"What a Moomin!"

[steepholm]

"I believe many of my readers will thoughtfully lift their snout from the pages of this book every once in a while to exclaim: 'What a Moomin!' or: 'This indeed is life!'" 

I've always loved that part of Moominpappa's introduction to his memoirs. What oft was thought but ne'er so unblushingly expressed!

I was reminded of it, because one of those memes where you get a point for every thing you have done from a given list (been in a limo, taken drugs, had a one-night stand, etc.) has been going round Facebook lately. I scored rather low, which got me - no doubt a mite defensively - wondering what the basis of selection was. After all, people do many things in their lives: which count as worthy of inclusion on such a list, and what does your score say about you, if anything? From the comments I saw, the general inference seemed to be that points=coolness.

Now, I'm neither cool nor ambitious to become so, but, simply by dint of having lived almost 58 years, I have accumulated a few experiences that, looked at squintways, make me look a much wilder child than I am or ever was. 

So, give yourself a point if you have ever:

Walked barefoot across red-hot coals

Eaten raw horse

Spent the night alone in a haunted house

Spent the night in the British Museum

Cut someone's umbilical cord

Held someone's hand as they died

Had gender-confirming surgery

Published a novel

Played in a pop group on national television

Drunk whisky in an Akihabara maid cafe 

Stood naked in a Welsh sea cave with half a dozen similarly skyclad acquaintances

Got close enough to the Queen to grab her fur coat - and done so

Some of you will no doubt have a respectable score, but I'll be amazed if anyone but me sweeps the board. Don't despair, though! It didn't take long to compile this highly selective itinerary, and if you're north of 40 I bet you could do something similar, just from the random incidents that inevitably occur at times in any life of moderate duration. 

I would love to read your lists, too.

Comments

[joyeuce]

I have eaten haggis many times and have never thought of this as unusual! Which country did you circumnavigate?

[calimac]

Haggis is very rare in the US, where it's generally considered against the health laws. Consequently Americans are reluctant to try it even in Scotland, but I thought I'd like it and did.

The country? Well, it has to be very small, and I didn't have to be a mountain climber or walk on water. Should be guessable.

[steepholm]

Vatican City, perhaps?

[calimac]

Of course. The circumnavigation occupied about 45 minutes, took place entirely on the streets of Rome, and was undertaken to pass my time while B. was attending Mass inside the country, conducted by its Head of State.