The allure and statement of stripes and circles is something I'll never grasp.

A very circuitously-related opening shot, yes, but a segment from last Sunday's CBS Sunday Morning came to mind, and I had to address it.

Last year, around Halloween, I bought a book.

Tonight, 8½ months later, I finally finished reading it.

Mind you, I wasn't reading it consistently: it was only 31 chapters & 2 appendices (and the last 5 chapters were read tonight).

I'm not going to say that I'm proud to have read it. It was then, and is now, multiple case studies on manipulating... other people, not images.

I think I'm marginally better for it: I now know why some past actions, intentional and not, were received as they were. I'm more aware of what I am emanating as well as what I am saying.

But I doubt its practicality to me. It talks of making matters I take seriously into a game. A source of diversion.

To follow its advice would be to ceaselessly play with the emotions of another. Of others.

I can't do that.

I don't mind trying to play the part of orchestral conductor from time to time, but I can't nor won't do it all the time. I am not that person. Thus, I do not accept the book's counsel as beneficial to me.

I will say this: I do thank the woman who recommended I read it. Before hers and mine paths on the internet crossed, I would never have been able to make certain actions that needed to be made. I hope to be able to say I will be even more grateful later than I am right now, but then, there must be time for love to grow.

I want to be that person, and I know I am not that person yet.

If anyone is wondering why I'm being so vague, well yes, it's by design. I'm not going to divulge the title of the book, but I will close with this point, especially for any college freshmen who are leaving home to go to school: Be wary of those who attempt to isolate you from your past: there must be very good reasons why your friends and family are your friends and family, and that should not be naught without equally good reasons.

-KIE