The Studio

Do we live in such a cynical and untrusting world that it is impossible for one person to perform an act of kindness towards another person, even if this person is a stranger? Is it ruder to think that the person who has performed this act of kindness expects nothing in return, or is it ruder to assume that whoever performed this act of kindness was motivated by or expected something in return?

So, let me tell you the back story...On Wednesday, while I was in Orlando (or Tampa, as it was on this particular day), we decided to go to the beach. After we had packed up to go back to the condo and were walking to the parking lot, we found a cellular phone chillin there in the sand, sans owner.

With no life guard presence or visitors center there at that beach, there wasn't anyone I could turn the phone over to. Figuring how much it would suck to lose a cell phone, I tried the only thing I could think of -- I called the last person that the phone owner called. Luck had it, the phone started dialing "Mom's" number. After I quickly explained the situation to "mom", she chuckled and told me that was a funny joke. She thought I was her daughter's friend who was there at the beach with her daughter. After a bit more convincing, "mom" finally believed that I was a complete stranger in possession of her daughter's Nextel phone. "Mom" suggested that I call "Jamie", whose voice I so sounded like.

A quick search through the contacts list of the Nextel phone I was holding yielded a phone number for "Jamie". "Jamie" pretty much knew what was up as soon as she picked up the phone, since she could clearly see that her friend, "Robin", who was driving the car was not the one who was calling her even though the caller ID probably said "Robin".

It took "Robin" and "Jamie" about ten minutes to return to the beach parking lot so that I could return the phone to them. When they pulled up, "Robin" was on the phone, presumably "Jamie's". I walked up, greeted "Jamie" and handed her "Robin's" phone. I bid them a good day, then I walked back to where the rest of the family was congregating.

"Robin" rushed out of the car, came over to thank me, and tried to give me money. I insisted that it was not necessary, but then she placed the money on the ground in front of me, and hurried back to her car. At that moment, I must confess I was a little miffed. I wasn't quite sure how to react -- I wasn't sure if I should have been offended or pleasantly surprised.

I honestly did not want this poor girl's money. All I wanted was to return her phone. Is it so hard to do something nice in today's world?

Some experiences, too personal to share
Some sentiments, too melancholy to describe
Some voids, too vast to fill with words

And yet the only solace to be found
through words that do not come
to dissect emotions often complex
reactions to an event seemingly simple

I am waiting, simply waiting and it's torture
I wait for the tides of change to overtake me
For time to age the memories
To fade that which is yet unhealed
For clarity of mind to come, to remember what it was like
before, before before, when I was fun, and carefree, and vibrant
I wait for me to be ME again...

How do you cool your lips
After a summer's kiss
How do you rid the sweat
After the body bliss
How do you turn your eyes
From the romantic glare
How do you block the sound
Of a voice you'd know anywhere

Oh, I really should have known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes
Casual good-byes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face
That told me
You might have some advice to give
On how to be
Insensitive

How do you numb your skin
After the warmest touch
How do you slow your blood
After the body rush
How do you free your soul
After you've found a friend
How do you teach your heart
It's a crime to fall in love again

Oh, you probably won't remember me
It's probably ancient history
I'm one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I'm out of vogue, I'm out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have
Some advice to give on how to be
Insensitive

Disney World. It's advertised as the place where magic happens, where dreams come true, and as the happiest celebration on earth. In reality, I think it ought to be renamed as the place where shit happens, where dreams are shattered, and the falsest celebration on earth.

Before you go and get the wrong impression, I'm not trying to be a bitter ole scrooge. But, anyone who actually believes those marketing slogans has to be naive, or completely unobservant.

I love Disneyland and Disney World -- when you go with friends and people of similar interests. Take a look around the parks though, and you'll see the majority of people in some greater or lesser tormented state. Children are crying because they can't get another souvenir (even though they already have 6), young children are frightened of the loveable characters that aren't quite as small and cuddly at 5'7", parents are impatient with their children and scolding them for running about everywhere, everyone is hot, everyone's feet hurt, everyone's tired, and it's crowded. Really, a Disney park can be hell.

All these situations and so many more come together to bring out the worst, not the best, in people. By the end of the night, people are just downright nasty to each other when they're clamoring for the best parade-viewing spot.

I don't think I'm the first, nor will I be the last person to observe this. Yet, each year, millions will flock to a Disney park. It's like the ultimate exercise in peer pressure. Disney World is perceived as the ultimate reward or treat for your child. If you don't take your children to Disney World, it's almost as though you are depriving them of something essential. But in reality, of what are you depriving them? What do children experience when they're at Disney World? I have no answer to this question. Are we depriving our children of bragging rights by not taking them to Disney World? Is going to Disney World a declaration of your middle class status -- akin to competing with the Jones'?

Maybe millions of families flock to Disney World because parents don't know how else to make their children happy. Disney World seems like a tried and true plan.

Looking back on my own experience, I visited Disney World once and Disneyland twice before the age of ten. The visits didn't make any sort of lasting impression. Surely, such a magical place should leave a more lasting memory. My only recollections of the visits are through pictures, but I remember other parts of the vacation rather vividly. Maybe I'm just an oddball. That wouldn't be a surprising conclusion.