TV

My mom and Dale are in the living room laughing at a TV show, which I politely declined to sit through with them. I resent how, lately, it seems our television is almost constantly on, even when no one's watching it.

I think one reason it bothers me so much is the amount of alone time I generally require. For a portion of each day (usually a rather large portion), in order to feel happy and balanced the rest of the time, I need my own space to do whatever I want, with no interruptions or outside demands, and preferably in as quiet a place as possible (unless I want to listen to some low music). I like to read. I like to knit. I like to sleep or write letters or tidy my room or practice guitar chords or look through old photographs or take a solitary walk. I don't like being continuously assaulted by unfamiliar voices in my own home, at volume 43.

Perhaps this is also why it irks me so much when people click their tongues and call me "deprived" if they quote a popular 90's/2000's movie or TV show I've never seen, and I miss the joke. I mean, Jesus. I'm sorry I spent most of my childhood out-of-doors: hula-hooping, riding my bicycle, building sandbox towns, watching thunder storms, exploring the woods, collecting bugs, swimming at the town pool, playing House under the willow tree, coloring with sidewalk chalk, playing T-ball, converting my family's tool shed into a clubhouse, camping with my parents, sledding, and building snowmen; instead of sitting in front of a television set, making friends with imaginary characters on a 2-D screen.

Trade those years, and my current lifestyle, for a headful of useless movie quotes? No, thanks. I prefer the peace and quiet.