Living in Hi-Def

I took my students outside of class one day. I said, "Sit down outside with your notebooks, take a look at what you see. Write down what you notice and what you think about what you notice."

It was an unusually hot December day, the sun made all the details stand out. As the kids settled down and absorbed the images before them, I felt us grow progressively smaller. Like Alice falling down into the rabbit hole. Like watching a bullet, fly away from you.

I see Downtown L.A. I see buildings. I also see cars. But when I turn to the right I start to see construction. I see the picture of what the building is going to look like. I see cranes lifting up metal sticks. Then a plane goes right through the crane. A helicopter goes over the building.

I think that the people building the building will have to hurry so they could finish it. I realized that Downtown L.A. is very big.

Big indeed and all of us little ones, were watching. We would only see the picture of what the building will look like - but possibly never live in it.

Driving down Olympic Blvd one night, I think about my students. Why? Of all things?

There is no day or night there, only a dial that goes up and down a continuum of artificial light. I marvel at the Staples Center and watch young couples strolling leisurely, without fear, towards the Nokia Center. And just as I'm about to reach the end of this development, I pass a huge sign hanging outside a building of new lofts that reads:

Living in Hi-Def

And I think that just about does it for me. I'm livid. The sign feels like a big slap in my face.

Hi-def: High living; High class; High prices

A comment a student made in class during council came to mind. We were passing the talking piece around the circle. Each student was supposed to say one word, about how they were doing.

Cool, Bored, Sunny, Bored, HIGH!

The class was rolling in laughter, but -

Have they driven down Olympic at night?

Do they become agitated as they watch their city change?

When will they redefine the word high?