There are moments in life when sounds and images flash and bring insights totally separate from their original purpose. Some will call them ear/eye worms. In and of themselves they seem to hold little or no importance yet, they often create flashes of insights.
Not everyone will take elections seriously. They might even vote, but likely won’t think too much about it before they arrive at the polling station. In the midst of these thoughts the melody and lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson filled the space between my ears and lit up behind my eyes.
“Sitting on a sofa late on Tuesday night
Listening to the candidates’ debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you’ve got to choose
Every way you look at it, you lose”
In my minds eye the images of a few hosers flipping between the game of the day and then laughing and joking as they hear the candidates debate. Before I can jot down the quips and insights they share the voice of the lyrics change to a much older group of voters rueing the changes and getting caught up in losses and wondering what will replace the loss of the familiar structure of society.
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Wooh, wooh, wooh
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Jolting Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey”
Then, while the ear worm continues the voices change to the knocks on the door, the pamphleteers at the mall, the talking heads in the press.
We’d like to know a little bit about you for our files
We’d like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home
They may say all the right things, but seem tone deaf when you talk, if they give you the opportunity. So the chorus comes around again:
And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Woah, woah, woah
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Thank you for joining us in prayer. Think about it – and remember no matter the result – there is life after elections. A life that will thrive on your smile, your hope, your persistence is doing what is best for all.
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