Fortunately [10.5.08]

We've all come across it at one point or another. You go to any Chinese restaurant and leave with a fortune cookie. It sounds simple enough, but lately, I have come to realize a sad fact. Instead of conveying some future happening, fortunes have become fortune-less. Today was no different. The cafeteria special was stir-fry, and every platter came with a complimentary fortune cookie. Following Chinese tradition to receive good favor, I wait until after my meal to break open my fortune cookie. Once it snaps in two, I set it aside and read the fortune: if the shoe fits, it's probably your size. Is that even a fortune? Another fortune I have received in the past has stated "a thrilling time is in your immediate future." That one might as well have been called a common-sense cookie. I am not surprised that something thrilling would happen in my future - I would stop reading this so-called fortune and continue living my life. The fortune should have just told me to resume breathing and call it a day. Another fortune I have received in the past went something like this: you will make a fortune with your friend. If a fortune speaks of a future fortune, does it even count as a fortune? If someone said "I have an idea for you - you will have an idea with your friend", would that be praised as a good idea? Regardless of its quality, would anyone even look at that as an idea? Since this is my journal, I am going to answer myself with a resounding no. The same goes for fortune cookies - either start filling them with real fortunes, or halt the false advertising.