Libra Liasons

I have a friend named Amy. We live in the same neighborhood, in houses with nearly identical floorplans. We each got married in 2006 and have three dogs a piece. We are both long-time subscribers to Us Weekly, have a weakness for reality television, love Tex Mex, and have a penchant for acrylic nails. Suffice to say, Amy and I share common interests and personality traits. All that aside, it's quite possible that the glue that holds our friendship together is that we are both Libras.

What is a Libra, you ask? Well, besides being the astrological sign for all those born between September 24 and October 23, symbolized by scales, we share a set of personality traits that distinguish us from those born under different signs:

 Libra traits include:

Diplomatic and urbane

Romantic and charming

Easygoing and sociable

Idealistic and peaceable

Indecisive and changeable

Gullible and easily influenced

Flirtatious and self-indulgent

That's so totally me, right? So, here's what happens when two Libras dine out. Propelled by Amy's craving for fried okra, we visited The Cotton Patch Cafe, and this is the exchange that occured between the two of us in response to our waiter's question: "Would you like more rolls or cornbread?"

Me: Do you want more bread?
Amy: Do you?
Me: I could go for more bread. You know, if you'd like more bread...
Amy: More bread sounds good.
Me: Would you like regular rolls or cornbread?
Amy: I don't know, what do you think?
Me: The rolls were good, but I also like cornbread.
Amy: I like cornbread.
Me: Cornbread is delicious.
Amy: The rolls were good, too.
Me: Yeah they were.
Amy: Hmm...would you rather-
Waiter: How's about I bring a little bit of both?
Amy and Me: Great!

See how that played out? Because we're diplomatic, we're each trying to let the other one choose and so we go round and round. And since we're both indecisive we can't choose. If our husbands (both Geminis) had been there, this conversation never would have taken place. Before we could utter the first word, one of the men would have said "Yes" and that would have been the end of it. Yes, they think we're ridiculous.

This story is really not worth mentioning, but I think it helps to frame what Steve told me later that same evening about his day at work:

"This guy [comes into the golf shop] buys a black hat. Five minutes later, he returns. I help him exchange the black hat for a white hat, and he leaves. Five minutes later, he comes back again. He  exchanges the white hat back to the black hat. He completely left the store, drove off, and then returned twice because he couldn't decide what color hat he wanted."

Steve: Are you a Libra?
Indecisive Hat Buyer: I don't know.
Steve: When is your birthday?
Indecisive Hat Buyer: October.
Steve: Early or late October?
Indecisive Hat Buyer: October 10th.
Steve: Yep, you're a Libra. My wife is a Libra, so I have some experience in these matters.
Indecisive Hat Buyer: What does that mean?
Steve: Maybe you should consider buying both hats?