I’m A Banana

If you’re like me, you have seasons of carefree living—and seasons of introspection. I think our soul knows that looking inward and facing hard truths is something we can only endure occasionally. That occasion for me, was last week—on a Tuesday of all days. After taking a short quiz, I found out that if I was a car, I’d be a Volvo Station Wagon.

It’s simply not true. I’m a spirited and reliable Volkswagen Beetle, and I’ve known this since I was a 12. I think the discouraging station wagon result came from my preference to read, rather than watch Hoarders—and to cook, rather than drive through Taco Bell. I guess favoring a clean house, and order in my life, automatically separates me from my spunky, resilient Beetle persona? Maybe my somewhat abnormal love of spring cleaning catapults me into this sensible, rule-following ride?

I guess buzzfeed—and its ilk—are all-knowing? Everyday I see a new quiz pop up on Facebook, letting me know my 5th grade boyfriend should have been named “Devin” or that my co-worker is “Bulda” from Frozen. And now this: I’m a station wagon?

That’s fine. But before you laugh at me, you should know this: the celebrity I’m supposed to get drunk with is Rihanna. Bang. If I was truly a Volvo wagon, do you think the internet would send me off to get liquored up with Rihanna? No. They’d have picked Bea Arthur or Nick Lachey and they didn’t.

rihanna

It made me wonder what kind of house they think I am. I already know I’m a bungalow. Of this, I am sure. But I bet my answer to, “What would I find you doing at a lively house party?” would result in them telling me I’m a boxy, characterless, 2-story track home in the suburbs, right? Not cool buzzfeed, not cool.

Don’t get me wrong, I found out some lovely things about myself, too—things I will hang on to. Things that will sustain me during those lonely hours cruising in my station wagon.

I, my dear friends, am a beaver. You heard me. I am “creative, practical and well-organized.” If there is someone in need, I will not hesitate to offer a helping hand.

Side Note: This isn’t entirely true. More than once I’ve skipped right by someone needing help with a jammed printer. I’m actually more willing to help people not be societal jackholes. I think the quiz tagged me as helpful because when I took it, I was an hour away from my favorite meal and I said that I would, indeed, help out a co-worker whose tire was flat. But that was just the promise of good food talking.

As for my spirit animal, (which is wholly different from my regular animal) you’ll be happy to know that I’m a wolf. The internet knows, based on ten questions, that I’m stealth—with a great sense of hearing and smell. When you’re a wolf like I am, “family comes first.” I form deep connections with close friends and loved ones and they know I’ll protect them at all costs. I’m “loyal, devoted and passionate.” They say I’m best matched with swans, otters and crows, so I’m assuming everyone I love is one of these three or … uh-oh.

Supposedly, as a wolf, I need to watch out for people who are spiders or foxes. Trust me, I know who these folks are, and I definitely watch out for them. I’m pretty sure there’s a fox in our mail room at work—and I know some spiders who bring their cart with them on the greeting card aisle at Target.

You decide.
You decide.

Now that you know I’m a beaver on the outside and a wolf on the inside, I bet you’re wondering what kind of dog I am. I know I was. I’m a great dane. The test specifically asked what my build and frame were like, so I’m not sure how I ended up as a horse-sized dog, but I can’t argue with the description of myself. Being a great dane means I’m “so humble” that I “don’t notice how much I stand out in a crowded room” (but it does not mean I’m too humble to tell you how wonderfully humble I am, and how I light up a room.) Also, due to my warm demeanor, I’m extremely smart, but still approachable (translated, I do logarithms for fun but still tolerate you and your fascination with Honey Boo Boo.)

Side Note: I barely know how to spell logarithm and sometimes don’t remember how I got to work.

Occasionally I wonder how I landed in my profession. With a Master’s degree in psychology and years of Division 1 college coaching, I’ve somehow found my place in creative advertising. Naturally, I took a quiz to see what my true career should be.

Because I’m a “dedicated team player” who values loyalty above all else, my results revealed that I should be an athlete. Supposedly, I intrinsically know that things work best when everyone works together. They claim I am excited by a challenge and love problem solving (interestingly enough, I actually prefer things to be simple and I like it when there aren’t problems that need to be solved.) It also said I should be a life coach—something I’ve known since the time I realized I was a Volkswagen Bug.

But wait, where should I be an athlete? I had to know, so I took the “What State Do You Belong In” quiz and found out I belong in Michigan—because I’m “smart, friendly and relaxed.” That’s so weird, because Eminem doesn’t seem all that friendly or relaxed. I bet if he took the quiz, he wouldn’t get Michigan. The test raved about how easily I got along with most people and noted that I don’t get involved in others’ business. It’s so funny that buzzfeed doesn’t know about the Facebook stalking or police records I searched the other day.

As soon as I got used to the idea of living in Michigan—which wasn’t that hard, because they have amazing craft beer, unimaginably gorgeous lakes and the Miller’s burger—I figured I should take the test to see exactly what city in Michigan we’d call home. All my plans were quickly derailed when it was brought to my attention that I belonged in Burkina Faso. It’s supposedly a land of honest people, located in the center of Africa. It “faces problems” but the quiz results assured me I’d find peace and beauty “in the simplicity of rural life.”

Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso.

The only way I could settle myself from the shock of belonging in Central Africa—and not near Kid Rock—was to find out which actress would play me in the movie version of my life. Well, this, I can tell you, was a breath of fresh air.

They said that because I’m “charming, bubbly, stunning” and “light up a room” (being told this twice in one day is a real treat), that Sandra Bullock would play me. They figured that since I can go from cracking a joke to buckling down when a task is at hand, I’d need an actress with range. Enter: Sandy.

Annnd, ACTION!
Annnd, ACTION!

Side Note: If you’re wondering what font I am, wonder no more. I’m Times New Roman. I’m “classic, constant, reliable and secretly sexy.” I resent the “secretly” part.

Last but not least, I want to tell you about all the colors of my vibrant, cheerful, dynamic rainbow. I’m seeing greens and oranges and Turks & Caicos blues. Wait. Nope. My aura is brown.

A bit of a letdown on the surface, but let’s take a closer look. It said I am the color of earth and “more grounded and reliable” than any other color (in your face, red!) I’m “concerned with growth and hard work”; I’m a protector of others and often a great builder (they’re right—I build the baddest taco salad this side of I-35.) My secondary color was violet, because I’m a “leader who is idealistic, thoughtful and charismatic.”

conan-bowing

Initially, the brown aura stung a bit—like I was carpet instead of hardwoods, dirt instead of the Mediterranean sea—but then I realized my aura and my color were two different quizzes! My color was … wait for it … blue! The result was blue because I “give love and friendship unconditionally”; I’m loyal and intuitive and enjoy long, thoughtful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality.

Side Note: I do enjoy long, thoughtful conversations about how Harry Connick, Jr. should join The Voice and complete my perfect singing competition portrait.

Last but not least, I wanted to share with you that “my element” is Earth. It’s supposedly Earth because I’m “strong and stable—a good leader and role model.” This quiz knew I didn’t really like a lot of changes and that I prefer knowing what’s going on so I can prepare. It noted that my adventurous side makes “my animal” a horse or an eagle—but as we’ve already discussed, I’m a beaver and a wolf, so I’m not sure this quiz’s algorithm was cranking on all cylinders.

It said that Earth people dislike people who talk too much. I’ve just realized this is rather lengthy, so I guess I don’t like Earth people. But I do like Sandra Bullock and athletes and Times New Roman, so I’m just as confused about who I am as I was before buzzfeed came into my life.

I think I’ll go take a quiz to see what my best coping skills are. If it says, “Drive around Burkina Faso in a Volvo station wagon with Rihanna until you find some proper moonshine” … I guess that’s what I’ll have to do.

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0 thoughts on “I’m A Banana

  1. Yet another fun post! Thanks for brightening my day, Anna. I laughed out loud when I read this–> “If you’re wondering what font I am, wonder no more. I’m Times New Roman. I’m “classic, constant, reliable and secretly sexy.” I resent the “secretly” part.”

    1. Thank you, Beth Hoffman! (sorry, you just have one of those names that make me wanna say the whole thing) LOVE being able to brighten your day!!! 🙂

      PS. if you find out what font you are, I want to know!

  2. Buzzfeed is powerful and all knowing. Cases in point?

    A. One quiz told me the city I should be living in is Portland. Which is already my home.
    B. Another quiz said I should be a write. My occupation? A writer.

    Can’t argue with success like that!

  3. I haven’t taken a single online quiz for this very purpose: I don’t want to find out that I’m a tractor or a dandelion. 🙁 and truthfully, a quiz could never capture all that YOU are. I do think there is a touch of a Volvo station wagon in you. You like to get the job done! Great laughs this morning.

    1. Hahaha! You wouldn’t be a tractor OR a dandelion … no way! You’d be like your old 300c and a tulip, I bet. But that car got you in some trouble, now that I think about it. And I admit that I have a LITTLE bit of station wagon in me, but let’s not focus on that 😉 xo!

  4. I took the “what should your job be” quiz and the answer was…wait for it…ASTRONAUT. Was the computer on crack? I have absolutely zero idea how it identified that I—someone who hates math, science, flying and the overall idea of hurtling through space—should be knocking on NASA’s door. Loved your quote on Times New Roman:)

    1. Maybe you answered all the questions completely opposite and that’s how they came up with astronaut. Maybe? Possible? Because yeah, no. Don’t you want to know what font you are?

  5. I took some of those quizzes. It turns out that I am the color grey. In the vegetable catagory, I am beans. I think it has to do with how “pumped up” people get when they talk to me. As for the car … well, I think that quiz was faulty becase it said I am a covered wagon.
    You, on the other hand, are a top-of-the-line sports car!
    Thanks for making me laugh!

    1. I don’t believe you. If you’re grey, you’re at least an awesome slate or graphite grey … not just the color of cement. The beans part I do believe and we’ll just leave it at that. I’d like to disagree with covered wagon, but it’s TOO FUNNY!!! Made me LOL 🙂 Ily!

  6. BAH! Love all of this. How many of these crazy quizzes will Buzzfeed be able to come up with? (answer: millions — and I will probably take all of them). I usually end up taking some multiple times until I get an answer I like, snort. The other day I found out what movie I am – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I bet my boss would be jazzed to find out my interests include skipping out on responsibilities so I can steal a sports car and sing in a parade. Shout out to Miller’s and the Mitten!

    1. I can just see you, “Ugh, I don’t belong in Sarasota!” … “Grr, not Fargo either, what the?” … “Please, El Paso? Really?! … “Ahh, there we go … San Diego works.” I think Jingler deserves to know who you really are, T. 😉

  7. Thank you so much for writing about these dang quizzes!!! I have taken some and always laugh that 10 or so questions can tell me who I am…let’s see…from Modern Family I am Manny (really??? that’s pretty spot on although I would be stoked with Gloria), boyfriend? Surely it’s Channing Tatum…nope…Joseph Gordon Levitt. I should live in Wisconsin (because I love cold weather and cheese??? Nope). Breakfast Club character~BENDER!! This one made me chuckle!

    1. I wonder if I could ask you 10 questions and know what kind of beauty brand you are? You get to the 10th and I blurt out, “Smashbox!” We should try sometime. DYING over you getting Manny. Tammy … Manny! This makes my week. Actually, I want to take this quiz and I’ll be hoping I don’t get Luke, but, well, we know it’s possible. 🙂

  8. You know, now that you mention it, I always get a very “brown” feeling when I read your stuff. Huh. Go figure.

    Overall, you sound like a pretty amazing person to know. I’m glad buzzfeed could make that apparent. And hey, don’t be so disappointed in the Volvo Station Wagon. We had one growing up, and I would pretty much rate it as the most kick ass car we ever had. It had seats that popped up in the trunk and you could ride BACKWARDS. So guess whose mom everyone wanted to ride with on Girl Scout field trips? This girl’s. It was infinitely cooler than the regular wood paneled station wagons. So look at it this way: you make responsible and reliable hella cool…and you have a great safety rating.

    1. I was eagerly awaiting my yellow or orange aura and when BROWN showed up, I know I gave it the dirtiest look. I didn’t mind the description, but still! Brown?! And I can already picture y’alls Volvo wagon and I indeed dig it. I rode many a day backwards in a few cars. Super cool when you’re little (not as much fun when you’re 20 and get nauseous). I do love my good safety rating! LOL 🙂

  9. Perfect. I still have yet to take the “Which Now and Then Character Are You?” quiz because I’m afraid I’ll get Rosie O’Donnell’s character instead of Melanie Griffith (Teeny).