I am on a search for inspiration. I have had a bad case of writer’s block which I attribute to a lack of sleep and caffeine. I don’t require much sleep but do require copious amounts of caffeine! I am trying to cut down and be healthier but my brain is protesting! I am currently sitting in Barnes and Noble (noble stands for ”my noble sanctuary”) where I am distracted by people ordering their lattes, a table of teenage girls giggling over boys, a staffer stocking shelves, some jazz music, and the sound of the blender making aforementioned lattes. Normally, I can tune all of these sounds out but not today…hmm.
I remember telling my children of the wonders of the library and bookstore. I described that every book, that they could see, began with an idea, a dream, and some inspiration. I am surrounded by brilliance in one form or another and yet…nothing. I could write about Julia Child - her cookbooks are on a shelf next to me. She certainly had a colorful life and career. I could write about the table of girls who are talking (loudly I might add) about their hair and cell phones. Oh, to have a life where that was important! Now, they are actually discussing who can wink with both eyes…wow, I am concerned for our future! Across from me is an older man reading a comic. What’s that about - does his wife not allow comics? Does he have to sneak and read Superman at the local bookstore? Next to me is a beleaguered, young student with her laptop. Is she trying to work with the MTV girls nearby and is as distracted as I am? Oh no, now they have started on the I-Pods and music selections while trying to quote lines from songs…kill me now! When did I become so old and serious?!
I wish I liked coffee or I could just get an IV drip of caffeine. A girl just came by with chocolate chunk cookie samples - manna from heaven?! Just chatted with the friendly manager who knows me well (since I’m such a regular) - I am really thinking I should have my own parking spot here. Could there be a more faithful customer - I think not! Back to the girls and a new topic - brainwashing in college. This should be good! Could those brains be washed? They are complaining about all the reading and writing in education today…and all I can say is wow, imagine that! What nerve that any college would ask a student to read or write when there are I-Pods to load, hair to fuss over, cell phones to update, and eyes to practice winking - who has the time?
Have I become a cynic? An old, stuffy book-worm who looks down her nose on the trivialities of youth?
I guess I just don’t want young people to miss out on the noticeable simplicity of life, the influence of books and well, intelligent thought and conversation. These children get to vote - Help us Jesus!
Maybe, I need to ask comic guy what Superman would do in such a dilemma. If only I had x-ray vision to stare a hole into this overbearing group of the “Ya Ya Sisterhood”. Maybe then they’d whisper while some of us are trying to actually work and read - since we have been brainwashed and all!
Can I find a lesson in any of this? Maybe I am being harsh - is it their fault I am lacking caffeine and creativity? They have been oddly entertaining after all. Ah, I just chatted with one of our Harvest Prep students who is intelligent, diligent, musically-gifted, and, to top it off, loves God. Sigh, there is hope for this generation and I am taking this as a sign! Update - one girl is laughing as she describes how her grandparents locked her out of their house! Uh, I just want to add…honey, no wonder! We old people like it quiet and we already know if both our eyes can wink. We have been through enough to not find hair trauma a true crisis and only see cell phones as a necessary evil not a lifeline more important than blood and breath.
Now, a toddler is crying and I want to join her! Has she seen her future and is sad that that’s all there is? I guess comic guy has the right idea. In a world that often doesn’t make sense, find an alternative. I did…when I was thirteen years old, I realized this world couldn’t offer me everything I needed or wanted. I knew that there was something more and there had to be "a someone" who had it. Even on days like this, He still gives me inspiration, hope, and a love that never fails. By the way, He is even better than Superman…His name is Jesus.
