The Power and the Glory of Quirky Observation

Christoph Niemann: Visitor from the Kid's Room

Let’s face it. We all share many of the same experiences in life. But most are unbearably mundane. Noticing makes such things standout and making the mundane standout is a terrifying reminder of our utter ordinary-ness. Blech. Don’t we all mean to live for so much more? Cue Switchfoot’s Meant to Live:

I’ve recently been reminded of how some, more quirky observations can easily lead to delightful moments of wonder and a spine-tingling connectedness with the whole bad-ass universe. We might fail for words … except perhaps an astonished, I know! Such are the kind of moments which many of our religious observances were designed to evoke. Yet here we get exactly what we’re looking for … without all the baggage.

What I mean to say is, sometimes I’m reminded that the best kind of wonder and thrill is often an everyday thing.

The following are three examples of what I mean. I’m sharing these in hopes that something here may at least provoke a knowing smile. And maybe you’re aware of other or better examples? Bring all the quirky observations that you have and let’s worship together!

A. Christoph Niemann’s New York Times column: Abstract City.
Every edition is just this kind of thrillingly quirky observation. So check-out Good Night and Tough Luck from September 2009. The image at the head of my post is just one of the thirteen you’ll find there. Go, experience it. You may sleep better … or at least sleep more musingly? Who knows?

B. A brilliant little bit of political/social/literary/geeky sarcasm that I found in my Facebook feed:
“There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.”
–John Rogers, on the blog Kung Fu Monkey (h/t my friend Rick)

C. Finally, selections from Aaron Karo’s All-time Most Gourmet Ruminations
(thank you, Jacque!):

1. I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection…again.
13. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.
17. I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.
18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
19. How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?
20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
22. Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey – but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.
24. The first testicular guard, the “Cup,” was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.