My third semester French students have been working on mastering the prepositions used in French to tell where someone or something is, is going to, or is coming from. You former students of French probably remember what a challenge this is, especially if you are already weak in geography. In French the preposition that's used depends on the type of geographical location (city, country, island, etc.) and in certain cases the gender of that location (a masculine country vs a feminine country). Thus to say you were going to the following places, you would end up with à Paris, en Italie, au Pérou, and aux États-Unis. You can see the potential for frustration, especially if you can't even remember whether a place is a city or a country, let alone what gender it is! Since, along with the prepositions, we're working on the future tense, the title of the Dr. Seuss book seemed perfect.
This past week a reader sent me a little story loaded with puns. I've tweaked it slightly and added some ideas of my own. I hope you enjoy it.
Places to Go and Not to Go
I have visited many places in my life, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go there alone — you have to be in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there. I've often wished I could at least be in Visible. As much as I want to go, though, you'll probably never see me there. I would like to get to Conclusions, but to do so, you often have to jump — something I'm trying not to do much any more.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport — you have to be driven there. I've actually made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family, and work. I've also been in Doubt. It's a sad place to go, and I try not to be there too often. My wife tells me that on more than one occasion I have been in Considerate, in Appropriate, and in Attentive, but to tell you the truth, I didn't notice having gone there. 
I know I've been in Flexible, but usually only when it was important to stand firm. I have occasionally been found in Capable, and I seem to go there more and more often as I age. One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense. It really gets the adrenaline flowing and speeds up the old heart! I can tell you several places I hope I can avoid visiting — I really don't want to wind up are in Coherent or in Continent, but you never know where this journey called life will take you!
I look forward to my readers' comments, where I hope they'll add some of their own places to go and not to go, done in the style of this post.
quotation...
"It is the easiest thing in the world for us to obey God when He commands us to do what we like, and to trust Him when the path is all sunshine. The real victory of faith is to trust God in the dark, and through the dark." — Theodore L. Cuyler
=^..^= =^..^=
Rob
It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
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on Oct 12th, 2011 at 7:44 am
I have occasionally been in Decisive. Then again, maybe not. Or maybe I have…
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 9:01 am
This reminds me of my daughter’s 4th birthday party where we had a fashion show and gave each girl a Miss America-style sash with her title on it. We had Miss Demeanor, Miss Fortunate, etc. My daughter was Miss Behavior!
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Some people are in Verted. Everything there is upside down.
Because of the gospel we never have to be in Consolable.
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 10:28 am
@Elizabeth, Theresa, and Michael – Great ones! Hope we get more.
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
We should think of people as being in Valuable!
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
I often find myself in Troverted. When it’s crowded, I don’t tend to stay too long, but when no one else is around, I can amuse myself for hours!
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
I’ve been in Comparison, and it’s hard to be content there. When I visited in Proportion, I noticed that most of the residents are highly educated in the math and science fields–I felt outclassed and decided to keep on going till I arrived in Dispensable.
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Vizzini was never in Conceivable. But he was in Capacitated.
on Oct 12th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
I’ve often been in Ept, particularly when searching for ways to repair something around the house.
on Oct 14th, 2011 at 6:41 am
@Karen, Megan, and Steve – I’m not sure I’ve ever been in Valuable or in Troverted, but I’ve most certainly been in Ept.
@Barbara – Your comment struck me funny because Becka and I just watched a news report the other day of a reunion of some of the cast of Princess Bride on Good Morning America (can’t vouch for everything you might see on that page)
on Oct 17th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
This goes along with the comment from Elizabeth. It’s in a Jimmy Buffet song. His words are indecision may or not be my problem! I thought it was a good one!
on Oct 17th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@deb – When people ask me if I have trouble making up my mind, I say, “Yes and no.” So I think I’ve been in Decision too.
on Oct 18th, 2011 at 2:27 am
Sometimes my writing is simply in Coherent, except when I’m in Attentive, and then I don’t care.
on Oct 19th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
I’ve been in Adequate, and it looks a lot like a kitchen.