Limp Lettuce

Apathy is just LAZY parading around in a fancier vocabulary word

~(Russell Jackson)

I was reminded the other day that one of the top ten food tragedies is biting into wilted lettuce.   I have been known (allegedly~ wink, wink) to love GOOD Southern fried food, buttermilk biscuits, blackberry cobbler, and butter; however I do love fresh veggies.   Overcooked veggies are another tragedy but nothing is as disappointing as the anticipation of biting into a good club sandwich or Caesar salad only to not feel that crisp cold crunch and instead find a limp slimy piece of lettuce.  

As I grow older the cold soul less indifference of apathy like limp lettuce is an infuriating discovery. 

I am thankful for technology, don't get me wrong; but as much as technology has helped society in its progression I feel that it has also had an unintended side effect that results in a good old fashioned case of the "Lazies."   As smart phones, texting, and I-pods help us tune out the world I see that so many are so tuned out that they cannot be bothered anymore to be a real functioning part of society.   

I see people so tuned into their texting that they have walked out in front of cars.   I have waited on people who think having a conversation while they order is okay and get frustrated when I can read their sign language supposedly directing me as to what they want.   The few times that I have commented that if they hung up or paused their conversation long enough to tell me their order they act as if I am the one with bad manners or worse yet they shrug their shoulders in indifference.

I think apathy is the most frustrating quality in a person, government, or society at large.   At least when there is an argument I feel that the person on the other side might actually have an opinion that he or she has thought about or shock, shock, horror of all horror CARES about.   

I think this new higher tech method of tuning out has helped society slip more comfortably into their apathetic lazy boy recliners and throw care to the satellite and gigabyte winds.   Again, technology, Per Se,  is not the evil here, there are a lot of variables.    

Let's face the fact that "caring," does take more work than a shrug of the shoulders or a roll of the eyes.   If we are talking politics here then "caring," means being involved enough to read, listen, and learn.   It means not just hearing one sound byte that tells us what we want to hear but sifting through several sides of the story to at least be somewhat able to hold a conversation and or debate on a subject.    If we are talking relationships it can be as complex as answering "I don't know," to a question about why the relationship isn't working to as easy as "I don't care," when asked what do you feel like for dinner.   (Don't get me started down that path!)

It is one thing to be easy going and carefree; but easy going and carefree doesn't equal apathetic or non-caring.  

Apathy is dangerous.   In a smaller setting such as one's personal relationships ironically the "I don't knows/I don't cares," can eventually erode the basic foundation of a relationship.   If you don't care or don't know about a lot of things then eventually the other person(s) feel you ultimately don't respect them enough to take the time to care or know.

In society Apathy grows opportunity for propaganda, disease, and even war.   I think this recent economic meltdown for example has become worse because all of our outlets of tuning out has kept us shielded and blind to the brewing storms and underlying causes that pummels our financial stability to this day.

I agree it is nice when life is calm and you can coast along.   I have no problem in adapting to a life that is drama free; however being able to evolve means sometimes getting involved.  Settling for a bowl full of limp lettuce to me means settling for a life of so-so.   I still say there is nothing better than taking a bite full of crisp crunch.   I think life needs crunch.