I'm supposed to be writing my first essay for Engl Comp 2 on Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "The Lesson". It's supposed to be a thematic analysis based around the general theme of innocence vs experience. The idea is that we somehow relate this to the idea of economic disparity between the population that lived in teh projects of the Bronx vs the Manhattenites in the late 60's. Also the theme needs to relate to the notion that education can be a bridge to cross that casm dividing the haves from the have-nots.


But what I really want to write about is the sub-theme of delusional satisfaction vs reality dissatisfaction. I want to analyze the very substance of how humans are wont to shoot the messenger, especially when said messenger is the one that throws a monkey wrench in what is otherwise our blissful denial of what is seriously dysfunctional in our lives. The lynching of the wool puller, so to speak. I think that would be a far more relevant analysis.

But I know this professor well enough to know that if I vary too far from what he is looking for he won't even give me a fair evaluation, so I guess, for this one time, I will play by the rules, however distasteful that may be...sigh...

Check-Out Lane Rage

So, I hate shopping anyways. I know, how un-womanly of my, wtfe! I really hate it. My idea of a great shopping trip would be to not go...if I could order everything I ever needed in life online (at the best bargain basement price) and have it delivered, I would. It's not that I don't like browsing through the aisles, window shopping, or driving from place to place, (although, with traffic getting worse and worse, that could be part of it.) What I really despise is the crowds of rude, obnoxious, over-bearing, people in the world that feel like they are the most important people around. I mean, really!

If someone gets in line behind me and they have far fewer items than me, or a whiny, crabby, tired tot-in-tow, or they're old, I let them go in front of me. In the interest of keeping up with the Golden Rule, I feel it only fair since I nearly expect the same treatment if I'm the one with only one item behind the woman with five kids and two shopping carts. Plus, I figure, it can't hurt my Karma, right?

So today, I've got 5 items in my cart. Costco, in their infinite *cough* wisdom has only 3 lanes open and 20 - 25 customers waiting to check out. I figure as soon as I select a lane, the others will start moving at mach speeds so I resign myself to the one furthest away hoping that they will open a new lane near me. As soon as I head in that direction, some woman shopping to resupply an Army regiment slides around the far corner and gets in my destination lane. Oh hell! That always happens!

Just then, two lanes back, a cashier comes out and tells the lady that's next in that line to step over to a new lane. I look around anxiously to see if anyone else is going to move over. Nobody moves. so I excuse myself and cut through the two lines between and get into that lane. Right away some bi!c# in the first lane yells, "Hey, there's a line, you know!"

I turn around calmly and say to the woman, " You're in the line for the other lane. If you wanted to get into this lane, why didn't you move? But, wait, forgive my rudeness. Surely I can see by your smug look that you are far more entitled to the shorter wait than lowly old me. I would be more than willing to allow you to take your rightful place in front of me if you wish!" To which the people in the immediate area all snickered and turned their faces away!

You know what really grinds me? I emphatically follow the important rules of polite society. Just ask anyone that knows me. They'll tell you. I'm a stickler for the rules, well, at least the rules that make sense. Rules that are stupid can get in line behind that bitty at Costco! It really burns me when people try to make me look stupid or rude when I am clearly not the one without manners!

Anyway, that's how my Friday's going. Better luck tomorrow~

O God and Heavenly Father,
Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed;
courage to change that which can be changed,
and wisdom to know the one from the other,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.