Friday, May 25, 2007



A Story I Can Totally Relate To From Experience

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The little boy spotted the pretty pile of colored sand on the floor of the vast hall and couldn't resist. Slipping under a protective rope, he danced all over the sand, ruining the carefully crafted picture.

Never mind that it was the creation of eight Tibetan monks who had spent two days cross-legged on the floor of Union Station, meticulously pouring the sand into an intricate design as an expression of their Buddhist faith.

They were more than halfway done with the design - called a mandala - on Tuesday when they ended their work for the day and left. The little boy showed up sometime later with his mother, who was taking a package to a post office in the hall.


That is why my toddler isn't allowed near the Mona Lisa, Independence Hall, or out of eyesight for more than 20 nanoseconds. I do enjoy the Buddhist philosophy of temporary art, as a representation of the temporary nature of this existence.

I just wonder if this toddler is going to go back to the mall anytime soon.