Moment of Yawning

Today I was involved in a conversation that ended up making me seem like I am heartless. But I am not, I swear. See what you think.

Me: Are you going to your block party tonight?

Other: Yes, and there's going to be a moment of silence for the victims of the 35W disaster at 6:05 followed by church bells at 6:06.

Me: YAWN (spoken, and exaggerated)

Other: Um, well, I think that's appropriate. I mean, people died.

Me: Yeah, but there's already been a statewide moment of silence. Multiple moments of silence within a week seems silly.

I am silent lots of moments each day. So? Moments of silence are one of those exercises in *civility* that I find boring and meaningless. It's sort of like going to visit a grave. I think my grandma doesn't like it that I never go to my grandpa's grave. But the thing is, that's not how I mourn and it's not how I remember him. I do not associate anyone's grave with the actual person. I remember and honor my grandpa when I re-read a book by Mark Twain or I look at the dollhouse he made for me with his own hands when I was a little girl. Visiting his grave doesn't bring me closer to his memory.

Likewise, an ordered moment of silence doesn't seem to me a great sign of respect or mourning for anyone. Probably a lot of people are just silent because it would be weird to talk, and they aren't thinking about the dead people, but about the bills they have to pay, or what they're going to eat from the bbq at their block party.

More appropriate than a moment of silence would be a moment of discussion regarding crumbling infrastructure in this country and why people keep voting for leaders who prioritize low taxes, rather than safety and social responsibility.

But, for future reference, it is apparently inappropriate to say and feign "YAAWWN" when someone mentions a scheduled moment of silence for dead people.

*As an aside, I have a sneaking suspicion that my son's first word is going to be a sassy, sarcastic "yawn" to someone who says something boring or stupid. We will be so proud.