Random Thoughts

Last night lying in bed, I had two strange, unrelated, unprompted memories pop into my head.


The first was of me in english class as a high school sophomore. We were reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and our teacher gave us an assignment to memorize the famous “To be or not to be…” speech. We were to memorize it and then on the assigned day, we were to come to class, put a blank sheet of paper on our desk, and write out the speech verbatim. As an extra credit bonus, we could choose to stand up in front of the class and recite the speech out loud. I was the only one in the whole sophomore class that chose to do that. That was something I never understood. I mean you already have the speech memorized, why not go ahead and earn the extra credit, and avoid your hand cramping from so much writing? Why do people choose the easy or “safe” route, when excellence, or at least something above mediocrity is so close and within their grasp. I think for the most part we are all born with a similar capacity for learning. Some just choose to apply themselves more than others. Then again, according to some philosophers, we are born already knowing everything we will ever know, and learning is actually just a way to reactivate the memory of the knowledge we already possess. Interesting.

The second memory, as I said, completely unrelated was of last year when we were vacationing in Naples (Florida that is). I remembered strolling down a street in the shopping district and walking into a little french shop. And I remember how strong the smell of stinky cheese was as it assaulted my nose and I could almost taste it in my mouth it was so potent. As much as I wanted to turn around and run out of there, I did make my way over to the display case to see the pretty painted chocolates. After all, we have to remember the small pleasures in life sometimes too.