Waiting...

We've all been there--sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring or buzz or vibrate. We've all picked it up as it sat silently to verify that it does IN FACT work. Why do we do it?

There's always the theory that it's a media-induced act--we've all seen that scene on TV, in a movie, as part of a reality show.

Another theory is Hope. Hope in the human condition--hope in that other person--hope that your love/the spark/connection you feel is requited--hope that there is a God and he's going to answer your prayers. Ok, maybe that last one was pushing it too far...but we're banking on hope.

Or maybe, just maybe it's a masochistic need to cling to a notion created in a moment of hopelessness. A weakness in our DNA that keeps us believing that someone who has long let you down will not let you down THIS time. Or an idea that someone you have a gut feeling of "bad news" about really is good news and it's your instincts that are off--how ridiculous is that? Years of your instincts steering you well and some stranger comes along and you're ready to put all your faith in them and disregard your gut entirely.