Stupid in an Educated Brain

I went to college. Had a great time & learned some stuff. Mostly, I was exposed to cultures, ideas and beliefs I had never been exposed to earlier. I think that is what college is supposed to be.

I made some incredible friends who I hope will be my friends for the rest of my life. We played quarters, got tossed around at football games, broke some laws and many rules and survived.

At one point, I put on a cap and gown and received a degree. (Two, actually.) I am an educated person.

But, today I feel really stupid.

I do not understand why we have such division in this country. I do not know why I am supposed to side with Democrats or Republicans when I don't understand any of them. I do not understand why Congress (mostly made up of millionaires) is claiming to represent me -- a lowly worker. I don't understand why the only people who can run for office have to be wealthy or prostitute for lobbyist funds.

I do not understand why our country has sunk so low. Low standards for education, low standards for health care. I do not understand our current health care system, nor do I understand the changes proposed by either party.

I do not understand how our country has now tied its financial system to every other financial system in the world and we're failing. How do we owe this much to China? How do we have a banking system that we bail out (probably by borrowing more from China) yet it controls the world markets?

How do we have sports stars and entertainment stars bargaining for more b'jillions yet we have nations with starving and dying people trying to live on $2 a week for a family?

Outside my office, there is a large tv in the lobby. It stays on CNN. Occasionally, I look up and catch a story. For the last two weeks, we spent an absurd amount of time on the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, aka Michael Jackson's killer.

I'm an educated person who feels really, really stupid.

The Color Guard

This is not me or my mother. But, it works. It's a pretty good image of the expression we've both mastered.

I am drawn to colorful people. You know, the kind of people who start a story with:

"Remember that time we were so drunk and then we ..."
"How did it feel when we stuffed you guys in the trunk so we could pay less at the XXX drive-in and then we ..."

I used to wish (Oh please God, just once!) that I could tell her about an adventure gone awry or a risk that didn't pan out. And, she would say, "Oh Honey, everyone has done that. I did that." These wishes came often throughout my teenage years.

Like:
When the high school principal called to report that I was not in school and he suspected I was at the track.

When I rode to Purdue with total strangers to visit my boyfriend. I had my roommate lie for me the entire weekend. His roommate's parents lived across the street from my parents so the secret didn't stay secret for long.

When I was forbidden to get on a motorcycle -- EVER -- and I got on one with a boy. Turned the corner and pulled up next to my mother at a stoplight.

What I didn't get caught doing, I've long since told her the gory details. I don't think I shock her much anymore. Although running my life off into this latest ditch has spiced things up a bit.

She told me the other day that she has no desire to do any irresponsible or reckless things. But she's considering making up a wild-oat-sowing past to make herself sound more interesting.

Trust me on this: No one would buy it.

She is wise and responsible and wonderful. She has a wicked sense of humor and a heart of gold. How she wound up with me is a puzzle that confounds us both.

She did and I'm eternally grateful.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom and to all moms.

"An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest."
Spanish proverb