Downward Spiral

Downward Spiral

Instructor Wilson
English 101 Section 901
18 October 2008
Downward Spiral
Recently I was perusing the aisles of my local Border’s Bookstore, in awe of the plethora of books and related accoutrements , enjoying the delicious smells of freshly brewed cappuccino and baking pastries filled with sugary goodness, when a particular book caught my eye.   The book was titled Affluenza: The All Consuming Epidemic, written by John De Graaf, David Wann and Thomas H. Naylor.   Curiously, I reached for the book and quickly read the back cover, and decided, almost instantaneously, that this was the book I would be spending my Sunday afternoon curled up in my favorite comfy chair reading.
The book explains how many of our society’s problems, including increasing debt loads, decreasing family time and out of control commercialism, are all related to a disease that the authors call affluenza.   De Graaf et al define affluenza as “a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more” (2).   This particular book really opened my eyes and made me start to think about my own struggle with the affluenza virus.   The book has also prompted me to share my story.   Parents, put your children to bed for below is a tale addiction and denial that is not for the faint of heart.
One particularly beautiful spring day, as I eagerly pull into the local mall parking lot, I am so excited that I can already feel the weight of the loaded down shopping bags in my hands.   I rush to Express, my favorite store, and enter it as reverently as the faithful enter a church.  
Once inside its doors, I pause to absorb my surroundings, building up my anticipation, and prolonging the high.   The floors are gleaming white tiles which reflect the bright fluorescent lights high on the ceiling.   In fact, the store could almost be considered stark in its décor save for one thing – the endless rows of clothing and accessories in a color...