A sweet, repetitive jingle rolls on endlessly, punctuated only intermittently by soft plopping noises. It is inexplicably satisfying to watch the pastel-hued lumps of virtual ice cream soar through an imagined sky that morphs realistically with altitude, albeit rather rapidly: starting from a muted cityscape, coursing through the stars, past the moon, a ruddy Mars, and (as far as I have gotten) white-ringed Saturn.
Seafoam green mint chip! Golden lemon! Cream vanilla! Speckly blue tutti-frutti! The most magnificent rainbow 'wild scoop'! ... that strange but enticing nonetheless lilac dollop!
Unfortunately, there is the matter of those vexing vegetables... that self-satisfied tomato, those sanctimonious white and violet onions. The villains of the game Scoops. Three accidentally stacked onto one's cone signifies death. Game over. Even brushing against one of these dastardly dessert-ruiners is enough to provoke a ghastly wail: "WHOOOAAAH!"
Of course, in reality, it is clear vegetables are far superior nutritionally to ice cream. The game even offers a little disclaimer: "veggies ARE great apart from icecream!" Therefore, the issue here is not the negative portrayal of innocently fibrous, antioxidant rich onions and tomatoes.
What is interesting about the game is that it offers a 1UP chance in the form of a special ice cream scoop. Imagine your complete dismay as you tilt your screen in hopes of snagging that beautiful chocolate scoop and instead hear a sickening squelch as a dumpy tomato splats on top of your cone. One life vanishes instantly; the rate of the falling ice cream slows as if to mock your failing. Now picture the renewal, the cleansing sensation that you feel when, as if by magic, a glittering amethyst scoop emblazoned with yellow stars careens gracefully down the screen.
It is a savior! You regain a star denoting another life, and are imbued with new confidence and delight as you continue the game.
It is a pity that Scoops cannot mirror reality. Who would not enjoy polychromatic lumps of sweet, cold dairy falling from the sky? More importantly, who would not give anything for the real-life version of the godly purple scoop--an instant fix-all, a global panacea? Unfortunately, it takes time, effort, motivation to earn good grades, lose weight, cure a disease.
Perhaps this can be for the better, however--sometimes things mean a lot more when you have worked for them. It can be so much more fulfilling to stand back and realize where exactly the outcome was directly impacted by your own efforts. Would you be as inclined to maintain your success had you not understood the struggle that came before success?
Yes, WT, for the record, the tomato is scientifically a fruit.
photo credit: Bram JanssensSummer: a cherished season of rippling crystalline blue water, of bright flashes of swimsuit prints, of the nostalgic scent of mown grass at dusk. For schoolchildren, a three-month respite from book bags and lectures; for everyone else, a stretch of delicious sunshine and greenness.
However, this morning I chanced upon an eye-opening article about summer depression. The phrase seems rather paradoxical: how could balmy, sunny joy possibly have anything to do with gelid, dark melancholy? I found myself lifting an eyebrow, but the disorder and its causes are actually quite intuitive:
Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder:
The more commonly cited (as well as appropriately abbreviated) SAD occurs during the wintertime months of low sunlight, dissipating like a vapor in the warmer months. Symptoms include fatigue, need for more sleep, and increased appetite, which often result in weight gain--rather reminiscent of a bear in torpor. However, Summer SAD, which enshrouds June, July, and August, results in just the opposite: restlessness, trouble sleeping, and consequential weight loss.
Causes:
Though not well understood, SAD seems to originate from a disruption of the body's biological clock that regulates sleep, mood, and hormones--a disruption that is linked to levels of light absorption. Additionally, the article cites other seasonal changes that can throw people off balance:
- Changes in living patterns: Shorter days and the promise of glorious sunlight often entice people out of bed, but at a cost. Both parents' and children's routines are thrown into disarray when school and its regulating force is temporarily halted. Vacations alter established routines of eating, sleeping, and activity.
- Body image issues: Magazines splayed with attractive models clad in minimal swimwear, social gatherings at the pool--summer is the season of skin. However, for those less confident about their bodies, the heat can signify the onslaught of anxiety, fear, and feelings of inferiority. Even intensive diet and exercise plans (often established at the beginning of 'bikini season') can produce negative effects, triggering pressure to succeed and hopelessness with failure.
Too much sunlight, if there exists such an idea, can lead to summer depression. So can reveling in the glory of short nights, barbecues, pool parties, vacation. The article advises sufferers and would-be sufferers to recharge, eat properly, and understand their limits. Enjoy, but with caution.
It appears that the lesson is that moderation ought to be exercised whenever possible--even when summer and its shimmery smile beckon.
