December 21st, 2008

Over the past couple of days I’ve received information about my 30th high school reunion that’s going to be held in September. The people planning the reunion are doing a great job. There’s a website specifically for Buena High School class of 1979 alumni. In addition to whether or not you’re going to attend the festivities, you’re asked to give a little information about yourself. The very first thing they want to know is how many children you have and their ages. Now I know the majority of people have children, but for those of us who don’t, or in my case couldn’t, you’re left to feel as though procreating is the highest goal one could achieve. When I went to my 20 year reunion the class president brought his baby into the hall where the event was being held and announced to everyone that “this is what it’s all about” and that “nothing else mattered.” He was a proud dad. I bet there’ve been days since then that he hasn’t felt so proud. I’ve watched people struggle to raise kids. They’re not easy. But there has to be some penalty for sex. For many, parenting is the easiest job to get – you just have to screw up once and it’s yours. I have a 17 year-old niece who found out how easy it was to get the job. Nothing else matters much to her either. I take exception to those who think childbirth is a miracle. I don’t think it is. It’s a chemical reaction, that’s all. Raising a kid that doesn’t talk in a movie theatre – now there’s a miracle. It’s not a miracle if every nine months any ying-yang in the world can drop a litter of mewling cabbages on the planet. And just in case you haven’t seen the single-mom statistics lately, the miracle is spreading like wildfire. All that being said, I’m really looking forward to my high school reunion. Even if I have nothing to show for my life but a degree and a couple of dozen books.