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Aristotle |
Here is where we are : Our boy Ben has reduced the field of
candidates for the “Ben Sweepstakes” to two ladies : Lauren B ( in blue below) and Jo Jo.
Ben has added some complexity to this situation by sharing
words of love and affection to each of the ladies. Each lady has one final date to help Ben
reach some conclusion to his journey for love.
But these dates are like asking a senior in college how are things
are going? For the senior in college the
only thing that matters is the answer to one question: What are you doing next
year? For these ladies the only thing that matters is will Ben pick me? So other than enjoying watching Ben's Mom roll her eyes at some of the ladies praise of young Ben, (mothers know their sons) we were all basically waiting for the choice.
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BEN'S MOM GOING FOR SINCERITY |
While Bachelor Nation watched Ben agonize as if he were
making the decision facing President Truman
in 1945
on whether to bomb Hiroshima or
not to end WW2, I began
to think about choices and destiny.
Aristotle in the quote above says our choices dictate our
destiny. I think I am in agreement with Aristotle ( I am sure he is very pleased to hear that news).
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DESMOND |
But Desmond from LOST! suggests the universe has
our destiny in mind and shapes events to fulfill that destiny. Could both these
philosophers be right?
Desmond points out he sees the future for his pal Charlie and
does all he can to forestall the inevitable destiny Charlie has as the universe
has a way of course correcting .
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DESMOND SAVES CLAIRE |
Charlie: So, you're telling me you saw a flash of Claire drowning this morning, so you knew how to save her?
Desmond: I wasn't saving Claire, Charlie... I was saving you. This morning, you dove in after Claire. You tried to save her but you drowned.
Charlie: What do you mean? I didn't drown.
Desmond: When I saw the lightning hit the roof, you were electrocuted. And when Claire was in the water, you drowned trying to save her. I dove in myself so you never went in. I tried, brother. I've tried twice to save you, but the universe has a way of course-correcting, and I can't stop it forever. I'm sorry - I'm sorry because, no matter what I try to do... you're gonna die, Charlie.
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BYE CHARLIE |
Desmond argues we have a destiny regardless of our choices
and actions. Our fates are determined and the universe will tilt things to fulfill the destiny. I still lean to Aristotle but some part of me wonders if all the various experiences have prepared me for something.
Our boy Ben seems to have his destiny in his hands as he is
the one making the choice as the ladies have long ago articulated their love
and preference for moving ahead. I think he has done himself a favor eliminating the women that would be voted "Most likely to stab him in his sleep" earlier on in the program leaving him with two great candidates for the Ben Sweepstakes.
Ben eventually gets us to the rose ceremony after the
obligatory looks out at the ocean while he tries to get some clarity without consulting Aristotle or Desmond. While we navigate
through his dilemma, we in Bachelor Nation ponder for ourselves what will help
him reach a decision. And I start to
ponder how we read people and make decisions about them. We can look at a face
and make a decision about the person. We think the face is the best indicator
of a persons emotions and trust out ability to read the face . Looking at Lauren B we readily conclude she is a nice,
cheerful and pleasant person. We have seen
her for weeks behave in a mature poised manner with a sense of warmth and humor.
We can’t tell how she would be on the deck of the Titanic but our instinct tells us to trust her and believe in her. She looks happy. When Ben is with her he has almost a glow about him that radiates his happiness. It seems a natural fit for our boy and this is
a decision that will be made on his gut feeling not columns in an excel worksheet. For us in bachelor nation, (well the Wilton,
Ct. Bachelor Nation comprised of Eileen,
Summy, and me ) we are pulling for Lauren B.
SUMMY IS BIG LAUREN B FAN |
Eventually we get to the rose ceremony and Ben meets Jo Jo
first. Summy barks at Ben since she assumes her opinion matters. Although the producers have given us every chance to perceive Jo Jo has a shot I don’t like her chances . Ben offers he loves her and his time with her is special ...BUT .........
and that spells the end for No Jo . Ben loves another ... No Jo handles this with class and moves on ...... to become the next Bachelorette while Ben moves ahead and proposes to his love Lauren B !
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DON'T FEEL BAD ..YOU GOT THE BACHELORETTE GIG! |
and that spells the end for No Jo . Ben loves another ... No Jo handles this with class and moves on ...... to become the next Bachelorette while Ben moves ahead and proposes to his love Lauren B !
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HAPPILY EVER AFTER -- WE HOPE ! |
Ben and Lauren have completed their journey on the show and begin another post Bachelor and we hope they have found love and will have a great life together.
Thank you very much for joining me on Ben's journey and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did .