2001-12-17 - 3:08 AM
The Beginning Of The Sidewalk (End Of The Street)
I'd like to change my thinking - or more precisely, my habits; especially, the one I have when I meet somebody.
For example, I meet somebody - first questions that pop into my mind (or for most people, for that matter) are the basic "How old are you?", "What's your last name?", "What do you do for a living?" type of inquiries. I don't want to do that anymore. I don't want to see somebody, and wonder how old they are, what their last name is, or what they do for a living. I want to find out about their core - the stuph that they're really made of.
I guess I would just like to wonder straight off the bat, the stuph that I'll end up wondering about later on anyways.
For one thing, I'd like to know if a person is a blanket hogger. And I'd like to know if a person likes milk with their cereal, if they remember to clear the microwave timer if they stop it early. I'd like to know what hand they scratch with, which ear they put the phone to, and how many corny jokes they know. I'd like to know if they can say the alphabet backwards, study with the T.V. on, or if they keep a picture of something underneath their pillow. I'd like to know if they can stay quiet during Jeopardy, cartwheel, play chess. I'd like to know if they use a marker to outline whatever it is they're coloring in. I'd like to know if they prefer one lump or two. I'd like to know which accent they can do best. I'd like to know if they cry during the Lion King, if they sing in the shower, or read on the can. I'd like to know if they can whistle; how many nursery rhymes do they remember. I'd like to know if they build sand castles, snowmen, or things out of popsicle sticks. I'd like to know if they'd rather swing their legs on a swingset, or have somebody push them. I'd like to know how long they can go in a fart-infested room - how long they can breathe under water, how long they could hold a note. I'd like to know if they remember the "I'm so excited, I'm so excited...I'm...so...scared" episode of Saved By The Bell. I'd like to know if I should pick them to be on my team when playing Spades. I'd like to know about their favorite teacher, their first kiss, their first bruise. I'd like to know what they use as a fake microphone when they're belting out tunes - brush, curling iron, phone, remote control, ice cream scoop, other. I'd like to know if they're for croutons, bacon bits, or both. I'd like to know if they drink out of the carton. I'd like to know if they butter their bread, skip some stones, or take the onions out of their Whopper. I'd like to know - a whole lot.
And with so much else to wonder about, why do we all have the urge to wonder the basic things first? "How old are you?" "What's your last name?" "What do you do for a living?"
Truth is, "Age Ain't Nuthin' But A Number", last names don't count for much, and what they do for a living makes no difference whatsoever.
But c'mon, now...seriously...
Wouldn't you like to know if they'd hog your blanket?
