008

Not Quite What I Was Planning

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But can six words be worth more than six words? After reading this book, I absolutely think so. Not Quite What I Was Planning, written by all sorts of people and edited by Smith Magazine, contains hundreds of six-word memoirs. The intro says, "Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. Papa came back swinging with, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." And the six-word story was born." Hemingway's story is heart-rending. This book contains some that are just as bleak, others that are full of happiness, humor, sarcasm, or hope. Here are a few of my favorites...

Seventy years, few tears, hairy ears. - Bill Querengesser

Saw the world, now where's home? - Hannah Silverstein

Quietly cultivating my inner Lynda Carter. - Joanna Sheehan

Many risky mistakes, very few regrets. - Richard Schnedl

Happy now that I know myself. - Anne Maiwald

Hope my obituary spells "debonair" correctly. - Gregg Easterbrook

Asked and answered, asshole, next question. - Joe Lockhart (funnier if you know he was the White House Press Secretary during the Clinton impeachment trials)

Five feet, but in your face. - Toby Berry (for my short mom who, when people meet her, has been told that she sounded taller on the phone)

Full life; impossible to summarize in - Matt Love

Underachieving... but willing to overcompensate halfheartedly. - Frank J. Lepiane

Well, I thought it was funny. - Stephen Colbert (If he said it, I'm pretty sure it was funny)

This imperfect life, perfect for perfectionist. - Sarah Gardner

Put whole self in, shook about. - Melissa Delzio (I just liked this one but turns out she's a graphic designer from Portland)

Fearlessness is the mother of reinvention. - Arianna Huffington (love her or hate her, reinvention is good)

I'm the fine print; read closely. - Kristina Grish

Must remember: people, gadgets. That order. - Brian Lam

I can resist everything except temptation. - Carolina Conte

Smart, humble, shy. Notice me, please? - Ryan Kucera (this one could be mine)

Share yours here

7 comments:

Sara said...

Some of my favorites:

"the freaks. they always find me.' ginger lime

"born lucky, striving to die worthy." julie carpenter

I love this book. My favorite one I wrote back on 2/20/08 "have laugh lines to prove it"

Marie said...

This is really great. I'd never heard of the 6-word story. I need to think of one....do I only get two words since I"m only about 1/3 of the way through my life?

Hey, It's Ansley said...

Marie - I like the idea of only getting 2 words for right now. Maybe, "I am..." and the rest is yet to be decided.

Sara - I really like yours. I often need to be reminded that the laugh lines are good things.

Wanda said...

Love this. Let's see:
lived, struggled, cried, persevered, loved, survived.

Love your cool finds, Ans.

Mrs.French said...

this is amazing..I need to buy it for the Mr. for Christmas...thank you...xo t

Mrs.French said...

wait a minute...you shy? I don't believe it..xo

The StaceNeedle said...

Hey ans, those were really fun to read! I'll have to think of one and send it on.