11/17/14
While heat is a noisy clamor, there is quiet in the cold. Snow muffles sound, as frost grabs at exhalations of conversation. Crickets cease and windows are closed. Tightly wrapped against the cold, people go to great lengths in order not to feel it.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
continuing silence
11/12/14
"...we had to get him debarked, now he screams."
I thought she was kidding. She wasn't.
I have been silent for 10 months. I have not had any urge to speak, until now. I want to scream.
"...we had to get him debarked, now he screams."
I thought she was kidding. She wasn't.
I have been silent for 10 months. I have not had any urge to speak, until now. I want to scream.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
continuing silence
11/5/14
Halloween is long past, but zombies still walk the streets. They don't look to the right or left, up or down, but stare blankly ahead. They talk loudly to someone that no one else can see.
I have had the zombies almost bump into me on more than one occasion. They walk in front of cars, bicycles, and once i observed two of them nearly collide into each other.
The zombie population is growing. There is no pause in the constant conversation.
Halloween is long past, but zombies still walk the streets. They don't look to the right or left, up or down, but stare blankly ahead. They talk loudly to someone that no one else can see.
I have had the zombies almost bump into me on more than one occasion. They walk in front of cars, bicycles, and once i observed two of them nearly collide into each other.
The zombie population is growing. There is no pause in the constant conversation.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
continuing silence
11/1/14
It was a small park and Max, myself and the girl were the only ones in it. Max and i watched as she picked a flower and approached us. When she came close, she remarked on how beautiful Max was and asked if he was a Boxer. I let her know i don't speak but that i could hear her. The girl seemed very intrigued by this and began to ply me with questions...lots of questions.
She told me that she was looking for God in the city, and that something had told her to come to this little park. The girl then went to pet Max, but he backed away from her touch. She had an eager look in her eyes, and asked if she could take a picture of Max and me. I declined being photographed, but motioned that she could take Max's picture.
As she moved around, positioning herself to take an optimal photo, Max stiffened and growled. The girl mentioned that Max didn't seem to like her, so she decided to snap the photograph while standing at a safe distance. When she had gotten her picture, i smiled, waved goodbye, and Max and i went on our way.
Max is a good dog, i don't know why he didn't like the girl. As he and i continued our walk, i began to quietly laugh to myself, remembering an old cliche i heard someplace. "Dog spelled backwards is ...".
When people are looking for something, they will usually find it. Whether it's there, or not.
It was a small park and Max, myself and the girl were the only ones in it. Max and i watched as she picked a flower and approached us. When she came close, she remarked on how beautiful Max was and asked if he was a Boxer. I let her know i don't speak but that i could hear her. The girl seemed very intrigued by this and began to ply me with questions...lots of questions.
She told me that she was looking for God in the city, and that something had told her to come to this little park. The girl then went to pet Max, but he backed away from her touch. She had an eager look in her eyes, and asked if she could take a picture of Max and me. I declined being photographed, but motioned that she could take Max's picture.
As she moved around, positioning herself to take an optimal photo, Max stiffened and growled. The girl mentioned that Max didn't seem to like her, so she decided to snap the photograph while standing at a safe distance. When she had gotten her picture, i smiled, waved goodbye, and Max and i went on our way.
Max is a good dog, i don't know why he didn't like the girl. As he and i continued our walk, i began to quietly laugh to myself, remembering an old cliche i heard someplace. "Dog spelled backwards is ...".
When people are looking for something, they will usually find it. Whether it's there, or not.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
continuing silence
10/26/14
The sound of breaking glass gets people's attention quicker than just about any other noise.
The new artwork i'm making entails my breaking a lot of glass bottles into small pieces. I put the bottles in thick plastic bags and cover them with cloth, in an effort to prevent any noise or bits of glass from escaping. But they still make that distinctive shattering sound when i strike them. The noise is jagged, like the shards i'm creating.
Why is there a weird thrill in smashing glass? What is this odd delight in destroying the delicate? Maybe it is because there is a quiet tension inherent in the fragile and brittle that puts one on edge. Destroying the delicate therefore, results in some kind of savage release.
Carl Sagan once posed the question, "Why do we delight in destruction and yawn at creation?"
The sound of breaking glass gets people's attention quicker than just about any other noise.
The new artwork i'm making entails my breaking a lot of glass bottles into small pieces. I put the bottles in thick plastic bags and cover them with cloth, in an effort to prevent any noise or bits of glass from escaping. But they still make that distinctive shattering sound when i strike them. The noise is jagged, like the shards i'm creating.
Why is there a weird thrill in smashing glass? What is this odd delight in destroying the delicate? Maybe it is because there is a quiet tension inherent in the fragile and brittle that puts one on edge. Destroying the delicate therefore, results in some kind of savage release.
Carl Sagan once posed the question, "Why do we delight in destruction and yawn at creation?"
Friday, October 24, 2014
continuing silence
10/24/14
The guy who bought my motorcycle didn't even try to haggle over the price.
I let him know that i could hear his questions, and i either pantomimed or wrote down my responses. He said the bike was worth the asking price, and gave me the cash on the spot.
As he was on the motorcycle preparing to leave, he said, "I hope you get better soon!". Then he pulled away.
The guy who bought my motorcycle didn't even try to haggle over the price.
I let him know that i could hear his questions, and i either pantomimed or wrote down my responses. He said the bike was worth the asking price, and gave me the cash on the spot.
As he was on the motorcycle preparing to leave, he said, "I hope you get better soon!". Then he pulled away.
Monday, October 20, 2014
continuing silence
10/20/14
It took me 2 1/2 hours to make a trip that by car, usually takes me 10 minutes.
I fixed my bicycle and i'm back to using it as my primary means of transportation. In the city i live in riding a bicycle and driving a car to a destination, usually take close to the same amount of time. Relentless road work and subsequent detours have made driving a car more of a meandering nuisance than an expedient way of getting around. As mentioned before, i prefer biking anyway. Using a bicycle has proved to be a drain on my time, however.
Keeping my mouth shut seems to have heightened my awareness of everything around me, and sharpened all my senses as well. When you're quietly riding a bike and all your senses are crackling like static electricity, the distractions around you can become overpowering. Especially, at this time of year.
It's no secret that i'm an autumnophile. I love the fall and all it's colors, smells, and even its sounds. Usually, autumn lasts about 3 days where i live. It segways from the 90 degree days of summer to blizzard conditions, almost overnight. But this year is different.
Consistent warm days and cold nights have turned every side street along my usual travel route into a cathedral nave. Each one glowing with the stained glass effects of sun saturated fall leaves. I am a lingering, silent witness to beauty that splits my heart like it was a ripe melon.
So now that i'm riding my bicycle again, it takes me forever to get anywhere... and i love it.
It took me 2 1/2 hours to make a trip that by car, usually takes me 10 minutes.
I fixed my bicycle and i'm back to using it as my primary means of transportation. In the city i live in riding a bicycle and driving a car to a destination, usually take close to the same amount of time. Relentless road work and subsequent detours have made driving a car more of a meandering nuisance than an expedient way of getting around. As mentioned before, i prefer biking anyway. Using a bicycle has proved to be a drain on my time, however.
Keeping my mouth shut seems to have heightened my awareness of everything around me, and sharpened all my senses as well. When you're quietly riding a bike and all your senses are crackling like static electricity, the distractions around you can become overpowering. Especially, at this time of year.
It's no secret that i'm an autumnophile. I love the fall and all it's colors, smells, and even its sounds. Usually, autumn lasts about 3 days where i live. It segways from the 90 degree days of summer to blizzard conditions, almost overnight. But this year is different.
Consistent warm days and cold nights have turned every side street along my usual travel route into a cathedral nave. Each one glowing with the stained glass effects of sun saturated fall leaves. I am a lingering, silent witness to beauty that splits my heart like it was a ripe melon.
So now that i'm riding my bicycle again, it takes me forever to get anywhere... and i love it.
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