look away

There's an episode of Sex in the City where Carrie finds out that the divorced Charlotte still wears her engagement ring around her apartment. Carrie is shocked at this, and many viewers including myself at the time are as well. Who would want to wear a ring from a failed marriage?

But that's the problem with thinking. Failed is a harsh word to pair with marriage. Many marriages just don't work out but there are clearly very good memories for most marriages. An engagement ring is more than just a ring or a symbol of a marriage. A ring can be every happy moment just sitting on your hand. A ring can be a comfort on a drive home after a long day while feeling lonely. A ring can be a reminder to think of someone special.

Lately I've been missing wearing a ring. My hand feels naked. I look down and feel sad. My rings are safely in my jewelry box, I could at any time go put them back on but I feel like that would slow or reverse the healing and moving on process. My pinky finger moves to adjust rings that are no longer there. The indent my rings created on my finger are still there, faded but not quite gone.

I get it now. Charlotte needed the quiet reassurance once and awhile. Of course she ended up selling her ring and turning it into a down payment on Carrie's apartment but I wrote about that idea before.

1984

Over the past decade or so many comparisons have been made about American society becoming more and more like the structure of Orwell's 1984. The way that the government can easily monitor the activities of its citizens, or how the working class has no idea how they work to maintain the system that keeps them down.

I put a mustache on and pretend I'm Big Brother in bed. 

The class structure in 1984 in my opinion resembles India's caste system and the Western world's Upper, Middle and Lower class pureed together in a blender sold at Walmart. The Proles are the Lower class but they don't foster any goals of becoming part of the Inner Party. Outer Party wakes up everyday and is thankful they aren't the Proles but they still have to put on their happy face and pretend life is good. Since they are being watched constantly. And no one cares what the Upper class or Inner Party does because they have it easy.

I was a Prole for awhile. I was lucky and joined the Outer Party. Most people starting where I did SES wise aren't so lucky. I know I will never be part of the Inner Party and I'm okay with that. I think working to improve the lives of Proles and Outer Party members is my place in life.

Anyway, Big Brother limits who a person can marry. Marriage is for procreation to continue and maintain the status quo. Citizens do not marry for love and they aren't expected to stay together or be happy. Does that sound anything like the GOP platform? Marriage is between a man and a woman.. blah blah blah... controlling marriage and other civil rights will lead to nowhere good. Unless you like the idea of working out every morning in front of your TV and having your enthusiasm judged by a chipper aerobicise instructor.

Not that I have anything against Richard Simmons. He's fabulous.