It is almost funny. In a pathetic sort of way. The scams that are making the rounds on social media remind me of a used car salesman who is one contract short of his quota. 

 

"Click on this! It has a funny video that you are in and you must forward it to all the contacts in your account. THIS IS REAL!"

 

Real as darkness. 

 

I remember the first time someone told me that dark is pretend. It is the absence of light, which is as close to nothingness as you can get. There is no way to squeeze it into a box, or scoop it up with gloved hands and toss it out the window. Black shows up when light goes away. 

 

I am myself in the dark about what motivates someone to stir up a scam like that. It is about money? The empty satisfaction of having duped total strangers? I can't think of anything more vacant than that. 

 

While I did not fall for the video lure, I am less savvy with the murky thoughts that slink into my mind. 

 

"Your husband is a jerk! Your kids are lazy! That neighbor is annoying! THIS IS REAL!"

 

One time I was slogging in the mud of criticism, when John showed up with groceries. I did not know he was going shopping, and it was a sweet relief. Poof, the contempt was gone as fast as the shadows when you step into the sun. 

 

What swooped into my heart in that moment was as real as it gets.