101 Reasons why you shouldn't leave home without your camera...

Let me paint you a picture. Close your eyes. Put yourself in Asia.

It's Sunday night. You're a strange kid with a little dose of OCD. At 8 o'clock you think to yourself, "You know what, I want a haircut." Now that the thought is in your head, you realize you NEED a haircut and if you don't get one, it will drive you crazy. (Ok, crazier) So, off you go, down your 6 flights of stairs, out the  gate, and across the street to the salon.

Upon entering the salon you put on your "semi-dumb American" facial expression and, in more of a question tone than what's actually right, you say "Wo yao lifa" and then nod your head as if you know what they are saying back to you. You get excited, my friend, because at this point you realize that the hair washing begins. After a good 10 minute wash and rinse you go sit in the chair and the haircut takes place. Afterwards, you get about a 5 minute wash and then your hair is blown dry. You pay. You leave. You are satisfied because haircuts have become MUCH more about the experience than the actual cut, which, let's be honest, isn't the best in the world. You paid $2.23 so "whatever."

As you walk towards the street you realize, "Man, I want an ice cream cone from McDonald's!" You continue walking and get about 1/4 of the way there and realize "Ehh, I don't want to walk all the way there, plus I'm starting to get hungry and I've already eaten there this week and I'll end up buying a double cheese burger, hold the cheese." You're now just down from the grocery store, so you decide to go in.

As you disembark from the escalator you suddenly think, "This was a stupid mistake. I should have gone for the ice cream." Luckily the Lord is looking out for you and unknowingly, this will indeed NOT be a mistake. You don't know that yet, however, so your negative thoughts continue as follows: "1.6 billion people in this country and 2.6 are in here. There have got to be less tragic ways to die than 'Trampled By Angry Asian Mob in Search for Hot Deals'" But, alas, you get your laundry detergent, coke, and loofah and go to the check out. 

You are relieved. The line was pretty short and all in all it only took about 20 minutes. You head out of the store, show your receipt, and dig for the cold bottle of coke you purchased impulsively and head up the escalator. To your delight you hear what seems to be a catchy song and possibly an event taking place on the outside of the store. (Point of clarification... when you entered the store, you went in the back. You are now exiting the front. Thus, you did not hear said catchy song upon arrival.)

As you reach the top of the escalator and turn to exit the store you realize that the song you are hearing sounds like something that should be played after "Bolero" and before "Malaguena" in the musical Blast! and then you see it: all 101 reasons why you shouldn't leave home without your camera wrapped into 1 huge reason.

Yes, on stage is a little girl (about 7) with braided pig tails in a sparkling red dress. Her smile goes from ear to ear. You blink your eyes to make sure you are not dreaming. As you open them, you realize that yes, she is, in fact, playing a set of drums to the music you are hearing.  

This, friend, is why your camera should be as much a part of your ensemble as your clothes.