Once upon a time I met a young, shy woman named Meena Rose. She’d come onto the Institute of Children’s Literature’s Writer’s Retreat to join our merry band of word workers. It took less than a half dozen visits for her to become a favorite attendee. Her wisdom belied her youth. Her perception and insight startled many of us who’d lived twice as long. And her gentleness melted our hearts.
I give you Meena Rose, who will surprise those who don’t as yet know her and who will bring smiles to those who already love her. Take it away, Meena.
Have you ever slowed down your train of thought?
Meena–A Desert Rose
By: Meena Rose
It just so happened that I was asking myself that very question a few days ago. I was curious what my thoughts would be on a topic if it was delivered in freeze frame segments to my mind. Would I reach the same reaction in the end or would it be different for having slowed down the input and the reaction to it?
There really was only one way to find out. It was to put the idea to the test and have a voice recorder on standby to record my immediate impressions before they faded. Since I normally neither watch nor listen to the news, I decided to select the first full story that I would tune into. Without further ado, here are the results. I will relay the segments and then reconstruct the story at the end.
Newscaster: This is about a little boy
Meena: Ummm, and, so?
Newscaster: Who ran
Meena: Really, where?
Newscaster: Into the street
Meena: Irresponsible parents, silly boy, will they ever learn. <I am feeling very agitated and angry>
Newscaster: In front of oncoming traffic
Meena: This does not bode well. <My gut actually heaved and I felt myself tense up>
Newscaster: Escaping from
Meena: Oh no, I am so sorry little boy. I hope you are safe. I am sorry for judging your parents too. <My arms get goosebumps>
Newscaster: His father who was
Meena: I knew it. You were just like all the little kids who escape the grips of their parents. <I am feeling flushed and angry again>
Newscaster: Chasing him with a knife.
Meena: Oh, no! Dear God, no! I am SO SO sorry kid. You should never have had to deal with that. Your dad is a monster you did not deserve. Please be alright kid, please be alright. .
Newscaster: A bystander
Meena: The story is not over? Please let it end well
Newscaster: Tackled the father
Meena
When I was 12, a snow day created a three day weekend where I sat in my room and consumed an entire box of booster-sale candy bars while I read The Once and Future King cover to cover with only the occasional trip to my bathroom. I know that trance well.
I’m an EEE so much so that I have difficulty watching films, but I watch the news (PBS only) every night. If it’s real it disturbs me less for some reason…except when children are involved.
Thanks for that thought-provoker.
This is a great post, Claudsy! I loved it, the story, the story behind, the “on-air” part, Meena’s part… in short, all. Way to go!
*High fives* hello EEE sister, I am glad you could relate.
Claudsy, it was my pleasure to guest post on your site today.
That was most interesting, and it’s wonderful to hear Meena’s mind again. After reading the entire Hunger Games series in just over 3 days (an absolute record for me) last week, I know exactly what you mean! I had to keep reading to see what all this meant and where it was going. It was too jarring for my brain to stop, yet I was haunted by it at the same time, and for days after. As for the news and how you processed it, yeah, that’s totally what my brain does, constantly seeking to make sense of what it’s hearing and sum it up… it was much less preplexing to read as a short paragraph. News is tough to handle, twists up your insides.
Thanks for this Clauds and Meena. I will definitely check out Meena’s website!
Reblogged this on Through the Eyes of Meena Rose and commented:
Claudette Young had asked me to do a guest blog for her site. She said she would accept anything I could think of. After studying her site and her writing, I settled on sharing a recent personal experiment for what happens to me as I react to listening to the news. Visit her site and read more about how I slowed down my train of thought one day.
Hunger Games in just over 3 days would be a record for me too !
EEE all the way
Carrieboo: good to hear from you!
Aw, thanks, Mariya. Meena’s one of a kind; a gem that sparkles, even in the dark. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Please come back again. Don’t be a stranger.
It’s been such a fun experience. You’ll have to drop by with wonderful tidbits like this more often, my friend.
Glad you dropped by, Carrie. I know in my best days, I used to read like that, in the zone. I can’t do it anymore and missed it. Keep up the habit for me, too, will you?