In Thornton Wilder's play, "Our Town," a young woman named Emily dies. Emily is allowed to relive any one day of her life all over again.
She chooses to relive the day of her twelfth birthday. When she comes back, she is eager to savor every moment of this wonderful day in her life. She regrets that she just can't seem to look hard enough or experience deeply enough everything that is happening.
Then she notices that the people around her are not sharing fully in her joy in living. She pleads with her mother, "Come on, let us really look at one another!" She soon realizes, with great sadness, that no one else understands. She finally observes, "Oh, earth, oh life, you're too wonderful for anyone to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize the meaning of life while they are still living?"
Good question.
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