Printed on the clicker were the words, Modern Life.
Indeed. It does seem to me that the need to scream for help has become a sort of thing these days. In my parent's day, it seemed people were expected to be more self-sufficient. Their post-war ethos was one of great opportunity that was there for the taking. Take it, grab it with both hands, but know you are then responsible for it. Both of my parents had a great sense of personal responsibility that manifested in hard work and self-sufficiency.
In our more modern hands, this can morph into a great sense of personal culpability. We seem to have lost the creative part of opportunity and made hay only of the responsibility part. Which leads to overwhelm, a spike in the self-help book business, and the desire to turn it all outward: Blame, blame, blame.
I hate to be topical, but this current financial situation is not the result of sisters doing it for themselves. This is personal responsibility gone on vacation and "me me me, now now now" coming to stay. It's only disguised as finances.
No wonder we want a panic button! We are drowning in wants, ignorant of true needs, blaming "them" and screaming for help. I get it -- as I've said, rescue is a favorite fantasy.
It's just that I pictured Prince Charming, not Henry Paulson. Or any of the other aging white men out there to help, none with the stones to call it: We live beyond our means.
Add the war, the endless pointless war, employment stats, housing issues, the election, few suitable men available for dating in Los Angeles....the temptation is strong to put Dr. Lu's clicker in my pocket, take it home, and save it for just in case.
The problem is: Who's listening? Who's going to respond to that call?
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