Matt had me sit down and read an article a couple days back that had been written in our school paper about a writer's response to an incident that occurred at the fall concert. The writer had witnessed a couple locking lips in the middle of a crowd and went on to discuss their distaste for the action. After I was finished reading the article I looked up and stared at Matt for a moment or two then asked him, "Okay... now why did you have me read that?"

We've grown as a culture to a point where we can watch scenes in movies and plays where two characters lock lips for an extended period of time and will even sit through full, nearly graphic sex scenes and consider it a form of entertainment but when we see a couple expressing their affection for one another in person we turn our heads in disgust or yell out "Get a room!"

Now, it's true that some lip locks should not be done in person and should be saved specifically for the bedroom, but what's the problem with a simple peck on the lips? I was shocked to see that the writer of the article went on to state that certain public displays of affection were fine as long as it was a quick embrace or a peck on the cheek. I'll apologize now to the author of that article, but I give everyone of my friends a hug and a peck on the cheek before parting. I'm not going to save that for the one person I've fallen head-over-heals for.

A couple should not be judged for a quick peck on the lips or an embrace while in public. Even holding hands can bring up sneers and snide remarks from those passing by. We need to learn to grow-up. As long as a couple isn't seconds from ripping each others clothes off, you don't need to comment on their affection toward one another.

If anything, you should be happy for them.
They've found someone who makes them happy...
...and that's all anyone wants in this world.

There's a vase that sits in the corner of my room...

I've always been fascinated by nature. The colors, the smell of fresh air, the faint and sudden sounds made by restless creatures. As a child I spent most of my time in wonderlands, lost in my own imagination. It's no wonder I didn't get along with other children until sometime in my early elementary school education.

I'll admit that I'm not much of a people person, though many might think otherwise. I like spending my time in shadows and silence, in that way it's easier to see what isn't normally seen and to hear what can't often be heard. I've even perfected the art of walking without making sound.

As a child, I never seemed to be able to trust adults or even other children my age. I trusted two things, myself and animals. Even today I'll carry on conversations with my cat or dog and feel ridiculous when I catch myself doing so. Maybe it's because I assume my cat won't go up to someone I know and carry on about my anticipations, dreams and concerns. I guess it's a trust thing.

Sometime in the seventh grade I made a vase.

It's got to be the ugliest thing I've ever seen. It's misshapen, covered in bumps, and discolored a yellow tinted tan coated in random pink and purple markings. Inside the vase I keep a collection. Flowers and roses from theatre productions, wild flowers from parks, wild grass from the old neighborhood. All of which are dried out and dead.

I've never really thought about that vase before, not until tonight when I looked over at it and the array of colors just seemed to catch my eye. It's not bright, it's not bold, the colors are more so a dull earth tone but the beauty of it caught me by surprise.

Why do we so often judge people, even those people we've known for years? Everything in our lives has some amount of wonder just waiting to be put on display, some potential to amaze and mystify us with it's well kept secrets. Just because we believe someone or something acts or feels a certain way doesn't mean they actually do. We just have to keep our eyes open and let our minds fly free.