Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Self Portrait Tuesday—Eight Would Have Been Great

When I was a little girl my grandma gave me a four-leaf clover she had taped to a piece of cardstock with “Good Luck” scrawled below it. I thought I was the luckiest girl. Thenceforth and forever I always had something for show and tell because not everyone has a four-leaf clover, mind you, my friends and I had spent several recesses looking with no luck. Later somebody told me that Grandma sent one to all of my cousins and brothers and sisters, too. I wondered if she had just taped extra leaves onto three leaf clovers, because can one woman really find a couple of dozen four leaf clovers all by herself when I had never even found one? No matter she had seventy years of looking on me, I just didn't trust the odds and threw mine away.

Today I went in search of lucky eights for self-portrait Tuesday. I thought maybe the chickens would give me eight eggs which would make a pretty picture. Nope. Eleven.

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I thought maybe we would have eight oranges left which would make a pretty picture. Nope. Seven.

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I thought maybe I would have eight loads of laundry which would not make a pretty picture but at least would give me a picture with eight piles. Nope. Five.

I thought maybe I would have eight books backed up on my nightstand. Nope. Nine.

I thought maybe I would have eight things on my to-do list. Nope. Endless.

I never should have thrown away that four leaf clover. Serves me right.


Tell me the truth. I can take it. Do you think the one my Grandma gave me was real?
Let me guess. You counted the eggs and the oranges, didn't you?

16 comments:

Cassidy said...

I bet it was real. I actually DID count the oranges! haha.

Cali said...

Mom,
That was brilliant. I loved it. I learn the most wonderful things about you on this blog... and I'm your daughter. I thought I already knew it all. I think it was real. Did you see any of your siblings with four leaf clovers? I think you got lucky... or she found a clover on thalidomide.
Love, Cali

Lucy said...

I don't know any kind of statistics about four-leaf clovers. Are they as rare as we think they are? My vote is it was real. Don't know why.

I haven't been inspired for this month's SPT theme at all. Apparently, there aren't very many 8's in my life:)

Jill said...

I haven't done any of this month's SPTs because I just don't think in 8s apparently.

I love what you came up with though and think it's great that you have 9 books piled up on your nightstand.

Nikki said...

I'm sure they are real. Since we've moved into our house 3 years ago, our kids have found hundreds in our yard. I don't know if they are officially clovers- I don't know enough about plants. But they have 4 leaves and they look like clovers so in our world they are. :)

Kathy’s Korner said...

The first year dad planted our grass, he planted a lot of clover with it. That year we did find a lot of 4 leaf clovers. Then I spent the next 6 years searching for them. Hummmmm, I don't know if she could have found enough for the whole family, UNLESS...she planted 4 leaf clover seeds?????
Yes, I counted the eggs and the oranges!

Elizabeth said...

I did count the eggs. And they did make a pretty picture!

Becky said...

Your posts always make me smile, Jane. :) The pictures are pretty and yes, I scanned each picture for an "estimated" count!

Haven't really felt like doing any of this month's SPTs...not sure why...but I liked yours!

I think your clover was real, and I loved the story :)

Anonymous said...

First off, I totally counted both the eggs and the oranges - you knew I would!

Secondly, for the sake of the blog, I would have lied and either made a picture of eight eggs or eight books and pretended that's the way I had found them that morning. You are most righteous today :)

Lastly, the clover must have been real. It just had to have been! My roommate in college was always on the lookout to find "heads up" pennies - said she was going to make a 3-pointer in a game for each one she found. She accused me once of planting them so she would unconsciously score more points. I didn't, but it would have been a good idea (obviously I have no scruples :). That's why I think the clover was real - most aren't devious enough to think of messing with a good luck charm, we're just jaded enough to think someone might have.

Marie said...

Oh my. I love the egg picture. It is just beautiful. Does that make me crazy.

I think they were real clovers, but I am betting she bought them somewhere, because there is no way she found dozens of them in her yard.

Amy said...

I most definitely think it was real. I read somewhere that they come in patches. Who knows though...I've never bothered to look for any. Is that bad?

Unknown said...

LOVE your photo essay today. what a greight way to search for "8s"

i didn't count... and i DO believe in 4 leaf clovers. matty has a knack for finding them everywhere!

Alisa said...

yep it was real- don't you think so?
I did count-
and this 8 thing is hard- harder than I thought it would be.

Courtney said...

Ha! I have so missed you Jane! You absolutely having me rolling right now...GREAT pictures though! And hey...GREAT is part of this month's spt so I think this one totally counts!!!!

Nikki said...

I've found 4-leaf clovers before. I think it was real. I love how you and your friends looked for them at recess. I remember doing that too. Funny thing, I can't see boys doing that though. maybe.

I counted the eggs and the oranges. I'm glad you didn't have eight loads of laundry. bleck.

jenny said...

I don't think I have ever been so lucky to see or have a 4 leaf clover a 3 one but not 4. I think or thought they were real. And nope I didn't count them :)