Spread your wings and fly away

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do when I visited my grandmother was to look at all her butterfly mementos. I would rearrange the magnets on her refrigerator, stare at the pillows and towels all around the house, and gaze at the beauty of the butterfly necklace she always wore. When my grandmother died, she left me her necklace; a necklace that she had worn everyday for many, many years. There are many questions I wished I had asked my grandmother, but one stands out: why butterflies?
All butterflies begin as larvae, also known as caterpillars. Caterpillars in themselves are remarkable. They very in size from about 1 mm to about 8 cm and contain about 4000 muscles in their tiny, tiny bodies. Most people think of caterpillars as pests, because they like to eat (just like many humans). Caterpillars eat so much that they grow and shed their skin four or five times before they spin themselves into their silk cocoons. Many caterpillars receive help from other insects, particularly ants, as they feed and grow. Despite this help, few caterpillars actually get the chance to mature into butterflies. Many are eaten by animals, killed by weather and gardeners, and some insects even implant their eggs into caterpillars, who become both a home and a food source for these parasites.
When caterpillars have grown, they spin themselves into a cocoon, where their bodies are broken down and then reassembled into butterflies. Butterflies then break open their cocoons, strengthening their wings. As soon as they are released, their wings become hard, and butterflies are free to fly away. After all they go through, escaping dangers as a caterpillar, having their bodies broken down and rearranged, and finally struggling to break out of their cocoons, butterflies only live about two weeks on average. They spend most of their lives in struggle, only getting the chance to fly and achieve their destiny for a brief second of time.
I don't know how much my grandmother knew about butterflies. Maybe she only thought they were pretty. I think she felt something deeper, some sort of connection to butterflies. On the sofa, she had a pillow that I think sums up her thoughts on butterflies: "Just when the caterpillar thought that life was over, God made him into a butterfly." I think this accurately describes life; just when you think all hope is lost, life becomes wonderful again, and you get your chance to fly away.

Stranger danger

Today, I was sitting at the bus stop when two girls came up to me with some flyers. Usually I try to avoid people with flyers. For one, flyers are very harmful to the environment; think of how many trees are killed a year! And they are extremely annoying. I knew that I was going to have to take this flyer, though. I had broken my own cardinal rules of flyer dodging: never stand some place where you can be easily cornered, and never sit down. I had done both today, and was an easy target. I listened to their little speech, and wondered why they just couldn't hand me the flyer and leave me alone. As they finally walked away, I began to wonder: what happened to society that has made us so distrustful and closed off to strangers?
It amazes me how often people go out of their way to avoid each other. At one point, all friends were once strangers. When did it become socially acceptable to avoid the gazes of fellow human beings and pass-by with out at least a nod or a smile? Many historians argue that the growth of exclusivity among people to just be amiable to friends and family came in the 1950s. In the book Homeward Bound, Elaine Tyler May says the dying of the traditional American town came with the rise of the suburbs and the onslaught of the Cold War. The policy of "containment" was permeating not only American foreign relations, but also American familial and communal relations. Families were "contained" to themselves. Many also argue the large-spread rise of crime led many people to distrust each other. You never know who may be a serial killer. Ask Ted Bundy's friends.
Yet, people are not completely withdrawn from one another. On the Internet, millions of people interact with one another, strangers and friends alike. People find no qualms I'm-ing a person who lives thousands of miles away, but are uncomfortable when the person standing next to them in line strikes up a conversation. Meeting people takes courage, and may be its just me, but the human race seems to be lacking in bravery.

Listing off

I'm not going to lie; despite my young age, I have already developed several theories on life. One that has particularly struck me is this: people like lists.
One of the first things you learn in writing a press release is to use lists and bullet points. People's eyes are supposedly drawn there because they are usually offset and numbered; I think it's because people just really love lists. Why do people like lists? People like order. It's why we created government and study history and many other subjects. It's also why we like lists. People also like feeling accomplished. It's why we like getting good grades, a pat-on-the-back or an award; we like to see our work appreciated and rewarded by another. Lists provide a perfect combination of order and sense of accomplishment. You can see your goals, tasks, etc. perfectly outlined; then, cross them off with vigor when completed. Lists provide people with order, stability and control that can be lacking in many areas of life.
Maybe you didn't make one today; maybe you haven't made one in years. At one point in life, every person will make a list. And they will like it, whether or not they admit it.

The greatest show on earth

After recently viewing Woodstock and Gimme Shelter (the story of Altamont), and with the impending Lollapalooza, I've been thinking: who would grace the stage if I could throw the perfect music festival? While Bonnaroo 2008 and this year's Lollapalooza lineups are so so close to perfection, I have created my own list of people I would like to see. While this magnificent performance could never take place (unless time-travel becomes a viable option), it is my dream to see all of these acts.
1. The Beatles, circa 1964. They were still young and had yet to discover LSD and India.
Will perform: I Saw Her Standing There, Twist and Shout, A Hard Day's Night, All My Loving and I Should Have Known Better.
2. The Jackson 5, circa 1970. It may seem cliche with MJ's recent death, but after days of watching archival footage of their performances, who couldn't help but want to see them live? Will perform: I'll Be There, ABC, and I Want You Back.
3. Ben Folds. Ben Folds has an amazing ability to make you feel like he's singing and talking only to you.
Will perform: whatever he feels like. He could stand on-stage smacking his gum into the microphone and I would be happy.
4. Buddy Holly, circa 1957. Holly and the Crickets were the original rock band.
Will perform: Peggy Sue, That'll Be the Day, Dearest and Everyday.
5. Bob Dylan. He's just really, really cool.
Will perform: his entire song catalogue. This might take a few months.
6. The Who, circa before Keith Moon died. Probably wrote some of the best songs of the past 50 years.
Will perform: Tommy, Who's Next, My Generation, Love Reign O'er Me.
7. R.E.M. and the B-52s. I would love to see them perform together, and since this is my dream show, they will.
Will perform: Nightswimming, Shiny Happy People, Orange Crush, Radio Free Europe, Superman, Love Shack, Roam, Rock Lobster, Private Idaho and whatever else they want to.
8. Janis Joplin, circa 1969. Must be sober enough to last the entire performance.
Will perform: Cry Baby, Summertime, Piece of My Heart, and Bobby McGhee.
9. John Mayer. He is so much better live than on his records. And that's says a lot.
Will perform: anything that pops into his head.
10. Bon Jovi. The greatest band to come out of the "hair band" craze. They are still making great music almost 20 years later.
Will perform: Livin On a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name.
11. Alicia Keys. Master of the piano.
Will perform: anything that she has ever written.
12. Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix. Once again, these two never performed together, but it would have been spectacular if they had.
Will perform: Sittin On the Dock of the Bay, Hey Joe, Fire.
13. Adele. The girl has sooouuuul.
Will perform: Chasing Pavements.
14. The Killers. They've got soul, but they're not soldiers.
Will perform: Sam's Town in its entirety.
15. U2. Overrated? Yes. Still pretty cool? Yes.
Will perform: Vertigo, Where the Streets Have No Name, Beautiful Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday.
16. David Bowie, circa Ziggy Stardust. The king of the rock show.
Will perform: Ziggy Stardust.
17. T.I. and assorted friends. ATL's very own.
Will perform: Live Your Life, Rubberband Man, Whatever You Like.

Honorable mentions: Nirvana, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Queen, Dave Matthews Band and Rihanna.

Dear life, please find me.

Wanted: one life
Must be: fun, action-packed, adventure-filled and laughter-laden. Dancing and singing required. Career, marriage and children preferred. Happiness an absolute.
Money does not equate success.
No time limit.
Anything involving science, math or business need not apply.