One of my favorite monthly happenings is the meeting of a small group of readers of The Sun, a literary magazine. We met tonight, a wonderfully enriching table of discussion as usual. I was flipping through the book I keep of quotes, movie and book suggestions that arise out of each meeting.

In September, someone said in reference to presence, at the behest of a piece in which a father was always taking photos: "We trade the opportunity to BE in a really great experience, and instead choose to be reporters or messengers."

I really liked that, pointing out how for so many the value of things anymore is not the true essence of them, but rather the value of having done/collected/captured them so that others can see that you have done so.

Interesting.