Ignorance is not bliss.
I — Political Science — had just settled in at the retired professor’s breakfast table on Thursday.
Dale, Ruth, Uwe, Alan, Marv, and Dennis — Chemistry, French, Accounting, Communication Studies, History, and Physics — took turns holding court.
I was surprised to see a full plate of sausage, gravy, and biscuits placed in front of me by the waitress with a bare midriff. Fifteen minutes earlier, at the counter and thrown off by her intriguing belly button, I had ordered the full instead of the half portion.
Walking through the restaurant to our reserved breakfast room, I noticed another female server similarly attired and wondered whether I should bring this observation to the group.
Once my sausage, biscuits, and gravy were gobbled, my attention was torn from midriffs to a lively conversation among my colleagues about a person I had never heard of.
Everyone knew about this Shoshone woman who accompanied the explorers Lewis and Clark on their western expedition to map the Louisiana Purchase lands. Not only that, but each added something new to the discussion.
I was dumbstruck.
When I got home, I quizzed Rebecca about Sacagawea. Of course, she gave me chapter and verse.
In desperation, I opened my MacBook Air.
And Googled belly button images.
For a PowerPoint presentation on
The Navel and Manifest Destiny
Next Thursday.
