Crash

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert jokingly claim that they are going into business together. They're going to sell bagels in a travel agency. They want to call their effort, "From Smear To Eternity." I'd also like to make the effort to collaborate on a bread-and-butter deal that could take wing.

I'm thinking of something that used to bring families in faithfully, if not religiously. I'm looking for the Sunday sit-down meal, sing-along time and lively card game or debate crowd.

In other words, I'd like to provide a way for people to crash. But get me the real, live (as opposed to virtual) clients who want the actual experience (as opposed to streamed) of a home-cooked meal, folksy entertainment and penny ante companionship.

As you can see, the business we'd have would not suffer from the crash, of markets or social networks, but would plan on it. Just come as you are, stay as long as you like and no monkey business. This is a family establishment that doesn't hide the fact that the only difference between sober and drunk is who you are, only moreso. You can crash here, but not spill your fuel or get fired up.

A movie by the name of "Crash" captured a modern paradox. We have more time-saving devices and less time for simply enjoying it. We have family members who we only see at marriages and funerals, unless asked to be a godparent. We share more on-line than in person. We pay for food and fun that we can make ourselves with others to help. We are the most connected creatures on an Earth, from which we are disconnected. We are led by minds, but alienated from hearts.

What's the answer? The movie I mention made a case for the minor car accident that forces people to share frustrations and hopes in common. Somehow, a crash makes us take personally the involvement of others in our life. It emboldens us to engage mere strangers with feeling as previously separate lives are intertwined by fate. An unexpected and probably unwelcome incident catches us with our guard down as surely as a surprise birthday party. We have someone new in our lives that we think about every time we look at the car.

Hey, if that's what it takes these days to get people to stop and deal personally with a matter of mutual benefit, diversion and concern, then we might as well go into business together. For who wouldn't want to crash with us for good food, good fun and good conversation.