Normal Western Civilization

Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007 - 12:33 a.m.

Last night, we had pork chops and steak fries, and settled in and watched a PBS special called "Horatio's Drive". John insisted that I'd watched it with him before, but I had no memory of it, so I actually looked it up in Diaryland -- and found out why I didn't remember it too well.

It premiered the week my grandma died in the fall of 2003.

That whole final three months of that year was so hazy and unpleasant that I'd forgotten.

It was like watching the special it anew, and it was wonderful.

The first transcontinental trip across the USA took sixty one days. The most recent public Gumball Rally winner did it in about thirty six HOURS.

We might have our problems, but wow, ain't our infrastructure sweet?...

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Today is September 11th.

Today, I honor the memory of the people who were killed today by doing normal things.

Well, normal for me, heh.

I mean, I won't be weeping, as that's been done and I'm finished doing that.

And there's no point in remaining angry, because that won't bring back the dead.

Instead -- Today I'm gonna fucking SHOP.

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I realize that's kind of ridiculous and almost blasphemous -- but that's what I normally do.

The continuation of the phenomenon and art form that is known as Normal Western Civilization is the one thing the terrorists wanted to affect.

Guess what? It failed.

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Dear Terrorists: Fuck you.

Your actions had the exact opposite effect on me and my household and my family and friends.

Today, the plan is to haul my Big American Ass and Big American Boobs and Big American Self to the beauty parlor.

I will be wearing PANTS and a T SHIRT and I will be WEARING MAKEUP.

And smiling at my neighbors, both male and female. Making eye contact when I smile.

And showing the hair on my head, and maybe even showing my forearms, too.

Speaking up about anything that is unfair. Not giving a shit if I am loud. Demanding apologies from anybody who crosses me.

Normal. Western. Civilization. Complete with Boobs and Ass and Attitude.

Fuck you -- I win.

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That's it. Have a good Tuesday. If you lost someone you knew on September 11, go out and do something normal.

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