Genius?

Mr. Dub recently sent me this article, which I found to be fascinating. In summary, an economist with a love for art purports that there are TWO types of geniuses out there:

1. Conceptualists - Quick and dramatic genuises who make their best discoveries (or artwork or masterpieces) early in life and with careful execution.
2. Experimentalists -Careful and quiet genuises who do their best work late in life by learning and improving with each spontaneous attempt.

Beyond being an engrossing read, this article left me to ponder my own life. Am I ...

A Picasso or a Cézanne?

A Warhol or a Rothko?

A Welles or a Hithcock?

A Fitzgerald or a Twain?

At first glance, I want to be in the first group -- a young, methodical mentality that accomplishes so much so young that others feel like losers in comparison. Except, at 27, I'm already drifting out of the conceptualist category because I'm getting too old and with too little to show for it. There is a slight glimmer of hope that I might evolve into an experimentalist, taking up painting or discovering a source of energy after my children are grown, but somehow I doubt it.

The painful reality is that I might not be a genius at all.

I think I may be in a third, not-quite genius category where one aspires to do something great, but never really makes a legitimate attempt. Someone who envies the first type of genius for their inherent skills and admires the second type of genius for their eventual success. Someone who has good intentions but not much talent.

And that's OK. Because being Mrs. Dub means I get to keep both my ears.