My Super Sweet Sixteen.  I just watched the show on MTV and feel kind of numb.  I don't know if I should be disgusted, embarrassed, or full of pity.  The disgusted is obvious enough - I mean, these girls seem so spoiled, so far from reality, so out of touch from what life is like for normal people...and yet don't seem to have a clue.  When I think of these kids, only one word comes to mind:  Pathetic.  I don't know how that makes me feel either.  I think that when everyone watches the show they feel the same two things I do.  On one level, we envy them.  I mean, who wouldn't?  They have almost no worries, they get what they want, they all seem rather popular, and at the end of the expensive (and rather awe inspiring) day, are probably looking forward to the next one.

 

But still....no.  We do not envy them.  The entire time I'm watching, I thank God that I've grown past the  emotional maturity of a toddler (my god, the tears) and the patience of a small dog hopped up on caffeine.  We laugh, but not because it's funny.  I think I laugh because I'm uncomfortable watching - like the people on American Idol who can't sing.  In the words of an entirely overused analogy - it's like a car accident.  You just have to watch.  Every time I've seen the show (maybe a few times now) I start daydreaming about the birthday girl working on a farm, or asking "Would you like fries with that", or even better, living MY LIFE.  Oh, how the tears would fall.  I'm pretty sure the words "Daddy....?" would be mumbled a few times, but everyone would just point and laugh.  Or, even better(!), Daddy would come running in to save the day, asking, "But isn't it enough that I just love you???"  This is just an idea, but I'm pretty sure the birthday girl would fall over and die. 

 

But don't get me started on the parents....

 

Okay - enough.  I'm out.