Clearing away the noise...

Yesterday morning I decided to put in my cd of The Lovely Bones to listen to while I was in the shower. Usually I listen to Paramore while I get ready, but I have 3 cds left of the story and only two days before it's due, so I put in cd 8 and turned it up, stepping into the shower. I noticed that I could only hear it above the sound of the water if I really really concentrated on the words, but it was too difficult so I turned it off. I guess because I have the words to Paramore memorized, I have no problem making them out. But to comprehend new information takes much more focus and determination.

It made me think of other things that we hear everyday, things that fall into the background, things we continue to sing along to because we know them so well, things that require no thought because we've built a comfy little nest in them. But then one day a shift occurs. It's like the inner core of Earth moving at a different speed than that of the outer crust. Eventually the outer layer can't move with the core any longer and instead it splits, and eventually falls away.

In the story, The Lovely Bones- and, please don't read ahead if you plan to see the movie or read the book, the murderer of the main character is never caught. I liked this part. In listening to an interview with the ingenious author, Alice Sebold, after finishing the book today, she explains why she chose to let justice go unserved. "Because that's not the point." Exactly.

So many things that are commonly considered as "the point" are merely crumbled paper surrounding the point. They distract us, giving the impression that life is complicated. But, really, it's very simple. As Sebold says, there is good in everybody. As an author, and I think as a person, you have to have compassion for all characters, otherwise they become one-dimensional. Sometimes we make things or people in life one-dimensional to better understand them. Pay attention to that melody you're continually humming, and stop and ask yourself, is it the point?


Today my new camera lens arrived in the mail! It. Is. Wonderful. It is made to take amazing portraits in low light and motion. I practiced on my pup tonight, and I can't wait to practice using it at my husband's concert tomorrow night! Happy New Year!!!!