re: #305 Interesting Times

The former (that is, there were times when I just couldn’t resist the urge to answer a question in an off-the-wall, unexpected, or non-conformist way. For example - and I don’t recall the context or exactly what sort of assignment it was - we were asked to describe “the best thing that ever happened to you.” Seemed to me that the point was to elicit an assortment of personal anecdotes that conformed to sentimental societal expectations of middle-schoolers. So instead, I answered “Being born in a Democratic country.”)

The snark of truth!

Back in the 60s, my best friend’s mom was mildly disapproving of all the 60s things that were happening, and said to my friend, ‘Why can’t you be different, and CONFORM?!?’ I’ve been laughing ever since.