When I go on vacation, I mentally check out from the daily barrage of newspapers, magazines, radio programs, and television tell-alls. In fact, the world could come to an end while I’m basking in the sun somewhere, and I would be the last person to know. Or possibly care.
During this last trip I missed all the hype surrounding the Super Bowl, the coverage of elections in Iraq, and the growing grumble about Ward Churchill. I also missed President Bush’s State of the Union speech and various confirmations of his cabinet. When I returned home I came in in the middle of several stories. For instance, I learned Condoleeza Rice made the cut as Secretary of State, although I hadn’t watched any of the hearings.
I skipped the nightly news for almost two weeks. When I returned I learned I could easily catch up . . . if I desired. I could log onto the Internet, find past dated issues of the Chicago Tribune or Washington Post or the New York Times. I could check with friends regarding the Super Bowl winners, both on the field and culled from the pricey commercials. But what I did instead was simply jump in the waters where I was and go with the flow.
My mind was much clearer and sharper than it was two weeks before, and I think maybe it’s because it wasn’t cluttered with TMI. For the uninitiated, that’s “too much information.”
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