Thursday, April 19, 2007

On Character: Dog Biscuits, Diapers, and Flagpoles

I observed today a few things I walked past and thought an interesting teller of character, without saying it specifically. It's trash day in that suburban neighborhood.

Some things are simple in describing a character unseen; a discarded dog biscuit box at one house, an empty Huggies(TM) diaper carton in the trash at the one beside it. Which has a dog, or had a dog until recently? Which has a baby, or had a baby, until now?

But this is telling also, at another nearby home: a sturdy, well-made, expensive flagpole in front, with a ratty, old, worn, and faded Stars and Stripes [pink, dingy, and blecch blue]. How patriotic.

All from "real" life.

Neale Sourna