In One Day

complete elegance in one bite

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as far as birthdays go, this one was great. Olivia suggested we get take-out sushi for lunch from our local sushi provider and I took her up on the offer. since it was my birthday and all, I opted for the more pricy "Lobster Roll" that was made with tempura shrimp, lobster, masago & scallion instead of the usual "Boston Roll" with salmon and tuna. I was competely overwhelmed by the intricate texture, taste and aromatic blend. it helps that I place on top of the sushi as much of the green wasabi paste as I can before my scalp goes numb. the tingling sensations that shoot through the cerebral cortex are at first frightening, but eventually very pleasant. I only let Olivia taste one half of one piece.

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Olivia not only gave me birthday lillies, but commissioned Mike (the potter) to make me a decorative piece of pottery that looks kind of like a big vase. I'd show you what that looks like only I don't have a good picture of it just now.

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after supper, Olivia and Lyric sang happy birthday for me and we chomped an ice cream cake that looked like the M&M guy.

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birthday lillies

M&M guy cake

Just Like That (words only)

just like that and its 2010. I'm 32 years old and we're getting a good steady snow today. I could be on the brink of a breakthrough, or not. I'm tucked away from it all in Cherry Alley Cafe, have my ears plugged with white ipod earpieces, am surrounded by printouts of things I've written. I bought three dollars worth of fresh orange juice that tastes like sweet gold.

Darren's right that "it seems possible for new objects to be designed in such a way or at the least be used in such a way as to conjure spirits through mimicry." (see previous post "A Real Post" with comment) as it turns out, I don't particularly like mimicry. I've been trying to discern what it is exactly that discourages me about the progression of things in the world.

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A writer whose name I cannot conjure talks about our impulse to establish a permanent (or the impression of perament) home to counteract the impermanence and brevity of our lives. one of the wrong turns we have taken is to think that by mechanizing and technologizing our functions and processes, we save ourselves time. we think that by shortening the amount of time for "mundane tasks" and allowing the allotment of time for other, more choice activities - will make us happier people.

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Time is severe in its unchangeable rate. we have what we have - life is a timed treasure hunt. God clicks his stopwatch and yells "go!" we're scrambling and stumbling in the dark. what are we supposed to find, where is it? should we stop and smell the roses? or fling ourselves off of peaks? or dig like John Henry for gold until our hearts burst?

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maybe mundane tasks help us to view our lives more correctly. perhaps they help us not to feel overwhelmed in the surge of time, swept away. they ground us - not in the illusion of permanence, but by entwining us into the life processes that exist right along with time. in short, they help us to coexist less abrasively with the steps of time.

The Etchings of Being Here

The Etchings of Being Here

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I am awake and livng

now

I passed you by

like fleeting breath

succinct, toneless

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breathe me

while you can

while I cling to earth

and slide through

space

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upon the meadow

up in the light

there!

we can be as day

as it was meant

to be

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your turning

and my turn

to come now

beside, beside

alongside

the etchings of being here