Flaherty Fanzine Dec. 2013 | Page 3

Hello, my name is

DESTINY

by Jane Feney

I think it is only right that this, our first edition of the Flaherty Fanzine, be written both as a holiday edition and by four extremely single Flaherty children. Why is the season of any importance? Why, because it’s our (I mean my) favorite time of year. There’s nothing I love more than for two things that I love on their own to line up in any way and therefore become together even more lovable. The holidays and a magazine written by and for and, most importantly, about the Flahertys is a wonderful combination.

Why does it matter that we’re single? Well, because it goes to show how lame we are and how much stronger our fraternal bonds are than any sort of marriage thing. Someone who could’ve successfully married Anne recently said, “not now.” Someone who could’ve successfully married me recently was turned away by my cold heart. But to each other, the six of us remain true and steadfast. None of this, “Hmm, I just don’t know…” If we are sure of anything, it is that we are family and that we belong together for now and forever.

One of my favorite pastimes, in addition to organizing my life and your life and any details that might be connected with anybody else’s life, is listening to sermons. Seems hard to believe, but considering my audience, I don’t think you will find it hard to believe. Recently I listened to one entitled “Finding Your Destiny.” Obviously, I couldn’t resist such a promising title, as my destiny at the time seemed to be on the verge of going either way (up or down, right or left, good or bad, your pick) in light of a looming breakup. Lucky for me, the sermon wasn’t nearly as cheesy as its title, but rather surprised me in the nugget of wisdom it had to offer. The key to finding your destiny is in finding your family, this sermon said. Those you choose to live life with create your destiny.

Hmm. Sounds nice. Go on…

Example A: Ruth.

“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

Ruth had no destiny that she was eagerly pursuing. She had nothing going for her but faithfulness to the people she felt were most important. And where did this get her? She became the great-grandmother of King David from whose line the Messiah was born. That=Destiny. Am I wrong? (And she got quite the romantic adventure with Mr. Rich-Guy-I’m-Going-to-Redeem-You-Boaz on the side.)

The people she was with created her destiny. Good choice going with Naomi, Ruth.

Example B: Jo March.

Jo March’s life, like my own, could have gone either way. If she had married Laurie (which we all were desperately hoping for) her life would have been one thing, and with Frederic Bhaer (the old one) another thing. She chose Frederic (despite his age), and what was the result, a lovely school for boys that changed surely countless lives, including mine—I now plan to have a similar school. I’m simply waiting for my currently unknown rich aunt to leave me her mansion in her will.

Example C: Some heroic historical figure.

You can provide better than I can someone to fill this slot. Surely some person at some point in history walked into their destiny not because of who they were but because of whom they knew. Please write back with your own examples. (If I find the contents of your contribution to be both note-worthy and interesting, I will consider printing it in next month’s edition of The Flaherty Fanzine.)

Let me clarify that family can be more than blood relations. It’s whomever you choose to live your life with. How blessed am I to have an easy choice before me. My dear father and mother, brother and sisters are exactly whom I want to live my life with. For I know that with them, my destiny will be great indeed. I’m not ashamed to have a strong bond with my family even at an age that so often calls for branching out on one’s own. I’d like to branch out with my own. In finding my family, I’ve found my destiny. All that’s left is to live life and life to the full. Thank you, Lord, for making my destiny quest so straightforward. You know me well.