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| WASTED AGAIN IN EL YUPPYVILLE | |||||||||
| By John H. McKay | |||||||||
| E-Mail: [email protected] | |||||||||
| Not that I get wasted in Orange County or any place for that matter. But, if I were to get wasted in Orange County, California, I would likely be on my own. Come on, do you really think that some snot nosed yuppy is going to care if I stumble out onto the highway and get run over? All they would do is slow down, watch what is happening, shake their heads, and go back to la-la land. | |||||||||
| Got your attention?? Good. That is what I was trying to do. If anyone reading this article has yuppy tendencies, you can either: A) move onto another article or B) read this article and agree or disagree. | |||||||||
| A month ago, I learned a lot about how cold the city is. I went hiking with a class of eleven people into Young Lakes of Yosemite, California. Well, the scary thing is, I got lost--I somehow missed the trail marker. I was in the middle of Tuolumne Meadows, all by myself. After being lost for 45minutes, I began exploring options, knowing that it could take several hours or perhaps, days before I would see another human being. So, I began backtracking, the best I could. I found the trail marker that I had missed. O.K., all was good and I was on my way. About a half-mile up the trail, I encountered a very nice British couple. Yes, it was these very nice people from another continent that re-assured me that I was indeed on the right trail. Of course, about another mile or two ahead, I encountered a few forest employees. They also were very, very nice. Again, I gained re-assurance that I was on the right trail--that I had not somehow veered off into some forbidden land or something. | |||||||||
| About an hour later, I met up with a couple of people who were ahead of me--whom had backtracked to find me. This trip really taught me how genuine people can be. | |||||||||
| O.K., now back to Yuppyville. I realize that people have the right to be as they want to be--thus, if you want to be a yuppy, la-de-da, be a yuppy. But, what concerns me is that the yuppy types seem to have no soul. Let me explain. Today, I went to Barnes and Noble Booksellers, located in Orange, California. I really like going to Barnes and Noble. In fact, I received a gift card for my birthday. So, I decided to enjoy a mocha grande at the Starbucks inside the Barnes and Noble. I found it hard to enjoy my drink when everybody around me had his or her noses up in the air, bullshitting about business affairs, and so on. Man, I realized that this was a place that I did not belong. | |||||||||
| Here is another example. I am a cashier at Costco Wholesale in Tustin, California. Tell me if I am wrong on this one. First of all, I have nothing against cell phones. I have one myself and I use it on occasion. What chaps my hide is when some flippin' yuppy is in line, chatting away on the cell phone, chatting loud enough so everybody in the entire area can hear the conversation. | |||||||||
| And, during that whole time, the yuppy refuses to even acknowledge me. If I wouldn't get in trouble, I would be tempted to triple charge them for an expensive item and see if they would pay attention to the cashier next time--if only I could. | |||||||||
| So, what is the message I am trying to convey? It seems to me that the city takes away the soul of so many people--not all people--just most of them, at least in Orange County, California. Do you feel the same way I do?? If so, throw on a backpack and go into the backcountry of your state, province or wherever you live. You will find real, genuine un-automated people. | |||||||||
| The End.... | |||||||||
| [EDITOR'S COMMENT: Ah yes, life in good old Orange County, California. Likely one of the last bastions for the yuppies, now just about gone elsewhere due to aging (one simply cannot pass as a young, upwardly mobile professional at age 50) and due to the economic downturns. Yes, some urban areas do have a tendency to turn most of the populace into zombies, but others do not. From my travels around the country, John, I would say that good old OC ranks among the worst in that category. | |||||||||
| Still, I have to ask you: what in blazes are you doing shopping at Barnes and Noble and having coffee at Starbucks if you do not enjoy the company of yuppies? Those two stores exemplify the yuppy lifestyle. Start going to independent bookstores and used bookstores, you will find far fewer snobs there. Also, go to small neighborhood coffeehouses and avoid Starbucks when you can - they are an old yuppie icon. Former yuppies go there and dream of the old days.] | |||||||||
| [This article originally appeared in the July/August 2003 issue of THE THOUGHT] | |||||||||
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