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Stars may be aligned for change after all
BEYOND MY CONTROL, BY CHRISTINE THOME
Stars may be aligned for change after all
I wouldn't call myself superstitious. Maybe just-a-little-stitious. But there are some things in life I don't mess with. Just in case.
Take for example, ladders. If you saw a ladder on the sidewalk and you were able to comfortably and safely walk around it, instead of under it, wouldn't you? I know I would.
Would you plan your wedding on Friday the 13th? If you had a choice, probably not.
Is there any harm in making a wish on a rainbow or when the clock reads 11:11? Absolutely not. After all, it might come true.
Call it superstition, fate, luck or chance, but they all plant a little paranoid "what if" seed in our brains. What if I accidentally walk under a ladder? What if I break a mirror? What if I wish for something bad?
Would you take the advice of a complete stranger who called you in the morning and told you that a large financial windfall was in your very near future? No! Hopefully, you would sign up for the "Do Not Call" telemarketing list. Right after you reported a phone scam to your local police department.
But this is exactly what millions of Americans do every single morning. We open up our local newspapers or search online and read our horoscopes before we even take a sip of our coffee.
A Magic 8 Ball can probably give us the same response, but, for some reason, we consider astrologers to be much more credible.
That is, until recently.
Just a few weeks ago, people around the world awoke to find that they might not be the zodiac sign they have long believed themselves to be.
I was born on March 9 (put that on your calendars now -- it's coming up), and, for 43 years, I have believed myself to be a Pisces. A creative, romantic, outgoing, high-dreaming Pisces. But now they say I am really an Aquarius. A contrary, unpredictable and detached Aquarius. And according to the news, I have actually been an Aquarius my whole life. Seems astronomers, not astrologers, have known about this for over 2,000 years.
My whole life has been a sham. Every time I read the description for Pisces, I really felt it fit me precisely. Pisces are dancers -- I danced until I was 18. Pisces are writers -- hey, I do that. Pisces are caregivers -- I haven't abandoned my four kids, at least not yet. Pisces are kind and compassionate -- I still put up with my crazy husband.
Now they say, as an Aquarius, my favorite number is 2. Who wants to be No. 2, when you can be No. 1? My favorite color is red -- I have never worn red in my life. Not even on Valentine's Day or Christmas. And Thursday is my favorite day. Who the heck likes Thursdays over Fridays? Probably the same people whose favorite number is 2.
I'm pretty sure this whole "change your zodiac sign" brouhaha is a ploy to boost the economy. People now have a reason to buy T-shirts, jewelry and car decals with their new signs. Creepy guys are now empowered to once again buy a drink for the women who ignored them in the past. "Hey, baby! I'm no longer a Scorpio. Now, I'm a Libra. A masculine, flirtatious and sociable Libra. What's your new sign, baby?"
Regardless of what the new evidence says, I am not an Aquarius. I am a Pisces, and I will always be a Pisces.
At least I thought so until I read my horoscope this morning. My Pisces horoscope stated: "Today is not your best day. Stay away from intimate gatherings as you have a tendency to be abrasive and may hurt the feelings of someone you love. Balance your checkbook and control your spending, you may need to dip into your savings later this year. Tonight: Go to bed early."
My Aquarius horoscope stated: "You are the life of the party! New friends search you out and ask your opinion. Your kindness and generosity is appreciated in ways you may never know. Tonight: Treat yourself to something special -- you deserve it!"
I am definitely an Aquarius today.
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