Attention Baby Panda Lovers or What Has Become of Me?

When I was in high school I fancied myself a cynical philosopher-type, wearing black and squinting through the smoke as I counted down the hours until I could escape my small town. I thought I held the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous girl in AP English at Lodi High. During those boring class days, I used to make fun of a class of girls I called "Teddy Bear Sweatshirts." These were smart, good girls who stayed home on Saturday nights with other Teddy Bear Sweatshirts plotting their eventual emergence into the dating world. I pitied these poor girls for their naive focus on cuteness while I was out "living" with bad boys with bad habits.



At the time I thought I was quite different than these girls. But much time has past. This week I find myself obsessed with baby panda Zhen Zhen, the newest edition to the San Diego zoo.

Look, there is a lot of bad news in the world right now. The assassination of Benizir Bhutto. The fatal tiger attack at the SF Zoo. The fall of both the stock and housing market, causing distressing drops in networth. Is it a crime if I find solace in a cute little baby panda? If I find myself constantly watching the baby panda cam waiting for the clear shots of Zhen eating or climbing trees? Is there anything wrong with changing my computer wall paper to various baby panda snap shots showing off Zhen's outrageous cuteness?

Perhaps I have changed. I don't need to read philosophy any more. I don't go out with bad boys. I don't cause trouble. Am I just getting old or more mature? One thing is for sure, that chubby little baby panda really likes bamboo. Would anyone like to order me a sweatshirt? Saturday night is coming up and I need to something to wear.