Stroller Coaster
Stroller Coaster
The Sea of Tranquility
Reading 1 - Remittance / 1912, Mirella and Vincent / 2020, and The Last Book Tour on Earth / 2203
When Matthew was 2, he LOVED riding in his umbrella stroller. The small, lightweight ride allowed him to see everything. He especially loved to go as fast as we could go, and would ask me to run faster while I pushed him.
One day we were picking Alex up from school. As we walked across the parking lot, Matthew asked to go faster. So I started jogging with him, while he laughed. As we got closer to the sidewalk, I had an idea. Instead of slowing down and gently lifting the stroller onto the sidewalk, I thought I could simply pull up hard on the handles while running. This would allow me to lift the stroller in stride. We would go from the parking lot to the sidewalk in one smooth, quick motion.
It would be, I assured Barb, a stroller coaster. She was unconvinced. Nevertheless, I persisted.
As Matthew and I got closer to the curb, I got ready, and when we got to the sidewalk I lifted, never once breaking stride. At first, things felt beautiful. For a brief moment, Matthew was airborne and it looked like my brilliant idea was going to work flawlessly. The stroller coaster was in full effect.
Then the front wheels got caught on the edge of the curb.
The next thing I know, Matthew is headed face first into the sidewalk. I am falling over the top of him. There is crying and confusion. Matthew ended up with some scrapes. I ended up with some public humiliation and a VERY exasperated wife.
My great idea didn’t really consider Matthew or what he needed. I just thought about me and what I wanted to give him. I thought I would provide thrills and excitement. I forgot that my job as his dad was to provide safety and care. He didn’t need a stroller coaster. We just needed to pick up his sister without anyone getting a concussion.
Sometimes when we have a position of authority we think we should provide one thing, when our job is to provide something else, or even leave things alone completely.
We think we are doing one thing when what we are actually doing is something very different. This even extends to the actions of whole societies.
Columbia University professor Edward Said has said that “(e)very empire… tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate." I thought about that quote as I began reading The Sea of Tranquility which has, I think, colonialism as one of its themes. What do the characters in this story think that they are doing? What are they actually doing? That is one of the things that I will be paying attention to as the story continues.
A few other questions to think about:
1. One of the reviews I read of this book called it “claustrophobic.” I think that is an interesting description. In what way do you think it fits with reading one?
2. In my estimation, wilderness (both internal and external) plays a big role in this first reading. Where do you see that theme developing?
3. What character stands out to you - positively or negatively? Who are you interested in learning more about? Why?
Upcoming Readings
February 22 - Part 4 (Bad Chickens / 2401) and Part 5 (Last Book Tour on Earth / 2203)
March 1 - Part 6 (Mirella and Vincent / file corruption), Part 7 (Remittance / 1918, 1990, 2018), and Part 8 (Anomaly)
I did not feel any claustrophobia as I read this. Perhaps I missed some symbolism. I am most interested in learning about Olive. My reason, of course, is that I love to learn more about authors. I want to know where they get their ideas, their perspectives, their writing styles, etc. Her leaving just in time to avoid the pandemic has whetted my appetite for what happens to her next.