The Idea
It was a quiet day at the ad agency. And Tom was ready for the pitch meeting that was about to start. The men and women sat at the conference table. Each looking down at their phones that lay before them. No one making small talk not even subtle glances from one to another. All of them consumed in themselves. All but Tom, he never kept his phone on him. He thought the phone was a hand held prison. It was solidarity confinement that people seemed to not notice. Tom sat upright in his chair looking at the prisoners in front of him. Tom smiled. He turned to the woman to his left, 'beautiful morning, huh Jan?'
The woman didn't even look up from her device and with an irritated tone to her voice said, 'sure is Bob'
'It's Tom.'
'Right, Don. Morning.' The woman said her eyes still glued to her screen.
Where most might have been bothered by the woman not knowing their name, Tom found it amusing.
A man in an expensive suit walked through the open doorway and took a seat at the head of the conference table. 'Good morning everyone.' He said surly. You could have heard a pin drop. No one seemed to not notice. No one looked up from their phones. 'It's come to my attention that our numbers are at an all time low! You know what that means?! You are making me look bad! You report to me and I report to those above me.'
The room quiet. No one moved. Still heads down focused on their phones. The only one present...Tom.
'I need ideas! Good ones. The ones at our last meeting were mediocre at best.'
No one said a word. A few raised heads with blank stares were all the boss got.
Tom raised his hand as he spoke to try and gather everyone's attention, 'sir the higher ups are wanting something new, something different?'
'That's what I said isn't'
'It seems like the more and more arcades and theaters we are making the less they are in demand. I understand they are at full capacity and are way above budget...'
'Do you have an idea or are you just boring me with what I already know.'
'What I'm trying to say, the people will pretty much do whatever we throw at them. We've become a society where we do as we are told. We get distracted easily. Look at this group of men and women for example they can barely resist the urge to not look at their phones!' He surveyed the room where most of the men and women had once again regained focus on the phones in their hands, mesmerized by the screen. Not aware of the current conversation at hand. 'What is happening to our society? Do we really want to create another form of entertainment or device to create more zombies?!'
'what do you suggest?'
'More projects developing parks, interactive libraries where you can go and learn! To move physically and be challenged mentally.'
'Is that so.' The boss said coolly, raising an eyebrow.
'Yes!' Tom sighed. He hadn't realized he had bottled all that in for all these years.
The boss picked up the phone and pressed only three numbers then said into the phone, 'we have another one...yes unfortunately...he doesn't even have his phone or any other device on his persons...yes I saw him even reading a book the other day...he tried to make small talk earlier with a coworker we caught it on the security camera right before I entered the room. Yes immediate extraction would be great. '
Tom looked startled. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'Can you believe this?' He said while looking from one co- worker to another? No one budged. 'Hello?! Are you guys hearing this?' He was about to stand up placing his weight on his hands as he was about to push himself up from the chair. But as he began doing so he saw hand restraints coming from the chair and closing tightly around his wrists as another restraint came from the back of the chair around his waist. He was now confined to the chair. 'HELP!' He shouted to the men and women. 'Do something! Help me! Can't you see and hear what's happening?' He pleaded.
Just then two well dressed men rushed in.
'Thank God! You heard me. Help. I don't know what I've done. Please help me.'
'Is that him?' Asked one of the men. The boss nodded. 'He's a talkative one.'
'Yes. He never stopped trying to get the others attention. Sad really. Thinking another human could be worth another humans time.' The boss lifted his hand and gave a 'take him away' gesture. The two large well dressed men approached Tom. One man pulled out handcuffs, placed one on Tom's wrist then pressing a button that released the restraints holding him down. Tom immediately began to struggle and yell knocking his chair to the floor. 'What is wrong with you people!' The man placed the other handcuff on Tom's other wrist. The other man kicked Tom in the back of the knee making it impossible for Tom to run away, he could barely walk now. He continued to yell and put up a fight. The two men dragged him out of the room and closed the door behind them. Soon distant screams could be heard...then silence.
The boss turned to the group, 'so any ideas'
A man still staring at his screen said nonchalantly, 'how about we make the movie screen even bigger at the theater and place additional screens on the surrounding walls. And make the sound louder.'
'That's an excellent idea. The men upstairs will be pleased to hear it. This meeting is over, go back to your cubicles.'
The men and women. Got up from their chairs, heads still down, not aware of the empty chair that now lay lifeless on the floor.
The training has begun!!! Arizona is so beautiful and a wonderful place to hike! It is wonderful to be married to a man who is a native to Arizona and loves this state and loves to be outdoors like me. Last year we got into hiking too late in the season and was only able to go three or four weekends in a row. This year I plan to go a lot more. And last year I was wearing my tennis shoes I've had for about six years. (that should tell you how awful they are and had no traction). This year I am preparing early! Saved up money I've made from doing hair for new hiking shoes and a CamelbaK! So two weekends ago we went to look at the camelbak I've been saving up for and I wear it around the store and it is awesome, so of course I'm going to buy it! And then we looked at hiking shoes, and I can't go home empty handed when shoe shopping!!! The following weekend I want to start breaking in my shoes, so Travis and I go on a mini hike on the Superstition mountain. We decided to do a late afternoon hike (it is beautiful to watch the sun set). We go to Quick-Trip to pick up our water and snacks! Travis shows me how to fill my camelbak (already rinsed and cleaned it at home) and then we set off to the mountain. The sun is already beginning to set and we set off on our mini hike. The weather was beautiful it was about 103 degrees out but you wouldn't have even know. And there was a slight breeze. It was a lot of fun hiking and talking. we then reached the end of our mini hike and sat at the bench on the path. and watched the sun go down. then we began walking back and I got my headband flashlight out and lit the way back. It was a great way to break in my shoes. They still need to be broken in. But it was a good start. I've been preparing for the hiking season by continuing to do P90X. Hiking mountains has really been a great motivator for me to get fit and healthy. I highly enjoy being outdoors and it is fun to be out in nature and enjoying it. The cardio and the weight training has really helped me to improve my hiking abilities. I didn't get winded and I was extremely energized. Very glad hiking season has begun! And my goal is to hike to the very top of Siphon Draw!!!
It felt great, I then turn to Travis and said, "with all said and done, that was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed the hike and all the animals we saw. I know I was being a pain as we got higher up but now that it is over I feel fine." He turns to me and says, "like I said, you are an emotional talker!" And I understood what he meant by it. =)
Lacey Jo 
