Genie In A Bottle

Are you happy?

Do you have everything that you want, when and where you want it?

Let's just pretend that life is easy.

You wake up after the perfect night's sleep, aren't shivering with a chill, nor sweating. You aren't early nor late and the dawn breaks with a magnificent sunrise. The sky is blue and the air is scented from a gentle rain that only falls between 2am and 3 am.  Little birds are softly singing in the trees. There is freshly brewed coffee, or perfect tea, fresh clean water or cold milk waiting.

The table is full of every food you can imagine, in abundance, and it's all perfectly prepared, 24/7.  Nothing ever spoils and nothing is bad for your health. There are no piles of dirty dishes, or laundry, the lawn is perfectly green and every blade is uniform. The trees are perfectly shaped and even when the leaves fall, they disappear within hours.

The sun always shines, it never snows and the wind settles into a very gentle breeze. Flowers always bloom, and they last forever. It is always a perfect day for a picnic.  The sunset is breathtaking and you always see it. The night sky is always clear and the stars are brilliant.  The moon is hung right where you can see it whenever and wherever you look.

Let's just imagine that your bank account never dips, you never lose a contest, a job or a button.  Your car runs perfectly without repair, and you never need to buy gas.  Your business is flourishing and you choose whatever you want to do to keep it just that way.  It's always your turn, your day off and nothing gets in your way.

Let's just say that you are never tired, nor sick, nor hungry and you always get everything you want instantly.  Your hair is never unruly, your wardrobe always fresh, clean, fits perfectly and always matches.  Your teeth are aligned and there is no need to go to the dentist, unless you want to get a new toothbrush. Your doctor is only there to say you have a clean bill of health.

You never need to diet, or struggle with a bad habit. 

How about relationships? They are perfect. You never have a day when you aren't perfectly treated, exceptionally appreciated and no one ever falls out of love with you.  Your friends don't whisper behind your back and everyone, everywhere likes you and you like everyone back. Traffic never slows or blocks your way and the speed limit doesn't apply to you.  No hunting for a parking spot as yours is reserved. 

Batteries don't drain, light bulbs don't burn out and nothing ever needs repair.

You never lose anything and every time you want an honor, or a promotion, a party or a Kleenex, wait....you won't ever need a Kleenex because you never have a stuffy or runny nose. 

The song you want to hear is on the radio and your program is on tv...right now.  Any time. 

You don't have to study to learn and your memory is flawless. 

Life is endless and perfect.  No one ever dies and babies only smile and sleep through the night.  Your children behave flawlessly in every single situation.  Your spouse is right where you want him or her, and never ever has so much as a hangnail.  There are no disasters, nothing to fret over and if you want to run, your breath draws as easy as if you are standing still. 

Ahhhhh.....You have a Genie In A Bottle, and, you have made the perfect 4 wishes.

I know, the standard amount is 3 wishes...but your first wish was for an unending 4th wish.

Are you happy?

Why not? 

Your burdens are so light that they are like feathers in your pocket and you are strong.  You never want for things you don't have , or have anything to be upset over, you are never parched, nor hungry and there is always a sanitized restroom with fluffy towels for you to wipe your hands on.  You are never disappointed in a gift and it's always your birthday or Christmas.

Are you satisfied?

No.  Something is missing.  There is no delicious growl of your tummy and no satisfied sigh when it is filled.  You don't have to get up or go to work, and you don't have to struggle because there is no desire that is not instantly fulfilled. Snow doesn't need shovelling and grass doesn't need cutting.  Leaves don't need raking and your pumpkin never rots on the porch.

Perhaps, there aren't enough amusements.

Ok.  Every place you are is exactly where you want to be, and it's always the middle of your vacation.  The sand is warm and white, on every beach and the tide gentle.  You own a boat, or a jet ski, a horse, and the latest gadget.  In fact, you get the latest gadget the day before anyone else does. Ha!  Perfect. Your house is tastefully decorated and has the perfect view.

Too Perfect.  You are just not quite happy.

You call the Genie In The Bottle and he grins at you and asks you what you wish.

By this time, you are not thinking the Genie is so great and maybe you should unwish...just a little.  Maybe, you need a little excitement, a little mystery, a tinge of uncertainty and more of what you don't think you want.  If that brass ring was just a tiny bit out of reach...sometimes. 

What if, once you wished it, you couldn't undo it and you are stuck in the perfect life? 

You search for someone to help you fix everything that isn't broken and some wise man or bright young thing, tells you to break the bottle and let the pieces fall on your perfectly clean floor.  There is no other way to fix this....horrible thing.  You are desperate so, you do it.

Who left the window open?  Why is the baby crying?  Oh, my gosh...the car is out of gas.  There's two feet of snow and the garbage cans blew over and are two doors down.  You are out of coffee and your car keys are nowhere to be found. 

No wonder you gasp when you look in the mirror! 

Now, you are late for work, or school and your shoelace broke when you pulled on it.  Oh geeze,  the kids are fighting and the dog peed on the floor.  A search for something to eat, comes up, a jar of olives and a piece of stale pizza. 

Welcome to the real world.  Whew, this is going to be a challenge and a fight and it's never going to be just right.  Some things you can put off, sweep away and some will never get done.  Your inbox is full and your best friend lied to you.  Dinner is going to be rushed or you'll be late for the show that only comes around once....

In a blue moon. 

The moral of this story is, walk away from the bottle, and be careful what you wish for. 

God was right when he shooed everyone out into the world without a stitch of clothing, and a quest of the never ending why, on parched lips. 

Easy isn't easy and being cold let's you know how nice it is when you get warm.  Anticipation is flavorful and waiting makes getting what you need, and what you want, mean something.  Not everything ends with a happily ever after.

Are you happy?

Why not?

Once upon a time........there was a perfect, no, scratch that, a Monday. 

Smiling and waving.

Mary