Just a thought

ONE DAY I was trying to just relax, take a little time to clear my increasingly cluttered mind. So, of course, someone promptly came up to me and started a conversation (groan). To make it worse, this was the same person who months ago had told me in a rather belligerent manner that Batman is a Marvel Comics creation. For the record, he isn’t and never has been. So my expectations about what would come of this conversation were admittedly and understandably not very high (big groan).

But, like life has a habit of doing, I was surprised. He asked me to whom I would give more ‘ratings’, someone who could sing or someone who could build a massive structure like a plane or a bridge. I must admit I’d never really thought about it. I mean both endeavours are quite enviable, especially since I was never good with LEGO sets and I can’t sing even likkle bit. Without waiting for me to ask which, he gave the edge, he told me he sided with the builder.

After taking my time to decide, which was a little too long for him because he asked if I couldn’t speak (major groan), I said the singer. My belief is that you have to have the voice to sing. At the very least, you should be able to carry a note. I feel you either have the voice or you don’t. A bridge builder has to be taught to build bridges. Sure, he can love to put things together but such levels of construction require serious learning.

Now, I know that carrying a note is not all there is to singing. And I know that you can have a great voice but don’t know how to use it. So you would need to be coached as well. But for me, the singing thing has more to do with a certain intangible you just can’t teach. But hey, this isn’t one of those positions I would say I’ll never stray from. To each his own, as far as which side of the coin you prefer.

Funny thing is, I’ve wondered since then what side I’m actually on. Some people say I’m more of the creative type because I ‘can write’. A former co-worker who I, and many other people, consider a tech/computer whiz, once told me that my job was harder than his. But guess what? I think it’s the other way around. I think it’s tougher to learn all that computer stuff than to sit and express your thoughts on paper (well, a computer screen). But he felt that anyone can be taught about the tech world; writing was more of an art.

There are times I think he’s right. And there are times I remember I couldn’t understand mathematics. So I won’t hold my breath that I could handle computer programming. Of course, someone will tell me those two (maths and computers) are totally different. But hey, what do I know? I’m just a dude who can’t sing or build bridges. And that’s fine with me.