The Chinese Zodiac is an attempt to explain a person's personality traits along with physical and mental attributes. It is also supposed to predict your degree of success and happiness. My first response is to consider the Zodiac unadulterated "baloney". Then being the curious person that I am, I figured that I had 5 Grasshopper experiments that I could examine.
The Chinese believe that the Zodia consists of a 12 year cycle, each year which is named after a different animal that imparts distinct characteristics to it's year. The year of your birth correlates to an animal and explains much about you as an individual. So lets take a look.
Debs is a Rat. Yep! I've never thought of Debs as a rat but she is what she is. This means she is ambitious yet honest. She is prone to spend freely. She seldom makes lasting friendships. Now I ask you, does that describe Grasshopper No. 1? I guess only Debs can answer the question. I don't know about the lasting friendships, but I do think she is maybe one of the friendliest people I know. The last part of the Zodiac says she is compatible with Dragons and Monkeys and least compatible with Horses. I have absolutely no idea what that means.
Kelly is an Ox. She is predicted to be bright, patient and inspiring to others. She can be happy by herself yet make an outstanding parent. I would argue with "patient". Kelly isn't patient about anything. Maybe that is Grasshopper No. 2's challenge in life. To be more patient. Everything else seems to fit. She is suppose to marry a Snake or a Cock and avoid the Sheep because it will bring trouble.
Chris is a Dragon. He is suppose to be eccentric and his life complex. He is predicted to have a very passionate nature and abundant health. I can attest to Chris' life being complex but I don't know if I'd consider him eccentric. Maybe there is something about him I don't know. He has a very compassionate nature. He is supposed to marry a Monkey or Rat late in life. Avoid the Dog.
Paul is also a Rat. Yep, he and Debs have more in common that I would have thought. They are both Rats. Is he ambitious? Yeah! Is he honest? Mostly yeah! Is he prone to spend freely? He hasn't had alot to spend, so I really don't know. From what I know of Paul, ambition may be his over-riding characteristic. The description spelled out by the Zodiac isn't bad. He also is compatible with Dragons and Monkeys and not a good fit with the Horse.
And then there is Margaret. She is a Snake. That means wise and a tendency towards physical beauty. Also she is predicted to be vain and high tempered. I know she likes physical beauty but also examines inner beauty which takes her to another dimension. I have never perceived her as high tempered but after reading some her blogs and being exposed to some of the single syllable profanity, I really don't know. Yes I do! She is not "high tempered". The Boar is her enemy and the Cock or Ox are her best signs.
Now let me see. 2 Rats, an Ox, Dragon and Snake: Oh My! Rats, an Ox, Dragon and Snake: Oh My! It sounds like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
Your mother and I are both Dragons.
My conclusion is that Zodiac is an attempt to explain the complex nature of mankind in a simplistic way. It can't be done. It is unadulterated "baloney". But it is fun to know what kind of an animal you are predicted to be. You are all animals!
Love,
Dad
ok, there are so many jokes in there I don't know where to start.