Excuses

Once, when Kristin and I were visiting NYC we stayed across the river in New Jersey. The train we took to get into the city stopped at Ground Zero. We decided to get out and walk uptown. And here I was presented with an ethical dilemma.

Ethical Dilemma – Doesn’t that phrase just beg to be spoken by Ed McMahon?

But back to my ethical dilemma. I was carrying my camera with me (as always) and could not decide if it was inappropriate/disrespectful to take pictures. I had run into this issue before, at a concentration camp in Austria and had erred on the side of not being offensive/stereotypically American.

But here I was in America, so that wasn’t a concern. And then, like G-d had heard my prayers, was the answer.

Aside: Do you ever wonder if maybe G-d does only care about one person, and follows him/her around every day, granting their seemingly insignificant prayers? Do you sometimes worry that person is Kanye* West? No? Just me then.

Across the street were nuns. Yes, nuns. As a catholic who came of age during a shortage of nuns, nun spotting does usually make me giddy. But that’s not what was so exciting, for these nuns were taking pictures. That’s right. Nuns taking pictures of ground zero.

I haven’t whipped my camera out so fast in years. If a nun thinks it’s okay, surely you’re good. I mean, just imagine -

The Scene – Pearly gates, clouds, hopefully a Target (Super is optional)
St. Peter: “So I see you took pictures of Ground Zero. A little
insensitive, wouldn’t you think?”
Me: “Um, there were nuns doing it.”
St. Peter: “Touche.”

Whatever the ethical debate, if a nun is okay with it, you’re golden. I present this to all of you as a solid rule of life.

I can hear you talking to yourself. “Self,” you exclaim, “what in the world is the point of this story? And why would there be Targets in heaven?”

Don’t worry, it’ll all be explained. First, because it’s suppose to be heaven. Think about it.

And second is Sharon. She is one of my best friends. She’s also the best person I know.

Basically, she’s my nun.

So whatever thoughts you have while looking through the upcoming post, involving Skye, roses, and a wood-planked wall, I want you to remember something.

Sharon was there. And if Sharon didn’t stop us, are we really to blame?

* I have a strange desire to write Kanye West and tell him that his name sets off my spell check, though Ed McMahon’s doesn’t. But I just don’t think he could handle it.

Excuses