So You Asked, Why This Blog Title?

Saturday, September 25, 2010

A month or so ago one of my followers asked if I might divulge why I chose this blog title. Since then it has come more than once, so why not? Why not tell you, how and why I came up with this title?

Believe me if I knew then what I know now it would not have been an option. I think you know what I mean, long, starts with “T” and does not match my blog address. Oh well, broke all those rules. How and why then did I come up with that title?

I could tell you the idea came from a bumper sticker, actually it did. That does not though explain my fascination with getting over the rainbow. My entire fascination came from the movie, duh. It was the imagery that has stayed with me and still influences my life. Again I hear you ask, “Why am I trying to get over the Rainbow?”

Very simply over the rainbow lies Oz. From the graphic representation of Oz the first thing you notice is color. Dorothy riding a twister, steps right out of a black and white world and into Oz.

Her plain, monotone, unfair Kansas existence burst into color the moment she opens the door of that fallen house. Ever been in such a “me” state of mind that the world around you felt just black and white? Then suddenly, you look up and your world if full of color. This is such a powerful use of color it still gives me the shivers.

Then the munchkins appear and you soon realize Oz is a special place. Colorful, cheerful, everyone willing to help, no it was not Kansas or anywhere else for that matter. This was Oz and the concept of finding that place where beauty and kindness trumps all just appeals to me.

Over the rainbow where you enter Oz is the true realm of existence. Anything and everything, normal and not normal resides there and in harmony. No need to worry about dress code, social status, job description or what someone else might think. Equality to all and all are equal.

There are no illegal aliens, no need for super powers, discrimination does not exist, and can you recall seeing anyone struggling or crying in Oz? Feel, do, be; that is what I think is over the rainbow. There exists simple harmony and splendor, full of color and special encounters. Call me a daydream or whatever but I want to go.

I know, some of you are asking but what about the bad witches, the flying monkeys, the evil trees and that hair brain wizard? I do not fear them. They have left Oz and now are among us.

Here in this realm of existence the bad witches are those who constantly want what you have and will go to any cost to take it from you. My experience is, just give it to them. Ask your self, “where is that bad witch going even if she does get those shoes and clicks her heels?” If she goes back to Oz they will melt her.

The flying monkeys are people we see daily. You know the ones who fly blindly just following orders simply because that is what they think is suppose to be. Not a brain in their heads but they follow orders well, they make good pets. Toss them a treat; they do anything for treats.

Shudder when you think of the evil trees, the nay speakers. Those individuals who constantly try to tell you, no you cannot. The ones who reach out their limbs through negativity to hinder a dream, bully you into submission and cast shadows of doubt, beware. In steps the tin man, your inner strength. Daily we ward off these guys, just add oil.

This leaves the hair brain wizard. Come on, really? Don’t you think every four years we elect a new one? Some better than others but always hair brain in some fashion. Genetically we should be well equipped to handle this guy.

I do want to reach over that rainbow. To find color, to feel, do and be in splendor with harmony. Funny thing is, if we got rid of the hair brain wizards of the world, cut down the evil trees, made errand boys of the flying monkeys and threw water on the wicked witches wouldn’t you think we were there already?

Until then I will continue my journey to that place over the rainbow. I will continue to chop down the evil trees, make errand boys of flying monkeys, laugh at the hair brain wizards but the evil witches…..

Let’s just say I carry bottled water now.

Oh and I almost forgot; I’d so love to drive me one of those bubbles.

Have a good weekend; I’m off for photos of the FEI (WEG) games.

Did this explanation meet all your questions?

Peace



15 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said, 

Your blog title sounds pretty clear to me! I've had people question mine as well.

September 25, 2010 at 10:10 AM  
RHYTHM AND RHYME said, 

I've always thought is was a lovely title and never wondered why you chose it, now you have explained I can full well understand.What a wonderful world if there were no evil witches as I'm sure there must be some somewhere,As for the flying monkeys well the world has only have to question why policitians are the way they are.
I love rainbows have a few poems on the subject.
Enjoy watching the games.

Yvonne.

September 25, 2010 at 10:17 AM  
Dawn said, 

I never wondered about your title but I love this post:)

September 25, 2010 at 10:32 AM  
Alex J. Cavanaugh said, 

Perfectly!

Now I want a flying monkey as a pet.

September 25, 2010 at 11:06 AM  
Summer Ross said, 

Great post Jules. I hadn't realized so much thought really went into your blog name. but then you are a thoughtful person so why hadn't that occured to me. lol I love your title whether it matches or not. :)

September 25, 2010 at 12:54 PM  
Velvet Over Steel said, 

I actually had a visualization of similar explaination. I always loved your title and your post about it was Great! Wonderful writing!!

Roughest week for me, I so needed to know that I am not alone in my journey! Thank you!!!!

HUGS,
Coreen

September 25, 2010 at 12:57 PM  
Jennifer Shirk said, 

I LOVE your explanation and your blog title!
Now it's going to make me even happier to come visit here. I can always use a little more Oz in my life. :)

September 25, 2010 at 2:23 PM  
Gail said, 

Jules, you are not in Kansas anymore!

You are over the rainbow...enjoy.

September 25, 2010 at 5:33 PM  
Tabitha Bird said, 

I totally get this. Great blog title :)

September 25, 2010 at 7:32 PM  
Jo said, 

So very interesting and quite beautifully vivid -- I think a great post idea is for everyone to recall why they began blogging and how they came up with their blog titles.

Once again our blog lives parallel as I, too, had that kooky gal Dorothy and her oh-so-slightly off-kilter pals in mind when I added 'Rainbow' to my blog title, even adding the Ruby Slippers in my sidebar.

Every Halloween time as a little girl -- long before VCR's, DVD's and even cable -- I couldn't wait for NBC's airing of 'The Wizard Of Oz'. I looked forward to that every year as much as I did dressing up and gorging on candy. Perhaps even more.

One of my prized treasures is 'The Wizard Of Oz' Pez dispenser collection my son gave me not too long ago.....

Very little gives me more joy than Frank Baum's conjured creations.

Thank you for sharing your vision with your readers and for bringing up such joyful memories for me....

Peace, serenity and Ruby Slippers forever,
~Jo
'The End Of The Rainbow: Life After Bankruptcy'

September 25, 2010 at 11:15 PM  
Ella said, 

I knew it had something to do with
The Wizard of Oz! ;-D

Funny, I am on a journey right now, taking the online course, "Crafting My Best Life" and I can't stop thinking about "The Wizard of Oz." How we all are like Dorothy, as we take this journey. Yes, there's no place like home, but home is in your heart and dreams can come true. We have to be willing to use our courage, brains(mindset) and heARTS to find and follow our own yellow brick road. It is long, maybe I will email it to you~
I love how you compared the Wizard to our Commander n' Chief...lol
This was great and I can't believe I just wrote over there about the Wizard of Oz... WOW! xXx

September 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM  
Ella said, 

Oh and I want to add this is Brilliant~

September 26, 2010 at 12:01 AM  
OJ Gonzalez-Cazares said, 

nicely done! but I have another question now... why fragile mouse??

September 26, 2010 at 12:37 PM  
Natasha said, 

I am patting myself on my back- when I first encountered your blog, the title spoke to me of moving beyond black and white and into a beautiful rainbow hued world.
What I am more interested in is the fragilemouse bit!

September 27, 2010 at 12:17 AM  
Unknown said, 

Funny, with everything now being thrown at us in living color, a monochrome image is now thought of as romantic or evocative rather than boring. Things to seem to be better over the rainbow, but you know what they say about the grass being greener... or is that careful what you wish for?

Now I'm wondering about fragilemouse, too!

September 27, 2010 at 1:17 AM  
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