Life Inside the Parentheses

You know when a character is surprised by something that's been said in the funny pages, there appears a bubble over their head containing the surprise? For instance, Jimbo says "Martin was selected over numerous qualified candidates for the opening in monkey refuse collection." Then, in the next panel, Ralphie might have a bubble over his head containing the phrase: Numerous candidates? This is not spoken life. This is not quotable life. It's life inside parentheses.

As children grow up, they learn to communicate their needs and ideas. Then, discretion kicks in and they learn not to. But before all of that, and long after, we all live secret lives. Lives in parentheses. Think of it as a stand-up act with yourself as the audience. Or as the director's cut of your own daily experience. But think is the operative word.

A friend said this weekend that he wishes he could think less, since thoughts can be so self-destructive. He imagines life without thought as carefree and easy. And life on the outside is like that ... sometimes. But when it's not, cling to the world of your own making! Cling to imagination! Life the life inside parentheses! (Life?)