"To find the wide image requires sorting out and noticing the singular way in which I relate to the default mood of my culture and civilization" (Ulmer 59).

I"m in Chapter 2 of Ulmer's Internet Invention now, an one of the exercises asks me to recall an "Illumination." The example Ulmer offers is Jean Genet's experience on a train: "One day, while riding in a train, I experienced a revalation: as I looked at the passenger sitting opposite me, I realized that every man has the same value as every other" (Genet qtd. in Ulmer 62).

Genet goes on to describe the man and his revelation, and Ulmer asks us to think about a possible "moment of insight" we once had. Here's mine:

I remember a long car trip (we took quite a few of these when we lived in Philadelphia - we were always doing that cross-state trip from Philly to Pittsburgh to visit family). During this car trip, I remember saying to my parents that the highway and the cars on it offered a pretty good metaphor for life. I think I was probably about 11 years old. This would explain why this "insight" is not exactly a profound one. However, Ulmer claims "the insight need not have been profound" (64). So, I'll go on. My basic thought was that you travel in a car with those close to you, and you are surrounded by familiar people here and there. There are always those cars on a long trip that are traveling at a similar rate. You pass them, they pass you, repeat. But, until someone needs to stop for gas or food, you're traveling together. This might be a certain level of friendship. Then there are the folks you blow by - the ones traveling the speed limit. Then there are the ones that blow by you - the ones that are going too fast (Note that in our car, we are going the "correct" speed - not to fast, not too slow. In fact, we are most likely going 10% over the speed limit. This is what my grandfather - a retired cop - always told us was the accepted buffer zone. No cop will pull you over for 72 in a 65...)

So, folks are going too fast or too slow or just right, but you're really only immediately surrounded by those close to you - those who are on the road trip with you. I must have been pretty young when I came up with this idea because I remember my parents being pretty impressed. It is not a very impressive idea.

So, there you go Ulmer...there's my completely un-profound insight.