Teacup Tempest
Dear Rex the Rare,
I bought an antique tea set online. My husband got mad and said it was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“How is it a self-fulfilling prophecy,” I answered.
“Because you might drop one of the teacups and break it, and then the set would be no good.”
What??
I asked if he knew what a self-fulfilling prophecy meant, and now he won’t talk about it.
Please help!
Signed,
Confused Husband Appears Illiterate
Dear CHAI,
Admitting mistakes is tricky. No one likes to seem foolish.
I’ve met some truly grandiose people in my years in the circus. (I might be one myself!)
We are all the heroes of our own stories.
This could be a case of someone trying to sound smart. Bluffing and huffing and hoping to appear superior.
There is another possibility.
Perhaps you’ve heard this saying: “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
Your husband tried using a new phrase, one he didn’t understand.
A sincere but unqualified beginner. He is the student, at least for this concept.
He waits ready for a teacher to emerge.
The X factor is that I don’t know this man. His character, his goodness.
He might be a big man-baby, one now pouting because his silliness was exposed.
He might be more of a decent sort, one who reached higher than his (metaphorical) legs could carry him.
I suppose only you know which of those choices is true.
Once you determine that outcome, you’ll most likely know how to proceed.
Counterpoint commentary by …
Marzonk! the Strong-Man
Marzonk! hates teacup. Hates all teacups!
Too small and dainty for Marzonk!’s hands.
Need big silverware! Huge fork. Knife with grip and bite. And no sporks. Spork confuses Marzonk! — too universal and unspecific. Marzonk! is man, not baby!
Not baby, but a child with words. Words hard! Words hurt like too tight hamstring.
Marzonk! never mocks puny men at gym with little arms. Marzonk! helps!
Why no help for husband’s brain? Mrs. Marzonk! teaches Marzonk! all the time.
Things that Marzonk! hear talk about, but not really understand or know.
Words like chillax or delulu or skibidi. Or FOMO!
Now no longer in fear of ideas.
Self-fulling prophecy, if you were to ask Marzonk!.
