The Little Mermaid

I love that movie. I have since the first time I watched it. I never went to see it in the theater because I didn't have any kids yet, but ever since I bought it on video, I've regretted that. I could point to great scenes and songs in the movie that keep me coming back over and over again (Kiss the Girl, for example), but to be perfectly honest, what I love most about the movie is one line uttered by Ursula when she's enticing Ariel to trade her voice, something that's very much a part of her but that she'd always taken for granted for what she dreamt about most in the world. As Ariel is objecting to the high price she is told, "Life's full of tough choices, isn't it deary?"

If I had to pick one sentence to sum up my view of life right now, that would be it. When confronted with difficult decisions, I somehow always seem to say to myself that, "This would be so easy if ____." But the problem is, that if isn't true. And it's not going to be any time soon. And sometimes it's the stupidest decisions that tie me up in knots.

For example: In a couple of weeks, our home college football team is playing an away game a reasonable drive from here. If we make the drive slightly longer, we can go through the town where my oldest is attending college and pick her up to take her with us. Now comes the hard part. There isn't enough room in the car to take everyone who wants to go unless I find a sitter for the youngest for a weekend - a very unappealing prospect as far as I'm concerned. But if she goes with, someone has to stay at home, and it's most likely to be the kid who really needs the most love and encouragement right now - the one who needs the special privileges. Of course, I could always stay home with the baby even though I'd really like to go, but then the hubby would be all upset and pouty. I mean, I could use the quiet time at home, but I really don't want to deal with his disappointment. No matter what I choose, someone will be disappointed at the very least. Then, of course, there's the expense of gas, hotel room, game tickets, etc. We briefly considered renting a larger car, but with the current gas prices, that's pretty unappealing, too. So now what? I make a decision and go with it, but what will it be?

Like I said, it's those pesky little if's. There are so many decisions that would be so easy if only.... I guess it's time to face facts and just make the decisions, even though.