The Mess Behind the Meme

So, I've been meme'd. And because the adorable Sophie Littlefield asked, I cannot say no.

While I've had a myspace blog for well over a year and this one for a while, I'm still not clear on the rules of these things. Do I have to continue the same meme? Can I change it? What happens if I cheat?

Here's the one Sophie sent me:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

This one was harder than it looked for me. I won't even describe the state of my desk. Actually, here's a picture of it.

Ask anyone who knows me--my shame threshold is pretty high and there are many things about myself I don't hesitate to share. (I hear, "TMI, Mom" a lot!) Even when the rest of my house is spotless (uh, not very often), I indulge in desk-messiness. I just can't help it. I am known for covering horizontal surfaces with things--lots of things.

At first, when I looked around, I saw no books. Then I realized that just under my son's George Washington essay and the teabag package sat the last draft of CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS, my next novel. But, really, that seemed a little blatant to me, a little too self-serving. Plus, it's not technically a book yet. So, I looked further and saw the copies of LIFELINES and NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM, books by my friends CJ Lyons and Jordan Dane. They were still in an open Amazon box, ready for delivery to my favorite dental hygienist, Tracy, who is going to the Bahamas next week. LIFELINES was on top--so LIFELINES it would be.

Then I noticed the red case just beside my computer. You can see it there in the picture with its little brass closure. It's my travel Bible. Why is it on my desk? I should probably say that I keep it there for inspiration and guidance--but it's really there because Pomegranate borrowed it to take to Europe and dropped it on my desk to return it. (Geo. Washington essay, borrowed books on my desk. I'm seeing a pattern here. No wonder my desk is a mess!)

Page 123 happens to be in Leviticus, Chapter 25, in which God is handing down some serious rules beyond the ten commandments.

'And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow, nor gather in our produce?" Then I will command My blessings on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth enough produce for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.'

How strangely appropriate given that many folks are celebrating Passover this week, and people have begun to hoard rice. I'm just glad God wasn't telling Moses to keep his desk clean, because that really would have spooked me.

So I'm supposed to tag five people now. But I'm feeling lazy and hurried, so I'll only annoy three! Margy, Jen, Joe Frick--you're up! (Because I know they'll come up with something way more interesting than just what's on page 123!)