Three Zombies, And One Who Isn't

Woke up, slurped some coffee, and saw the bizarre story of the L.A. 'BlingRing'--bored teenagers who broke into movie stars' homes and cleaned them out, just because they could. Millions of dollar of stuff.  Just because they could. You know, like bankers and banana-republic tin-hats.



Little George Stephanapoulos was a bit incredulous as he interviewed this kid, who had obviously been carefully coached by some expensive legal talent. Subtext--'Yes, of course I never grew a conscience, but I'm much too pretty to go to jail!'

George has no complaint. He got his start parsing language and spinning for Bill Clinton. He shouldn't feign surprise at the inevitable result of his earlier activities.

****

OS, in a moment of weakness, took on the job of helping a teeny-tiny not-for-profit out with some adminstrative tasks. In Sunday School as a child, he was told he'd get extra stars in his crown when he meets his Maker, if he was nice to folks.  Every little bit helps, given his track record....

So, twice a year, he takes a huge stack of papers and checks to a bank in Nashville, borrows a conference room, and he and his spreadsheet turn them into little stacks and deposit slips.  It's a pain, but it's temporary.

This bank is in a good location, except for the ghost mall across the street.  OS showed up at 11:30, and made his final deposit just before 4:00.  Of the three side offices where bank officers should be busily beavering away, lending and collecting money, only two had any signs of occupancy, and only one had the lights on. The 'service desk' front and center in the lobby hasn't been occupied in well over a year. One teller, a branch manager, an assistant.  OS was doing his thing with stacks of paper, and noticed that nothing was happening out there. No customers walking in or driving up. Phone barely rang. Employees stood around and shot the breeze about cars, internet dating sites, family, etc.

Finally a few random customers...two retirees with pension and social security checks to deposit. One brought his dog and pics of his old custom car, and joined in the general palaver. He was lonely, and they were pleasant company. A couple of retail employees cashing paychecks. And the guy in the conference room occasionally emerging with a deposit slip.

It was eerie. Nothing is really something, when it's happening at the branch of a pretty large regional bank.

******

Chatted with two friends at church supper (it's a Southern Thing). One teaches at university, another at an exclusive private high school. Both were comparing notes on students and families, and a general theme emerged. They are dealing with a lot of people who are intent on 'gaming the system', to appear to be outrageously over-achieving while all they are doing is competing, by hook or crook, for high standardized scores. 

No real intellectual activity happening, just zombie students.

Zombie banks.

Zombie teen-aged felons.

Hmm..

But here, by contrast, is someone who definitely has embraced life, the opposite of zombie-dom.

Enjoy Christopher Parkening, and take courage.