Joy amidst the hell

A metaphysical car game

During a long car ride recently, my kids invented a game called “Opposites.” One says a word, and the other has to declare the opposite of that word. The game started out grounded in logic. One kid would say, “cold,” and the other would reply, “hot.” But after a few rounds, the concepts became more abstract, and as they traded off turns, the game unlocked mutually agreed upon truths about the universe that were completely mystifying to their dumbfounded parents. Here is a transcript of what happened. What is the meaning of life? I think you might find it here:

1: Big.

2: Little.

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2: Rainy.

1: Sunny.

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2: Happy!

1: Sad.

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1: Cloud.

2: Rock.

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2: Red.

1: Yellow.

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1: Tree.

2: Ant.

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2: Finger.

1: Knife.

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1: Bee.

2: Cat.

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2: Laugh.

1: Quiet.

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1: Asleep.

2: Awake. No. Running.

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2: Window.

1: Butter.

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1: A fish.

2: A bat.

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2: Dragon.

1: Ice cream sandwich.

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1: Mama.

2: Dada.

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2: Grandma.

1: Grandpa.

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1: You.

[BIG PAUSE]

[MORE THINKING]

[ANOTHER MINUTE PASSES]

2: A snail in the water.

*

2: You?

1: A bigger snail in the water.