Last night (just before that dreadful storm broke out - you probably heard about it), we were at the supermarket. The three young girls behind us at the checkout were happily looking over their purchases in the cart - a heck of a lotta' junk food - and chatting about music.

One of them broke out into song . . . her two friends were embarassed - everybody's looking, one said, but I said 'no - go on - it's free entertainment!'

She was a great singer, knew the lyrics, how to place them, how to breathe - she has the makings of a great performer, the way I saw it.

But unless she's got a lot of money, a rich uncle, parents who will let her devote twenty years of her life to music and giving a lotta' freebie performances, she's not gonna' make it.

Why? Because people naturally tend to follow performers with the most publicity money to spend.

That, of course, doesn't really matter if you think about it - art is to be shared, not bought.

Art is NOT a contest; it's a celebration!

Someday the world might see that.

If an actress would play her talent down - hide her own light - thinking that her lover might want her to be more 'herself', then I think she'd be as shallow as the lover who would leave her for putting on a poor performance.

I didn't really sympathize with this character; I identify more with Dorian's housekeeper - she was one of the few 'real' people in the book.

But still, I enjoyed the story - I think that's because I haven't given myself a chance to 'over-analyze' it yet.

I don't think I will present that gift to myself. Some things are better left -un-given.

I'm not much of an analyzer; I don't go looking for symbols, regardless of what the English/Comp teacher has to say. I like metaphors, but there are few occasions when I'm that impressed by the use of a colour.

Red - that's obvious.

Grey - that's obvious.

And that is about all I need to think of.

Flowers are flowers . . . lovely to look at, smell and put in the garden. I need to know what they need in the way of sun or shade, what kind of soil and can they be taken in over the winter.

I don't really need to know much more about them.

We can leave this forum up for as long as you like. Nice to have you back.

Well, I dunno', Chris . . . I've said pretty well all I want to say about the book.

It's a good story.

I'm wondering why more people weren't interested in this discussion.