REAL LIFE
From Issue #4
30-SECOND HUDDLE
This commercial
message
is brought to you by Dad
Caroline Land, 16
It's
no secret that the world has become a very fast-paced place.
Free time has been replaced by cyber time to the point where
my family feels the need to comment on my presence at the dinner
table. With all these options and distractions it can be hard
to spend quality time with the people you love.
My
Dad and I have always worked around this. While we might not
agree on some things, our television preferences are often similar.
Over the years we've learned how to watch in silence while enjoying
each other's company and by now we know what to comment on during
the commercials.
A
while ago we were watching one of our favourite shows. At the
commercial he turned to me and asked if I liked going to school.
I
thought about the question for a few moments before admitting
that I did.
"Do you look forward to going?"
This question seemed easier to answer, but I thought it over.
"Not all the time. Sometimes, there are classes that I
dread. But then there are people I want to see or things I want
to do, so I guess it evens out."
Dad nodded.
"You see these characters on the show? They like going
to work. They look forward to it. They are so idealistic that
they go to work everyday believing they can change the world.
That's why we like to watch them."
I thought about what he was saying.
"Do you look forward to going to work?" I asked.
Dad paused.
"I
honestly don't think about it. It's not something I anticipate
or dread. It's just something that I do. I always looked forward
to going to school, though. I wanted to learn. Now that I think
about it, when I first started working I did look forward to
it. That's what's important. Do something that you enjoy doing.
Do something that you will look forward to. Otherwise, what's
the point?"
Then the show came back on and the television was taken off
mute. I took a look at the show and thought about what Dad had
said. I realized that he was right.
My father often sadly points out that the world has been reduced
to soundbites and thirty-second clips. I have to agree with
him on that. I have learned, though, that sometimes it's not
the length of the talk that's important but what's said during
the talk. It is still possible to have quality time during a
commercial break.
Thank goodness for that.
