A worldwide financial crisis, record job losses, a recession-damn-near-Depression, earthquakes (one just struck Mexico yesterday!), the 2012 end-of-days prediction, the Swine Flu pandemic, melting Arctic ice shelves and the return of Britney Spears . . . pure chaos!
And now they just discovered a mosquito in Torrance, California, with West Nile Virus. (How’d you like that job, by the way -- keeping a close watch on mosquitoes?!)
Is anyone else just a little, teensie-bit exhausted, emotionally, from all the doom and gloom? Doug McIntyre, my favorite morning talk-show host on 790 KABC-AM (he's funny and quite brilliant), described this current sociological condition as “Apocalypse Fatigue,” which is so spot-on. It’s a wonder we can even get out of bed in the morning!
I’ve lived half my life already, so if these are the last days, I’m not real happy about it, but at least I got to experience some ups and downs of life. I’m still hoping to win the lottery, become rich and famous and find true love eventually. If I’m lucky, maybe I can get all this accomplished by the time the Mayan calendar runs out on December 21, 2012.
I asked my teenager what she thought about all this Apocalypse talk, curious as to how young people felt who may be cheated out of the opportunity of a long life and all the wonderful moments that come with it. She told me that she would rather die as a teenager than as an adult. I asked her why:
“Because adults are boring, and I’d rather go out having fun.”
Alrighty then . . . so, what about missing out on having kids, being a mom and getting married – and not in that order, girlfriend! – I asked?
She said, “I don’t want to have kids, mom, because childbirth hurts.” I wanted to correct her and say, “No, it’s the raising of children that really hurts,” but I thought it best to just shut-up.
She offered some more of her insights: “Besides, I don’t believe in the idea of marriage – of being with the same person for the rest of your life.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, because, well, I kind of agree with her. But as a parent, I’m supposed to send her out into the world with hope and optimism, so I told her that if she found a good man, she would want to keep him. And have babies with him. That is, of course, after college, launching her career, several years of dating and a reasonably-priced wedding.
Is anyone else just a little, teensie-bit exhausted, emotionally, from all the doom and gloom? Doug McIntyre, my favorite morning talk-show host on 790 KABC-AM (he's funny and quite brilliant), described this current sociological condition as “Apocalypse Fatigue,” which is so spot-on. It’s a wonder we can even get out of bed in the morning!
I’ve lived half my life already, so if these are the last days, I’m not real happy about it, but at least I got to experience some ups and downs of life. I’m still hoping to win the lottery, become rich and famous and find true love eventually. If I’m lucky, maybe I can get all this accomplished by the time the Mayan calendar runs out on December 21, 2012.
I asked my teenager what she thought about all this Apocalypse talk, curious as to how young people felt who may be cheated out of the opportunity of a long life and all the wonderful moments that come with it. She told me that she would rather die as a teenager than as an adult. I asked her why:
“Because adults are boring, and I’d rather go out having fun.”
Alrighty then . . . so, what about missing out on having kids, being a mom and getting married – and not in that order, girlfriend! – I asked?
She said, “I don’t want to have kids, mom, because childbirth hurts.” I wanted to correct her and say, “No, it’s the raising of children that really hurts,” but I thought it best to just shut-up.
She offered some more of her insights: “Besides, I don’t believe in the idea of marriage – of being with the same person for the rest of your life.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, because, well, I kind of agree with her. But as a parent, I’m supposed to send her out into the world with hope and optimism, so I told her that if she found a good man, she would want to keep him. And have babies with him. That is, of course, after college, launching her career, several years of dating and a reasonably-priced wedding.
In that order!
Our apocalyptic heart-to-heart made me sad. Sad for a generation of young people who have inherited, and quietly accepted, this chaotic world.
Our apocalyptic heart-to-heart made me sad. Sad for a generation of young people who have inherited, and quietly accepted, this chaotic world.
We all worry about our children. I just fear that we won't have much time to do that.
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