Thursday, September 4, 2008

Shire Vs. Rivendell?

This past weekend I got into a fun discussion with Robin, Em & Luis about where we'd want to live in Tolkien's MiddleEarth. A fun little fantasy worth discussing I'd say.
Luis and I thought we'd prefer the Shire. Very simple. Franciscan and Therese'esque if you're talking in Catholic spirituality terms. You know- staying small & joyful etc. etc. living in rolling natural hills with lots of good ale. Definitely our style.
Robin & Emily would prefer Rivendell. The flowing dreamy lands, the foresight, the beauty and special mystical powers. Quite appealing too.
So I want to hear from my dear family and friends who actually check this blog (which is only a handful.)
What would you prefer?
The Shire or Rivendell?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gosh, what a great question. I think i'd choose both of them at different times. Wouldn't want to stay in one or the others. More often than not I'd want the Shire, to live simply as a hobbit. But once in awhile i'd need a visit to Rivendall...
This i will be pondering tonight!!!
And Cal, over emotional moms are to be expected! I bawled like a baby for 2 months leading up to Sharon's first day of school (not this year!). RJ had to take off work so that he could help me through it. We dropped her off and went to a nearby coffee shop and sat and talked until it was time to go back and get her...
The teachers were far more concerned about me than they were Sharon! It does get easier though! And if John Paul likes school, that will make it easier for you (those first months were rough because Sharon didn't like it as much. But once we switched schools, now she loves to go!)

Unknown said...

Wow. What a question.

Can I just go hang with Tom Bombadil instead?

our little brown life said...

Jaye I'd agree with you. The Shire would make a good home address and Rivendell the perfect vacation spot once in awhile.
Jason I think you would make a good bartender with Rosie (the girl Samwise loves) in addition to providing music.
Jaye thanks for the consolation. It's so good to hear that I'm not a total nut!

Unknown said...

I think I would be found in the Shire - I would like to vacation with the Ents - and visit Rivendell too!
My Rose started school as usual this year and then 3 days in we decided to move her from the small school where she has been since Kindergarten to the BIG middle school. It was a culture shock for all of us. I think I have cried more this week than I did when she started kindergarten. I am realizing that it does not get easier - just different - as they get older. A mother's heart is a bittersweet gift!

Catherine Berg said...

Shire all the way!! I love the simplicity of it. I just want to run in the fields with no shoes on. Rivendell is beautiful, but in the movie, Cate Blanchent freaked me out a little bit. Actually all the elves were a little weird, except Legolos , of course.

teresa anthony said...

Wow Jason, Bombadil. Since Peter Jackson didn't like him I almost forgot about him. Didn't they almost get swallowed up by giant tree roots with Bombadil, or am I confusing him with the Bjorn character from the Hobbit - he was a bear who served bread and fabulous honey and then went out and hunted some goblins, right? Oh well, I can't remember.

I'm with the majority on this comment section, the Shire all the way. A once or twice in a lifetime visit to Rivendell would set me up nicely (like visiting Europe). If I lived there all the time I think the elves with their all knowing wisdom would start to give me a complex - kind of like the feeling I had in high school being surrounded by the cooler kids.

But give me the shire - being surrounded by folks who love the good earth, good ale (make mine a cheap fruity tasting wine), and six meals a day - couldn't get better!

I wouldn't mind visiting the Gray Havens for a yearly beach vacation - wouldn't want to see any haunting elves leaving the shores forever - kind of depressing on a beach vacation - but the sunset in the movie was gorgeous!

We start school tomorrow (we were supposed to start last Tuesday, but the school building needed some serious organizational maintenance first. Cecilia bemoaned that she was definitely being treated like Cinderella all week as I made her help deep clean. Except no fairy godmother showed up to send her to the ball - isn't life unfair!) Everyone is very excited.

Love you all,

Teresa

P.S. Say a prayer for Charlie (for you North Carolina cousins, Charlie is my mom's long time friend - he's 92 years old). He took a bad fall down a steep flight of about 10 steps at his river side cottage while weed whacking, and has been in the hospital for several days. He's in a LOT of pain.