Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Scribble and Scrambles - Driven by Drama?


Used to be that drama was saved for the page or stage.

Now its wherever you choose to look.

Why?

Back in the day, when I embraced drama, I sought the flutter of life. If I could feel something -- anything -- the sensation proved I was alive. Fully, functionally or painfully alive.
Of course, I preferred the positive drama like great news or passionate love or success. But if those failed to come through for me, weeping worked too and ofttimes drew people into my drama -- which seemed a good thing. Who wants to cry alone?

As I've matured I've become suspicious of drama and for the most part unmoved. Oh, Hollywood can squeeze a drop or two from my tear ducts. But that's not tough, I've been known to cry during commercials.

The things that now infuse me with the sensations of life are flash frozen moments of connectedness with someone. Making eye contact across the room with a loved one and knowing exactly what he or she is thinking. A touch. An inside joke. Shared thoughts over struggles and sorrows, or triumphs and joys. Wonder and awe over the immensity and minutia of creation.

Does society's drama addiction stem from lack of connectedness? An "always on the phone but no one's listening" kind of a thing.
Do the majority of our relationships lack the sensation of life, having become parallel -- headed in the same direction but not intersecting?

Feeling a little dead inside and the writers strike is getting really old? Reality television or the parade of dysfunctional starlets starting to make you feel queasy?

Look up, look left and then right. Is there someone on your path you need to connect with?