what it is what it was what it shall be

so the other day one of the kids at my summer gig asked me what the title of my blog meant. "it's complicated," i said.

by complicated, i meant that it's difficult to explain. and it is. it truly is.

i mean, i certainly know what the title is supposed to signify. but if you ask me to put it into words, i begin to stumble a little.

it's like this. the title is supposed to represent the essence of life in our society. or more precisely, the everyday trials and tribulations that make up life in our society. or more precisely, the everyday minutiae that occupies the majority of our experiences in this society.

you see, it is difficult to explain.

so then the same kid asked me why i write about the things that i write about, as opposed to, say, more "important" topics like politics or the environment or the economy.

and after a few seconds of reflection, i looked at the kid and i said, "because that's what i want to write about. if you want to write about the damn economy, then start your own blog and write about the damn economy."

and because when you add up all of the stories about report cards and tiny plastic thingies and sweaty palms and tactless doctors and bicycle racks and odd neighbours and receding hairlines and chinese buffets and the funny things that kids say, you have the complete picture. not the big picture, mind you, but the complete picture.

and in this case, i would argue that the whole is most definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

oh, and in response to the third question from that same kid, i write this blog for two reasons. one, for myself. and two, for you.