Interesting Times
“May you live in interesting times.”
It’s an ancient Asian curse—or blessing. Consider it the backhanded cousin of this too shall pass.
The catch, of course, is that everything passes, and all times are interesting.
I had an interesting day yesterday.
Stopped at a red light, I watched a transient stand on the corner—ranting, raving, twitching. Like a religious zealot at a tent meeting 150 years ago. She barked and jibbered. It made me feel a little... uncomfortable.
Later, at home, sitting in the backyard with my family, a maniac came tearing through the neighborhood—tires squealing at every corner. As he passed our property, he caught sight of us and raised his hand. No—his left hand. A single-finger salute. Then he peeled around the next turn, gone.
This morning, while taking the garbage to the curb, I saw lights on the horizon. They didn’t move. They pulsed and blinked, but stayed locked in place.
Drones. Just hovering.
Just waiting.
Just watching.
It’s like life has become an episode of Night Vale—but one of the early-season ones, where you’re not quite sure what’s happening yet.
Interesting times, indeed.
But this, too, shall pass.
.