My Cliche Moment of the Week

Sunday Morning, I drove to my great aunt and uncle’s house to visit my cousin Debbie, who I discovered, is having a baby! That was great fun, but what I’m really writing about is the drive there.

Fairfield County, though painfully vain/sexist/racist/ant-semetic/homophobic, is still quite picturesque. The tips of the leaves are easing into oranges and yellows, and the occasional premature leaf tumbles into the wind. In my case, I was driving down backroads with my windows down listening to Eric Clapton, with the sun shining on me, and golden and rusty leaves twirling through the air and landing gently on my windshield. A bicycle benefit for Cystic Fibrosis (?) dotted the roads with cyclists of all shapes, sizes and skill, their spokes glistening in the morning sunlight. It was one of those really beautiful moments in life that you don’t forget.

Why I Love New York City

“Any similarity between puppets and actual presidential candidates is purely coincidental.”

Imitation is Suicide

In English class, we read Emerson’s Self-Reliance, and one particular quotation jumped out at me, “…imitation is suicide.” Throughout the essay, Emerson stressed the importance of individuality, and finding oneself. But in the world we live in today, is it really possible to avoid imitation?

To not be oneself is to truly not live at all. But when you walk into school, work, the mall, the movies, are you not guaranteed to see at least one person wearing something similar to you? Have you ever looked at something someone has done, admired it, and recreated it? I, myself, have tried fruitlessly to emulate the writing style of Charles Dickens, or the prose of Jack Kerouac. Perhaps these do not count as true imitation, because imitations such as these cannot be avoided. But imitation of opinion, virtue, and personal philosphy, these are to be avoided.

Who are you going to vote for? This question echos through the streets and hallways of America. But how many people truly put thought into their vote, as opposed to idly choosing the candidate of their chosen political party? George Washington, in his farewell address, urged America to avoid the two-party system. He felt it would bring civil unrest. Civil unrest it does bring, but it also brings with it a shocking disinterest in who the candidates are, and what they believe. (Granted, I’m not so sure the candidates truly know what they believe in their hearts, instead of what they believe in their wallets.) In such a neck-and-neck election race, it is imperative that everyone of voting age do their research before heading to the election booth.

And outside of politics, what about society? Can you honestly say that you are entirely innocent of Keeping Up With the Joneses? When you were 5 and you wanted the Tonka Truck that your best friend had. When you were 10 and you wanted the Gameboy your older sibling had. When you were 16, and you didn’t know (or in my case don’t know) what you want, and look to others for ideas.

Emerson encourages each and every one of us to look inside and find who we truly are, admitting that although it takes hard work, it will pay off in the end. But in this society, we tie our own noose, and tighten it slowly when we see Sarah Jessica Parker in a Gap advertisment, and know that we absolutely must get those pants.

A Heavenly Experience

7 minutes and 3 seconds of pure magic happened in my car this morning.

I have found God.

And God is Eric Clapton.

Amen.

Nursery School is Over Kids

Last year in Government, we watched Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Although it is one of the finest movies ever made, it glosses over some of the nastier areas of politics. For example, the fingerpointing, whining, tattletaling, blame-laying characters of many major politicians.

Until recently, (The RNC, Swift Boat ads, etc.)I had believed the aforementioned qualities to exist soley in one place: The Playground. Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger has the immaturity to stand up in front of millions of people and actually use the phrase “girly-men”. I can honestly say, I haven’t used the word girly men since 2nd, maybe 3rd grade. Everyday of my life, I am lectured, no not lectured, constructively criticized by my parents to accept the blame for my mistakes. And I’m actually getting pretty good at it. Occasionally. Watching Republicans (and yes, even some Democrats) on TV, it would seem to me that they missed the You-Can’t-Always-Be-Right talk as teenagers.

Number one, pointing fingers only makes you look more guilty.
Number two, using phrases like “girly-men” in political speeches is juvenile and absurd.

Gov. Schwarzenegger…You need a time out.

Making Change

Kathryn Miller, it is people like you who make me wonder whether or not we really are more mentally advanced than, say, flies.

Apparently, this fine American, while working at FashionBug, accepted a $200 bill.Perhaps, living in nomansland Pennsylvania, accepting a $200 bill is an easy mistake to make. The minor detail that Ms. Miller seems to have passed over is the fact that George W. Bush, was on the center of the bill. Ms. Miller, has anyone alive ever been put on a bill. If so, please let me know.