I'm someone of, I believe, average intelligence. My formal education consists of enough college level classes to qualify for a degree, but do not have one for a couple of reasons. Beyond that, I've read a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff over a lot of years. I'm a "thinker" of sorts, I guess, but I don't think I can fairly describe myself as a "deep" thinker.

I say this because I'm having a problem understanding a small piece of Didion's words and am looking for a little help. I've got a mental flat, have opened the trunk to discover I'm missing the jack needed to make the repair and get back on my way, and am hoping some kindly motorist out there will take a moment to pull over and provide one.

It didn't take me an hour to recognize the quote from the Brazilian guerilla's book as gibberish. It struck me that way as soon as my eyes got to the period at the end of the sentence. The problem I'm having is with what comes in the next paragraph, in which three similes are proffered which are, if I'm taking Didion correctly, also devoid of meaning. I can see "culture at the crossroads" easily enough in that light, but "broken home" and "ask not..." , well they are in the depths of the well that my mind's reach is apparently unable to plumb at the moment as far as being meaningless goes.

Broken home seems to me to have a definite meaning, one which is pretty much recognized and agreed upon. And I am old enough to remember hearing Kennedy speak those words on TV, and even at that young age they had meaning for me, one that I've only more appreciated as I've grown older. So, what am I missing here? I know enough to know that Didon full well knew what she was talking about, so I'm feeling a bit inept in my efforts to put on that spare, and a hand with the jack and the lug wrench would be much appreciated.