:: narrative ::

Window to Another World

This morning I drove Cameron to school in the pre-dawn darkness. After a morning of rushing to get math homework finished, he pushed the button that would fill the car with Christmas music and settled back in his seat for the 15 minute ride. Elvis sang, "Silver Bells." Cameron turned to me and asked, "What was the big deal about Elvis, mom?"

I told Cameron what I knew about Elvis (although I was born in the 60s and missed the hysteria by half a decade) and we talked about what we knew of the world in the 50s. I told Cameron about dress styles and school rules about clothing; I remembered how my neighbor (a peer of my older brother) was sent home from high school because her skirt was too short. She was sent to the dean's office and made to kneel on the floor; then because her skirt hem didn't fully touch the floor, she was sent home to change.

Cameron found it hard to believe that such a time existed; I found it hard to believe he didn't know that. I was reminded of the ways in which our stories--pulled from our own memories, experiences, past and present--open windows to worlds others might otherwise never see. I'm glad he and I exchanged world views this morning. It's not even 8:00am yet, and already I feel as though I've given and received today. :)

posted by Katherine Murray @ 7:46 AM