Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Ironic or Insurgent?

Sometimes the pieces of circumstance align around you to create meaning, but sometimes the forces at work are merely human. I humbly request your opinion on this situation.

Here's what happened:
Chongo struggles with passing Spanish and we work with him religiously to help/force him to accomplish this. On the night in question, Grandma was in that honored spot at the dining room table doing his Spanish homework with him.

Chongo likes listening to music while he does homework, and pretty soon I hear Pink Floyd's album "The Wall" coming from the stereo.

Me: (coming back into the room) "I think you should turn this off. It's hard for Grandma to work with you when the music's playing."

We don't need no education.
We don't need no thought control


Chongo: "No, Mom, I can work fine."

No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave the kids alone...

Me: (in my cracking the whip voice) "Chongo, you have to work hard at this. You can't concentrate on Spanish with the music going."

All in all you're just another brick in the wall...

Chongo: "Okay, okay... but listen to the next song first. You should hear it. It's called "Mother" -- it's for you."

Me: (feeling a little flattered... ) "Oh, okay, one more song."

Mama's gonna keep you right here, under her wing
She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing
Mama will keep baby cozy and warm... oooh baby...
Of course, Mama'll help build the wall....

I listen to the whole song, waiting for some redemption.

.... Mother, did it need to be so high.

When I turn off the stereo after the last line, there's no complaining -- just the sound of Grandma explaining the use of subjunctive conjugations with words that express hopes and desires. And my own bewildered thoughts -- Espero que no pienses asi, que no sea la verdad -- because there's something so damn true about what I just heard.

Ironic? or Insurgent? You decide.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Observation #1

Even the coolest kid can look forlorn, standing all alone on the sidewalk -- the last one -- waiting for a ride home.