The Risk of Imagining

I'm sitting in the McDonald's at the corner of Greenpoint Ave by the G train in Brooklyn and I was thinking to myself that I should probably update my new blog that I promised myself I'd write in everyday... well, I was on vacation give me a break!

Anyways, I was thinking of the list of different songs that I want to write about that I made on the plane ride back from San Antonio. But then, out of nowhere, I am surprised to hear the opening chords to "Imagine" by John Lennon. I must admit I was really surprised because I had not been feeling the tunes at this Mickey D's until that moment. I was busy trying to decide whether or not I should take a quick subway trip over to the Target location on Flatbush even though the reviews on Google for that location are horrid. I figure, 'how hard can it be to find what I need? I used to work at a Target for Pete's sake!"

Of course, if I go to Target, I will without a doubt spend money that I don't have. Furthermore, I haven't yet timed the distance between my boyfriend's new place and Hunter College so I'm afraid to chance being late.  So I thought, "why not write in my blog?" It sure is cheaper than going to Target.  Then, just as I was opening up the web page, I heard John Lennon sing:

Imagine there's no Heaven 
It's easy if you try 
No hell below us 
Above us only sky 
Imagine all the people 
Living for today 

Imagine there's no countries 
It isn't hard to do 
Nothing to kill or die for 
And no religion too 
Imagine all the people 
Living life in peace 

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will be as one 

Imagine no possessions 
I wonder if you can 
No need for greed or hunger 
A brotherhood of man 
Imagine all the people 
Sharing all the world 

You may say that I'm a dreamer 
But I'm not the only one 
I hope someday you'll join us 
And the world will live as one 

When I was in 8th grade, my choir teacher asked us each to bring our favorite song lyrics.  She said that it didn't need to be our favorite song.  It just had to be lyrics that meant something to us.  I brought in the lyrics to "Imagine" and also wore my favorite John Lennon t-shit with the lyrics on the back for good measure! The front of the t-shirt was a picture of Lennon in his big sunglasses and a "New York City" t-shirt on.  While wearing that shirt and reciting those lyrics to my classmates, I felt particularly bohemian and I 'imagined' a world where my NSYNC lyric reading classmates would be inspired by Lennon's words and decide to look past labels, cliques, race, class... or whatever other stupid nonsense separates human beings from just loving and accepting each other.  

When I finished my recitation of those moving lyrics, I awoke from my own reverie to see girls passing each other the inside booklets from their Top 40 CD cases or their computer print-outs of hip-hop lyrics (these of course would have to be edited when read aloud in class).  The only person in the room with an expression of rapt attention on their face was my teacher.  When I made eye contact with her, she gave me a broad smile that said, "I still have hope for this generation."  My teacher asked me to explain to my classmates why I had chosen that song to share.  I couldn't tell you now what I said, all I know is I can clearly remember my own heart sinking to my ankles as the obvious disinterest from my classmates turned to a low rumble of not so silent ridicule that made me cut-off mid-sentence and retreat back to my seat.  How dare I ruin a day that was supposed to be dedicated to mindless reaffirmation of all things popular and teenage with my attempt at reaching out through inspiring, thought-provoking lyrics? Well... I guess that's why the title of the song is "Imagine."  We aren't there yet, but maybe - just maybe - if enough of us are able to imagine something better we might just imagine it into being.

Oh, and by the way, the next girl in line to share her lyrics... she read "Digital Getdown" by NSYNC.