Ingrid: Consumerism in Your Face

I had 4 hours to while away in Traverse City, Michigan last week. I walked from the bus station up and down 8 blocks of Front Street. There, I encountered every kind of shop you can dream up--tee shirts, sporting goods, candy, kites, luggage, jewelry, shoes, toys, kitchenware, hats, art, picture frames, 2 coffee shops and a several restaurants. I glanced in the windows of the shops but resisted going inside. A few were tempting--half price sales, going out of business. A really jazzy lime jacket caught my eye. It was me. But I didn't bite. Because it wasn't me anymore. I had a cup of tea and a biscotti. I walked for another hour and a half and had a salad. I realized, as never before, that this is what cities are all about--consumption. In this stretch there wasn't even a green area with a bench where I could sit down and people watch. It was buy, buy, buy, up one street and down another. Traverse City is a nice enough town. I even considered living here once. But stuff is everywhere. Consumerism is in your face. It's not just Traverse City. It's almost any city in America. I don't want to wake up and look at Chico's. I want to wake up and look at the sun.