The Simple Life
Biku said to me the other day that I really should have been born on a homestead in the 1800's, and I really think she's right. Despite the fact that I'm writing this on a computer while listening to synthesized music and taking advantage of the modern miracle of air conditioning, I'm not really a modern woman. I could do without modern conveniences, and given half a chance, I would heartily embrace doing my own preserves, washing my laundry by hand, and growing my own food. Of course, I'd rather not die of polio or smallpox, but I don't live for IPods or HDTV.
So what do I live for? Well, let me use the last week as an example. I have been reading an interesting book about human nature (White Teeth by Zadie Smith), learning the ropes of my menial job (working at the fresh foods counter at Dominion making sandwiches and pizza, serving gelato, portioning out pudding, washing dishes, etc.), cooking for myself and my parents, and helping Biku cope with her recent breakup with her boyfriend.
And I am happy. Not, of course, happy that Biku's and M. have broken up (that has been terrible, and I hope she never has to go through it again), but happy that I can be with people I love, can learn new things about people I've just met (be they real or fictional), and can be of some use to others in this world. As hard as it was to see her that unhappy, I'm so glad I able to be there to help Biku cope. As menial and dumb and low-paying my job is, I'm happy to meet my coworkers and walk home with some sense of accomplishment. As frustrating as my parents sometimes are, their gratitude for the simple act of making a salad and bean burritos makes me feel good.
We all need to eat. We all need to know we're not alone. We all need to have a purpose. Fulfilling those three things (for myself and others) is what gets me up in the morning. I know it's not enough for some people, but for some strange reason, it's all I need. I guess that's why I'd like to become a minister one day -- because (at least in non-ritualistic denominations like United or the Mennonites) it's one of the few professions left where those three essentials are the primary job description. I don't particularly like theology or all the moral high-ground that seems to come with Christianity, but I do love making large vats of soup, listening to broken-down people, and helping them find out what they need to feel fulfilled.
I'm sorry if I've written about this before (as James Kochalka once said when he discovered his daily strip was almost an exact copy of one he'd written 8 months before, "Have I just devolved into a paler, less interesting version of myself?"), but I'm forgetful and not very self-aware. So it takes a couple of tries before any of my revelations about my "grand purpose in life" penetrate into this thick skull.