I visited Old Town Albuquerque today. It was as interesting as any other old town, but what was most interesting was that almost every building was a shop. There were a few restaurants and one museums, but everything else was a shop hoping to sell the same souvenirs as the merchants along the side of a wall. It was essentially a mall of souvenirs and turquoise exactly like what you’ll find at any flea market, so I just bought a necklace with a tiny vial of fairy dust.
Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by merchants and spammers. Even my friends now send text messages trying to entice me to buy overpriced Cutco (which apparently is not a subsidiary of Edgecom) knives from Vector Marketing. It reeks of desperation when they feign enthusiasm over cutlery when they don’t even cook.
Everybody needs to make money, but why do they always have to make money on crap nobody wants or needs? I don’t need jewelry or t- shirts I’ll never wear, and why would I pay hundreds of dollars for knives that aren’t even the best? I’d pay money to see a performance though. I’d lay down a Hamilton for a chapbook. I’d open my wallet to see a symphony. I just want a memorable experience.
I accept that life is a freemium game that nickel-and-dimes you, but I wish it sold more art and less crap.
