If you came to visit me (and hell yeah, you’re all invited—BYOB), you would see this box on my coffee table. It is made from some sort of stone? Definitely not wood:
People always comment on it, and are then surprised at the contents. Based on its size, it is often mistaken for a weed stasher, ( that was kept in a more elaborate box which was a gift from a friends’ travels in Dubai) but I don’t think anyone is really disappointed when they open it. The response has always been “Cool!”
Have you heard of a “wish/dream box”? Well, this is my “fortune box”. It was a gift to me, about 10 years ago, from a friend I no longer have. No big deal. It was presented with the following fortune inside that my friend had received just weeks earlier, and thought of me:
“Buy many dream boxes. Ask a friend to select one”
I have always loved fortune cookies and I actually eat them—some people just crack them open to get at the fortune. Fortunes can be so mysterious and almost “psychic” in nature. Occasionally they are stupid and useless, but I have found mine to be rather prophetic and eerily telling about 76.9% of the time (No, I don’t keep ALL of them—that would be too weird).
For example, last year, Land Ho (my best friend for about 12 years now) was going through a really difficult time in her life and we ordered Chinese food one day while she was at my house. The previous days had us both crying a lot (well, her more than me really), wondering what was going to happen, being angry about the situation at hand, but thankful that we had each other. She did an enormous amount of talking and I listened as best I could and assumed the role of “The Voice of Reason”, as she had done many times for me. This is the fortune I got that day:
“There is a true and sincere friendship between you both”
How bizarre. How true. That one earned a spot tucked into the frame of my favorite photo of us together.
In Arizona, I have found it difficult to get what is known as “Chinese Food” that is comparable to what I grew up with on the East Coast. There are very few places that offer decent pork-fried rice. One such place is called Siu Wok, and we order from them quite frequently at my office. Sometimes I don’t need the infinite wisdom of the fortune cookie that day, so I save them for later.
In honor of today’s blog, I will crack one open and share it with you:
“Please someone at work by remaining calm and impartial”
Apparently this one is predicting something will happen at work tomorrow to get me all riled up. Maybe I’d better call in sick. Ha!
Anyhow, here are some “still true to this day” fortunes from my collection:
“Life brings you a bold and dashing adventure”
“You appear to be more of a daydreamer than you really are”
“You are open and honest in your philosophy of love”
“Your life is like a kaleidoscope”
“You will be wise not to seek too much from others”
“Your mind is filled with new ideas. Make use of them.”
“You will have good luck and overcome many hardships”
That last one, I don’t know about having good luck, but the rest of it rings true. Perhaps good luck is in the eye of the beholder. Eh, whatever. All the fortunes I have accumulated appear to be a good representation of myself and inspiring of things to come … in bed!
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Comments
Now I'll bet if you think you'll know which one of your fortunes I agree with the most.
Yep!
“You appear to be more of a daydreamer than you really are”
You're one smart fortune cookie.
The lotto? Is this it? Is it the big one? Delightful post and my condolences on the Chinese food. I know how awful it can be to be deprived. Go to Tucson...they have the good stuff.
"Pat yourself on the back for creating an opportunity...in bed."
Owl:
"Everywhere you choose to go, friendly faces will greet you"
Wally:
"A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years"
LIG:
"A journey must begin with a single step"
"Sometimes traveling to a new place leads to great transformation"
zuma:
"You are always entertaining and delightful"
Rob:
"With integrity and consistency, your credits are piling up"
“If you look in the right places, you can find some good offerings”
Verbal:
“The troubles you have will pass away very quickly”
Rod:
“Accept something that you cannot change, and you will feel better”
rAted!
My favorite for you: “You will have good luck and overcome many hardships”---not the hardship part, but the good luck and overcoming part.
“You have a friendly heart and are well admired”
m.a.h.:
“All will go well with your new project”
Rod:
“The harder you work, the luckier you get”
peece,
dj
today's:
"A single kind word will keep one warm for years."
I used to work as a waitress at the Lake Tahoe Airport restaurant...yep, it was Chinese ...I had one every day...until I got to, "Person who has many fortunes is bound to get one good one once." I quit my job!
Loved the box.. Enjoyed this post.
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see shadows”
scanner:
“Some things are found when you are not looking”
Buffy:
“You are admired by everyone for your talent and ability”
fireeyes:
“Happiness begins by facing life with a smile and a wink”
I have one fortune that I keep on my fridge; it says, "Love is a beautiful twilight that enhances every object." If I try for the rest of my life--and I will--I will never match the cynicism of that line.
“Help! I’m bieng held prisoner in a Chinese bakery.”
Floyd:
“Your ability to juggle many tasks will take you far”
dynomyte:
“Adventure can be real happiness”
Steve Blevins:
“Curiosity kills boredom. Nothing can kill curiosity”
Gladly...
"You are talented in many ways."
It is interesting how some of those little strips of paper can so completely dovetail with our lives.
"Fortune passes everywhere". *
*Frank Herbert, 'Dune'
“Miles are covered one step at a time”
MAWB:
“Everyday in your life is a special occasion”
Stim:
“You will take a chance on something in near future”
Kirsty:
“You will become a great philanthropist in your later years”
Bill:
“A light heart carries you through all the hard times”
"Your quick wits will get you out of a tough situation"
Great post and idea
rated
"You have an active mind and a keen imagination"
I love the box!
i think your high success rate comes from the respect you show to your fortunes.
"All the efforts you are making will ultimately pay off"
john:
"The saints are the sinners who keep on trying"
Cap'n:
"Your dreams are worth your best efforts to achieve them"
But not this time, I love this!
"Now is the time to try something new"
a.) Hashish
b.) Jewels
c.) Carefully folded blue prints of the new Burj Dubai (worth a google search to see, really)
or
d.) enough oil to satisfy our needs, and the reason to start yet another dirty war.
Fun Post! I love boxes, and fortunes too. Those cookie things, not so much!
"Every wise man started out by asking many questions"
I got one years ago that read, "No. Because I said so." Perhaps an over-stressed mother in the cookie factory? I chose to see it as a mantra: it's okay to say no and not have to explain. Kinda cool, eh. (I keep it in my jewelry box next to my mother's baby locket. Ahem).
"Listen to everyone. Ideas come from everywhere"
mypysche:
"If your desires are not extravagant, they will be granted"
Breeder's Digest:
"An important person will offer you support"