Content

In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly, even happily wrong.
-- John Kenneth Galbraith

Tuesday, February 2, 1999
One year ago: Meeting Liralen

Hey, it's a year since I had dinner with Liralen and John! She has a real gift for describing her activities and the joy she finds in them.

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It's really late. I worked on this month's design in the early part of the evening, then went dancing at the Washington Dance Club. I missed this last week; too tired from Potlatch still. I got some good dancing in, and danced with some beginners. I was pleased when someone, a lead that doesn't ask me to dance very often, stopped me as I started to get ready to leave and asked me to dance!

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Rob Hudson pointed to Lisa's "Speaking Confidentially" page about journals she reads, so I checked it out. Good: I'm listed! Ouch: "Willa-like in her complacency and contentment. Unfailingly cheerful."

I've thought about my tendency to cheerfulness here before. I think it's a combination of lucky genes and being in a good place in my life now. I've certainly had darker spells in my life. Differences between journal-self and real self were discussed on the journals mailing list not too long ago, so I asked some people who both read this and know me in real life what they thought.

Jason said, "The only difference I ever noticed between you and what you wrote was that you were more guarded in your journal. Feelings were sometimes put aside. Names were guarded or changed to protect those who were fleeing from the law, etc."

Jack had the same opinion. "I make no distinction at all between the 'real' and 'virtual' Anitas. I don't see any difference at all, but that might be because I make no distinction and simply see these two presentations as alternate sides of your character."

But the word "complacent" isn't a postive one. Bookshelf says "Contented to a fault; self-satisfied and unconcerned." I don't think I'm so satisfied with myself. I do have flaws. I don't mind being compared to Willa, though! I like her stuff!