Heyyy. Ja-Ja-Jaded...

Aerosmith. That's what's up.

I quote them because I'm jaded. Ja-ja-jaded.

Basically, whenever my friends talk about getting married or having children, I want to scream. I hate hearing intelligent girls talk about these traditions like their lives won't be complete without them. One of my friends told me recently that if she had to choose she'd rather get married than finish her bachelor's. What century are we in?

I know that I'm twenty years old and in a few years these topics won't seem as alien as they do to me now. Yet I don't see myself settling down with anyone, ever. I've had major trust issues since my first boyfriend and I broke up about eight months ago. I believed in love when I was with him. Although I don't like to admit it, I honestly thought we'd be together forever
.
Before that nightmare, my parents significantly shaped my view of marriage. Their divorce and quick remarriages were turbulent, to say the least. I know I'm fortunate in lots of ways but growing up with my mom and stepdad made me never want to be in their situation. Their children are the only thing holding their relationship together. It's hanging by a thread that I know will snap again sooner or later.

Maybe I should stop being so bitter about others' dreams because of my life experiences. What do you think?

Wake Me Up When September Ends

I logged on to Facebook this morning and scrolled through the live feed, reading stati like a creeper. Only two of my friends (at that time) had posts about 9/11. I wasn't exactly surprised. We live across the country from where it happened and most of my Facebook friends are college and high school students. A girl in my modern rhetorical theory class actually asked me what NPR is last week. I sat there in shock for a bit before I finally sputtered out an explanation of National Public Radio and all its awesomeness.

I know I'm not the best example of a socially conscious, upstanding citizen. Though I do love NPR, my thoughts and actions are predominantly selfish. When will I go to Wal-Mart today? What time does Jersey Shore come on? I'm ridiculous. And I know I'm not alone.

So today, nine years after a nightmare that in some ways we're still in, I just hope everyone thinks about it. Innocent people who showed up for work on a September morning died. When I think about that, all my problems are miniscule.

9/11/01
We will never forget