The Witching Hour: An Introduction

It's three a.m. I've been up since two. Well, technically I've been awake since six a.m. yesterday because I never went to sleep tonight. Last night. It's jet lag. And I'm all riled. My brain hops from one thing to another, and I've already made myself cry once. I always do that. Create daydreams that make me cry. Counting sheep is a futile exercise. I create dreams and, if I'm lucky, the day dream becomes a sleep dream sometime before I get maudlin. But my feet were too hot. Hot feet are the worst when you're trying to sleep.

In order to escape the agony of staring at a dark ceiling and to allow my feet some respite I have begun blogging as I always meant to do. I suppose I always meant to but never did because of a lingering distaste of those who blogged in high school. It seemed so self-involved and also horrifyingly vulnerable and open to attack by your peers or, even worse, your parents. But now I'm up at an ungodly hour and what else is there to do? (I suppose I should insert a caveat here: I live in Oklahoma. There really isn't anything to do at 3 a.m.)

So an introduction: The Youth Papers is a blog about youth today and our struggles as illustrated by my struggles. Our economy is tumultuous, our parents are the Baby Boomers, and we were spoon fed empty promises. College doesn't guarantee a job, let alone a well-paying job. Doing what you love doesn't mean you'll be successful. Finding what you love isn't as simple as it was made out. And being a responsible adult is for the birds.

Perhaps we'll find that these struggles transcend youth--but lordy, I hope not.