Once upon a time, twice in the same week as a matter of fact, I was told by little people--small children, not elves--that I look like Mary Poppins. I should mention that I did not know either of these children. This is how the second of the conversations went:
Very Serious Little Boy: "You look like Mary Poppins."
Me: "You know, you're the second person to tell me that this week."
VSLB: "Do step in time."
Me: "What?"
VSLB: "Do Step in Time."
Me: "I don't want to do Step in Time. You do Step in Time."
VSLB: "Okay."
VSLB then proceeds to jump into the routine, taking it all very seriously (I suspect a budding INTJ) as he hunches over peddling feet and swings his little arms in wide, ground sweeping arcs.
VSLB: "Step in Time. Step in Time." Big Finish. "Now you do it."
Me: "No."
Ever after that day, "Do Step in Time" has followed "You're making me bored" to form a completely INTJ combination of accusation and directive to my friends. INTJ's are observers. In order to have detached interest there has to be something or someone to have a detached interest in: someone has to do Step in Time or I will be bored.
Most of the time I can go through life perfectly happy to live in my own head, occupying myself with cross-analyzing the six most recent books I have read on nuns (or body image, or Cinderella folklore, or grammar, or personality type) but every so often I am between these intellectual pursuits, waiting for the next random obsession to hijack my brain.
These down times are when friends capable of dazzling impromptu performances of Step in Time come in handy. Not that I actually expect anyone to break out into song and dance--although that would would be nice. Step in Time is just a metaphor, which brings me to my point.
Do Step in Time, people.
Seriously. You have my undivided attention for the next fifteen seconds.
Starting five seconds ago.
PP
p.s. Time's up.
It's nice to know that all that money I spent on juggling lessons wasn't completely wasted.
Can't dance worth a fig though. Not since that incident in Burma in '41. but that's a story for another day...
Posted by: ramblin' jack | January 30, 2007 at 02:25 PM
You know, I tell that story ALL the time. ( :
-- c
Posted by: Anonymous | February 02, 2007 at 10:41 AM
"Though we adore men individually, we argree that as a group they're rather stupid"-Mary Poppins
yeah, sounds like you too
Posted by: White Rabbit | February 03, 2007 at 02:38 AM