To Shuffle or Not To Shuffle?
TODAY’S LAUGH: DaHusband and I loaded several of our favorite CDs into our multi-CD player, as musical accompaniment for an evening at home with friends. Then I hit “SHUFFLE.”
I was about to press “PLAY” when he stopped me. “Why ’shuffle’? Why not just let the CDs 
play in order?”
“I always shuffle,” I said. “I love it when ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?‘ pops in after a Sibelius symphony that’s sandwiched between an old hymn and a little Wynton Marsalis. I just like music!”
“Well, I like it too, but doesn’t it make you nuts, jumping around like that?”
“Nope,” I said, “I guess I just like living on the edge…” (Oh yeah. I’m a maniac.)
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: To shuffle or not to shuffle–that is the question.
I always hit “SHUFFLE.” I like the idea of being surprised, even if it’s just by the next sound track. But the world is full of “non-shufflers” who prefer to know, as much as possible, what’s coming next.
Some of us are linear, rows and numbers kind of people. Some of us are blobs and splashes types. We’re not “right” or “wrong.” We’re just wired differently, so we can help each other.
Like one daughter says, “Mom, it’s like God put you and Dad together to make one ‘normal’ person!”
We do balance each other. When I’m shuffling along, my non-shuffling mate helps me focus on what’s really needed. And when he’s mired in angst over life’s unpredictables, I can encourage him to relax and shuffle along with the flow.
So who are you–a shuffler or a non-shuffler? Who in your life balances you out? And who do you balance?
Bless one another by providing someone–family, friend, coworker–a little balance today, and letting them do the same for you.
Until next time, I’ll be shuffling along…
///////
THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY: I confessed my shuffling, blobs and splashes approach to life in the 
chapter called “Getting My Act Together” in Confessions of a Prayer Wimp. (That’s the book with the cool pink fluffy slippers–and no, I don’t own them, OR those gorgeous ankles, unfortunately!)
This week’s winner may choose the “Wimp” or When Did I Stop Being Barbie & Become Mrs. Potato Head? or When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister? as a gift for yourself or a special woman in your life. (Mother’s Day is May 10th.)
TO ENTER, use the CONTACT MARY link and put BALANCE in the subject line. And if you want to share a little about whether you shuffle or not and who balances you out in life, I’d love to hear about it!
(One entry per verified email address and US shipping addresses only. Winner will be selected at 8:00 PM CDT on Monday, May 4, 2009.)
LAST WEEK’S WINNER: Marlene Adelmeyer. Congratulations, Marlene!
Shuffle? What is that? Just kidding but seriously it is a button I never use, so I guess I don’t like to shuffle. I figure the artist places the songs in particular order for a reason, ;))
MP)
(Shucks, I never thought of THAT…
Comment by Laurel — April 28, 2009 @ 6:42 am
This from P: My son listens and if I am getting way off my track, he says “Oh Mom” and I get it and again look at my thinking.
MP)
(Ah yes, “from the mouths of babes…” we learn so much!
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 28, 2009 @ 8:17 am
And Bob says, “To shuffle sounds far too complicated for me. Getting all my ducks in a row is much easier. Have a nice, ‘confused’ day.”
MP)
(Thanks, Bob, for the dictionary definitions of shuffle–who KNEW it meant so many different things! WAY more complicated than I thought. Now where are those ducks…?
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 28, 2009 @ 8:20 am
And Diane has this to say: “My husband shuffles and I don’t. I like the relation of the songs put together on the same album, and then I can sing them from memory. My children wonder how two very different people ever got together to marry? I just explain, we didn’t have a shuffle option 30 yrs ago!”
MP)
(Indeed, it’s a good thing our shuffling options are limited…
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 28, 2009 @ 8:21 am
After “Titanic” became such a hit, an author from Bloomer contacted me to contract-print his book, “After Titanic.” Seems that whenever he had an inspiration of any kind/subject/”shuffle-type” he wrote a blurb and threw it in his slush pile. “Titanic” hit his hot-button and he figured out how to link them into a piece of whole cloth. By the way, the valuable jewelry was found later in an old ammo case in a cabin in Chetek WI! Bill Heins
MP)
(Not an easy task to “shuffle” all that slush…
Comment by revheins — April 28, 2009 @ 8:59 am
From Joanne: “I SHUFFLE and am a pro. I can always change or turn around or calm the waters. I so shuffle. That’s the way I am wired. How thought provoking is a simple word like shuffle?”
MP)
(Shuffle on, Sistah!
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 29, 2009 @ 10:06 am
And Laura says: “I so do not shuffle…. I play it straight I just can’t help it.”
MP)
(You ARE your father’s daughter!
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 29, 2009 @ 10:07 am
From Amy: Our oldest daughter was just engaged….and being more like DaHusband (yours) I found myself saying to myself at work today, “I need to take the next 5 months off to plan this!” Guess I’m going to have to learn to shuffle!
MP)
(Congrats! There’s no shuffle like the wedding-planning shuffle
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 30, 2009 @ 6:12 am
And Phyllis says: “Jim and I are opposites that have been balancing each other for 64 years now. Our granddaughter asked how we did it. Answer was: we did not take the differences as personal affronts just instances that needed to be compromised.”
MP)
(Awesome and inspiring!
Comment by Mary Pierce — April 30, 2009 @ 6:13 am