Insignificance Of Words

The Insignificance of Words

A man walks down a dimly lit street; the bright red lights above the hospital's exit are now just a faint glow behind him. As he staggers along the city blocks back to his quiet row home, he ponders the tragic news he has just received regarding his mother's failing health. A couple blocks from the refuge of his home, he runs into some of the neighborhood locals. Some he knows most he doesn't, but greets them all the same. "How's it goin'?" he says, in a voice that is less then enthusiastic. "Good" they reply, "How's it goin' with you?" The man responds "Good, thanks for asking", again not showing much interest in the conversation he just finished, he trudges toward home. After passing the locals, the man is amused at the simple truth that he is not doing "good" and that he does not really care if those people are. He ponders the stupidity of the conversation he just had and laughs for the first time all day.

As he enters his doorway and hangs up his jacket, he slowly glances around the living room and finds his way to the olive colored sofa. As he searches the coffee table for the remote control, he begins to think of his ailing mother and her impact on his life. His search ends as he finds the clicker and turns on the television. Not paying any attention to the infomercial on the screen, he is just glad that the silence of his home is broken. As Chuck Norris is explaining why the "Ab Slide is the newest, safest and most effective method for getting in shape in the comfort of your own home." He reflects back on the conversation that he had walking home from the hospital. He quickly laughs again and thinks what was the point of even talking to them. . The simple nonchalant nature of not caring what "is" goin'on, reflects one of the reasons why individuals in America are becoming less community oriented.

Do they even care how I am? Do they even know who I am? Should I trouble them with the predicament that I am in? Would it be proper to stop and explain to these people how my mother is dying and how much pain I am in. Unsure if the man was rude to his neighbors with his dismissive attitude towards their conversation he reflected back on his life. During the course of this reflection he realized the silliness of these types of conversations. He realized that he had had these conversations everyday of his