Carnival

We went to the church carnival last night. It's an annual event and we look forward to it. As we brewed in the steamy night, a few things occurred to me. First, I was thankful I had left my phone in the car and was able to capture moments with my wife and daughter that I may have forced myself to observe through a digital lens otherwise. I have to admit I put my hand in my pocket a few times out of habit, wanting to take a picture or see what time it was or if I had a text. I do like to share pictures. The cell phone is a valuable tool in that respect. I know that family and friends appreciate being able to see our precious Valeria and that when they see her joy they are able to get a sliver of it. But it was equally valuable to take some time, tech free, to soak it all in and feel the summer sweat consume us in under the lights of the carnival in the dark night.

The second thing I observed troubled me. I have said it was a hot night. Obviously, people dressed for the weather. But I was disturbed by the attire of young girls, some not yet even teenagers. This remark is by no means prudish. I am not condemning these girls or suggesting they need to be on a leash. Part of the disturbance in my mind was that I was noticing. I was not looking up to see girls, but I was glancing at what I thought might have been attractive women, occasionally to realize they were children. My reflections, briefly interrupting the sweet smell of funnel cakes, focused on my role. I silently vowed to try to play less of a role in objectifying women with the hope that other men will join me and young girls will not feel compelled to look sexy to get the attention they already deserve.