This city pumps people around like blood through its vains. The metro rumbles through the grate beneath my feet and I look back up just in time to see the cars accelerate away from the intersection. Around me the daily pedestrian parade spills into the street, either antsy to get away from A or excited about B. They're quickly obscured as a bus pulls between us to drop off more participants.
My trip to the Capital in the morning reveals news papers discussing the most recent political maneuvering and what was “Heard on the Hill”. When I go out for lunch, someone on the corner is wanting to tell me about the newest world tragedy and why they need my help. At happy hour people standing around are talking about what neighborhood is ready to bust onto the real estate scene or how much their 1.5 million dollar 3 bedroom house with no yard has appreciated in the last 6 months. My inbox is overflowing with notices of concerts just announced, museum exhibits opening, evites for parties, improv comedy, cultural events, festivals, small groups and dinners.
Politics, finance, ideals all vie for the attention of this city’s residents. For every minute in suburban America where I had to search for a motivation, hunt down activities, the District throws them at me like a rescue worker tossing sandbags. Everyone here is convinced that their cause is the most important, their view the right one. It seems to have one of two results. You either get caught up in a cause or you get cold to them.
How do you balance a desire to care about what is going on around you, to take advantage of the situation you are in, and not go crazy with the dizzying array of options? Some nights I just want to sit on the couch and read.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
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1 comment:
yes, I do often remind myself, and others, that it is better to have too much to do than not enough. It's difficult to see that sometimes though.
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