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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Be Careful For What You Wish For...

I always took that phrase to have a sinister tone--as in, Be careful for what you wish for because it might turn out awful and then you'll only have yourself to blame.  Or be careful what you wish for because you might not phrase it right and get something stupid (like a sausage stuck to your nose).  For a while there, that fear kept me from wishing for things. (That, and the fact that I didn't have a magic lamp with a genie inside).

Recently, I read a book in which the author tells of a time she wanted a pair of pants because they were so beautiful. Her mother told her, "Be careful for what you wish for"--with the subtext being: because you just might get it. Sure enough, the girl ended up (through a miraculous event) getting the very thing she wanted. Her message was one of happiness and in continuing to wish for things because you might actually get them. Not sinister at all.

Now.  I love illustrations by Sophie Blackall. I posted about her illustrations of missed connection personal ads and a series she illustrates. I check in on her blog once in a while to see what she's posted about. A while back she posted about a display she did for an exhibit at a public library in New York. It looked AWESOME! But, because there was no way I could go to NY to see the exhibit, I was sort of disappointed that there were only a few pictures posted.

I complained to Moo about my disappointment and she said, "Why don't you just email her?"

Right. Email a famous person and ask for photos. ... and then, I realized, Why not?!

So I did it. I emailed her, and THE NEXT MORNING! there was a reply in my inbox from Sophie Blackall herself. Pictures attached.   It was like Christmas! 

Thus, I can add my own story to that of the much-wished-for-pants above to prove to myself that wishes sometimes do come true in happy, wonderful ways.