And the people in the houses/ All went to the university/ Where they were put in boxes . . .

A. This is a picture my mom took last week from Strawberry Lake in Oregon. I think when most people read Walden, this is the kind of idyllic view they imagine.

B. This is a Google Earth picture of my duplex in Naperville. I think when most people hear the song "Little Boxes"* they imagine a street like this.

I'm hoping my college degree will help me get from Point B to Point A.

*For those who do not watch Weeds and aren't fans of obscure folk, the lyrics to "Little Boxes" are as follows:

"Little boxes on the hillside,/ Little boxes made of ticky tacky,/ Little boxes on the hillside,/ Little boxes all the same./ There's a green one and a pink one/ And a blue one and a yellow one,/ And they're all made out of ticky tacky/ And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses/ All went to the university,/ Where they were put in boxes/ And they came out all the same,/ And there's doctors and lawyers,/ And business executives,/ And they're all made out of ticky tacky/ And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf course/ And drink their martinis dry,/ And they all have pretty children/ And the children go to school,/ And the children go to summer camp/ And then to the university,/ Where they are put in boxes/ And they come out all the same.

And the boys go into business/ And marry and raise a family/ In boxes made of ticky tacky/ And they all look just the same./ There's a green one and a pink one/ And a blue one and a yellow one,/ And they're all made out of ticky tacky

And they all look just the same."