Sunday, March 2, 2008

Because Pandora Asked



When Pandora asks me to do something, I'm inclined to try my hardest, not only because I love Pandora, but also because she was one of the greatest teachers I've ever had. I'm not really a meme person, but here goes ... well ... except I won't tag five people. I guess I don't do everything Pandora asks of me, probably that's a good thing, too, don't you think?

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

"In this world people were said to be just like those of our own, except that they tied their belts under their armpits, not at their waists. Such spirits were not of the sky, rather they were in the sky, as we may speak of an airplane in the sky. The point of the shaman's journey to these deities was to lead the soul of the horse offered in propitiation by people to the god."

From Shamans and Elders, Experience, Knowledge and Power among the Daur Mongols, by Caroline Humphrey with Urgunge Onon.

12 comments:

Steve Reed said...

Interesting! Maybe I'll make this my post tomorrow. :)

So glad you had a great time with your better-than-friend friend!

Avid Reader said...

Interesting task--I will grab the nearest book... which happens to be a telephone book. Hmmm....

Reya Mellicker said...

Excellent! I don't have to tag five people because people will tag themselves.

I'm so curious to see both of your posts. I guess I understand better than I thought I did why memes are so interesting and popular.

Reya Mellicker said...

I just realized that the annual call for poetry on Groundhog Day is a meme. I should be a better sport.

Gary said...

Hi Reya, I just grabbed the book Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (which I just finished on Friday), here goes...

"Ah, that's Thomas Paine. Have you heard of him my child?"
Maggie dredged up memories of evenings half-asleep with her family at the Artichoke. "I think so. My pa talks about him at the pub."

I am not a meme sort either but this seemed to ignite my curiosity.

Unknown said...

This meme has been popping up everywhere, I think I'll have to give it a go too :-)

R.L. Bourges said...

the book closest to my hand right now is a French translation of Jonathan Lethem's Motherless in Brooklyn. The prospect of translating it BACK into English is too daunting to even think about at length. (by way of explanation, the main character Lionel Essrog is a private eye with Tourette's Syndrome.)
I'll stick with your shaman's journey for the time being. most inspiring thought - leading the soul of the horse to the god.

Lynne said...

You are always reading the most fascinating books!

Just starting: My Life in France, Julia Child & Alex Prud'homme

~snip
"We served sole meuniere, a mixed salad with chopped hard-boiled eggs, and a dessert of crepes Suzettes flambees au Grand Marnier. As he watched us bustle about the kitchen, Paul was surprised to see how much fun both the students and teachers were having.

Our pupils had not much exposure to wine, and kept making uninformed statements like "Oh, wine, I don't like it."
~snip

mouse (aka kimy) said...

no tagging necessary. the puppy's pals do like to have book fun. and it seems I may have tomorrow's post - the nearest book just happens to fit with the mouse's monthly game - I mean theme!

Anne said...

Hi, honey!

I like that poem, too. Glad you do.

And you're very sweet, to cooperate with The Meme.

much love, darlin'!

Washington Cube said...

The gradual rise in the level of carbon dioxide at Mauna Loa, now known as the Keeling Curve, has become one of the central icons for global warming. As of 2003, the level was 373 ppm, 18 percent higher than it was in 1959. It's been rising at a rate of about 1.3 ppm per year, precisely the rate Keeling first measured at the South Pole during the Geophysical Year.

wordwitch said...

better late than never - this'll be a fun one...

M.