Perspective

One of my favorite things to explore as a reader and a writer is perspective. I love when known tales are retold from another viewpoint (like in Wicked or The Mists of Avalon). It can bring about sympathy and understanding where bitterness and anger once ruled. Or it can bring to light shock and disgust where apathy and acceptance once were content. This is, I believe, one of the many reasons we do not each live on our own little island. This is why we must live amongst each other - the good, the bad and the please, God, no; tell me you didn't make that.

I was recently given a perspective of the earth that I find intriguing. This is scientific and is being written by a (former) piano teacher so procede with caution, a sense of humor and give it a chaser of a conversation with someone who knows what they are talking about. Okay.

I was walking today and watching the tall, bare trees being blown against each other in the wind. I love the clickin sound that makes. I thought of how spiky and sharp they make the earth. I thought of how spiny and ridged the mountains make it. Then I realized that (according to what I heard) that if some enormous being were to hold the earth in it's hand like a marble, the earth would feel as smooth as a marble does in our hand. (Think Horton Hears a Who.)

Some of you may remember that I broke a finger several years ago and had it in a splint for a month or more. When I finally took the spint off I was amazed at how much I could feel with that fingertip. I could touch my hair and count individual strands by feel. I wondered at how textured paper was. Disappointingly, this lasted only about a day.

Did overuse numb my senses or was I so used to the feelings that I didn't notice them? I really tried hard for days after that to feel the pores of my skin that I had felt for the first time that day, but I could not.

We may not be able to physically feel everything; we may not be able to emotionally feel everything. Maybe that's another reason why we aren't here alone. What makes me laugh makes you shudder so, if we don't reject each other for our differing reactions, we can experience something from multiple perspectives. If I don't get too caught up in my own way, I can see one situation turn into a spiderweb of stories full of characters bringing in their own life experience to what may be mundane or terrifying to me.

I'm not in charge for good reasons. I have a list, if you ever want to see it. But one of the reasons is that my ideas are so simplistic they would be laughed at rather than tried. Many disputes happen over misunderstandings (duh, I know). It stands to reason that probably some wars have misunderstandings at their roots. If we do not practice (there's that word again) gaining perspective as individuals, how can we expect the same of a nation? Here's my Oprah show idea that I've never sent her: If adults had pen pals (text pals? e-pals?) from countries between which relations are tense I believe most misconceptions would be brought to light and possibly eliminated thus bringing about a better chance at peace.

I'd better quit, I'm starting to sound like Miss America. Mrs. America. This is what happens when I have a half day off. Any thoughts?