eThoughts : Dick and Jane, Part II

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Warning: The following may seem cynical and depressing, but is actually meant to be an inoculation against cynical and depressing.

Dick and Jane are married and have children. Dick and Jane have a home and stuff and careers. Dick and Jane are upstanding. Dick and Jane are in the warm embrace of the community, doing what Dick and Jane believe they are supposed to do. Fortunately Dick and Jane have holidays and birthdays to notice each other. Dick and Jane are thankful and know how much worse their lives can be. Dick and Jane’s children notice this as well.

See Dick believe. See Jane believe. See their children believe.

See the years go by. See Dick and Jane in middle-age. See Dick and Jane continue to believe they’re in control. See Dick and Jane’s children become teenagers and challenge belief. See them test Dick and Jane. Dick and Jane’s children have learned about the importance of control.

See Dick begin to wonder what his life is about. See Jane begin to wonder what’s up with Dick and begin to wonder what her life is about. See Dick begin to wonder what’s up with Jane.

See Dick and Jane’s children begin to wonder what’s up with their parents.

See Dick believe he needs to make a choice. See Dick feel alone.

See Jane see Dick’s belief. See Jane begin to believe she may need to make a choice. See Jane ask her family and friends.

See Dick and Jane’s children ignore what is up with their parents. See Dick and Jane’s children begin to believe middle-age is weird.

See Dick believe he has nowhere to turn. See Dick believe in his responsibilities.

See Jane notice Dick’s belief. See Jane relax. See belief win out.

See the years go by. See Dick and Jane in old-age. See Dick and Jane begin to realize they’re not in control. See Dick and Jane’s children become adults, get married, have children, buy a home and stuff, and have careers. See them notice Dick and Jane are not so much in control. See Dick and Jane’s children believe old-age is tough. See Dick and Jane’s children begin to worry who will take care of Dick and Jane.

See Dick and Jane sigh. See Dick and Jane notice how old they’ve each become. See them believe it’s too late to change. See Dick and Jane being like old shoes together. See Dick and Jane come to believe in hanging in there.

See Dick and Jane’s children believe how cute Dick and Jane are together, though Dick and Jane are no longer relevant. See Dick and Jane’s children come to believe in hanging in there.

Dick eventually dies. Jane is sad. Dick and Jane’s children are sad. Life is hard, but good if they just hang in there.

Jane eventually dies. Dick and Jane’s children are sad. They are also relieved. Life is hard, but not quite so hard now. See how it gets better if they just hang in there?

See how the story ends.

See that if belief is so powerful, we can believe in something else. See what happens if we believe in lots of beliefs? See how belief isn’t everything? See how belief is a paint-by-numbers set? See that belief is fun. See how clear life becomes?

See?