Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Excerpt #2, page 12/13 from "Stream of Consciousness"
Just then, Jadan wheeled by our spot and waved goodbye. He zipped by in his wheelchair and then paused to say goodbye as he looked back over his shoulder to me and Jen.
“I hope your writing goes well. I’m off to do some kayaking with a buddy. I’ll catch you gals later,” he said while loosening his striped blue and grey tie.
“Sounds good. Have a great time out there. This is my friend, Jen, by the way,” I retorted shyly.
“Hi…” Jen waved awkwardly, like she didn’t know what the hell was going on.
“Jadan, it’s Jadan,” he said to her.
“Hi Jadan, nice to meet you,” she said shaking his strong weathered hand.
“See ya,” I said waving goodbye.
“Okay, I know that was strange Jen. I know you’re wondering why that paraplegic man came over to say goodbye to me.”
“Well, yes I was definitely wondering, Renee. So what’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to make sure I hadn’t offended him earlier, so I went over to see if I could help him get a refill. I felt bad for him. Now, it seems like he thinks we’re friends or something. Is no Starbucks safe for peace and quiet?” I questioned.
“Well, he looks really sweet,” Jen commented.
“Of course he seems sweet. He’s handsome, rich, and paralyzed, of course. Maybe you should date him.”
“He’s not really my type. I’m more into the total loser pervert types, remember? I’m going pee. I’ll be right back. Watch my stuff, okay?” she ordered.
Maybe I’ll have to start writing out in nature, maybe at the beach, like I used to do back in graduate school with my bottled water, beach towel, cell phone, and my never-ending volumes of Spanish American literature. But I always felt relaxed and able to think there. I should be writing about the ocean, not a stream at all. This magazine editor wouldn’t care. He just wanted a few pages about nature and postmodern crap about existence. I should change it. Here goes:
The ocean flows forth with life and force. Its ever changing presence renews me as I sit upon its shore looking for a thought lost in time. The dolphin swims effortlessly inside of its waves, one with the universe, one with her fate. She fights, survives, glides, and exists, one simple yet complex day at a time.
Oh, to be that dolphin, just for a moment, outside of the never-ending cycle of stress and worry. To ebb and flow with the ocean’s tides. To pause from non-stop thinking. To exist inside the set of chaotic circumstances and yet, to be at peace. To be that dolphin. To survive and yet to glide… peacefully along. To listen to the sea’s soothing rhythm while beating against its rocky depths along the way.
Feeling alive. Dreaming. Forgiving. Moving onward with the world around me. And then, to be taken under water. I can not breathe. And it is okay. I am one with the screaming, crying, laughter, dancing, smiling, and suffering. All around me. Pain and joy; they co-mingle like a waltz of death and life together. But, it’s okay. I am alright. I am a dolphin.
I have to get home and go for a jog before I race out to the grocery store to get snacks for the kids’ lunches. And, I should get some sour cream and guacamole for our chicken tacos. Oh, and I need some more toilet paper. We are always running out of toilet paper. Goodbye fellow Starbucks junkies. Enjoy another fruitful day on planet Earth. Click save.
“I’m back. Thanks for watching my stuff,” Jen said while texting Mr. Loser a million words a minute, no doubt.
“No worries Chica. I’m out. I’ve got a billion things to do before getting the kids from their schools. I’ll text ya when we’re about to eat. You can join us for Taco-Tuesday, unless you’re having dinner with Jared, or something,” I prophesied with uncanny spiritual prowess.
“You guessed it Girl. I am going out to Café Sevilla with Jared and we are going to a show after that. And then, I’m not sure what after that. So, don’t flood my phone with texts Renee. That would be rude, you know interrupting things,” she giggled.
“Whatever. Give me a hug. I’m going jogging and then to the store. See ya Sweet-pea.”
Jogging. Then kid pick-up. Snacks. Homework. Dinner. Bathtime. Brush teeth. Read stories. Clean up from dinner. Check email. A glass of Merlot. Chat with Hubby. Crash into bed. Sleep! Dream!
----------------------------------------
(That's the end of chapter two. I hope you are enjoying the excerpts). :)
“I hope your writing goes well. I’m off to do some kayaking with a buddy. I’ll catch you gals later,” he said while loosening his striped blue and grey tie.
“Sounds good. Have a great time out there. This is my friend, Jen, by the way,” I retorted shyly.
“Hi…” Jen waved awkwardly, like she didn’t know what the hell was going on.
“Jadan, it’s Jadan,” he said to her.
“Hi Jadan, nice to meet you,” she said shaking his strong weathered hand.
“See ya,” I said waving goodbye.
“Okay, I know that was strange Jen. I know you’re wondering why that paraplegic man came over to say goodbye to me.”
“Well, yes I was definitely wondering, Renee. So what’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to make sure I hadn’t offended him earlier, so I went over to see if I could help him get a refill. I felt bad for him. Now, it seems like he thinks we’re friends or something. Is no Starbucks safe for peace and quiet?” I questioned.
“Well, he looks really sweet,” Jen commented.
“Of course he seems sweet. He’s handsome, rich, and paralyzed, of course. Maybe you should date him.”
“He’s not really my type. I’m more into the total loser pervert types, remember? I’m going pee. I’ll be right back. Watch my stuff, okay?” she ordered.
Maybe I’ll have to start writing out in nature, maybe at the beach, like I used to do back in graduate school with my bottled water, beach towel, cell phone, and my never-ending volumes of Spanish American literature. But I always felt relaxed and able to think there. I should be writing about the ocean, not a stream at all. This magazine editor wouldn’t care. He just wanted a few pages about nature and postmodern crap about existence. I should change it. Here goes:
The ocean flows forth with life and force. Its ever changing presence renews me as I sit upon its shore looking for a thought lost in time. The dolphin swims effortlessly inside of its waves, one with the universe, one with her fate. She fights, survives, glides, and exists, one simple yet complex day at a time.
Oh, to be that dolphin, just for a moment, outside of the never-ending cycle of stress and worry. To ebb and flow with the ocean’s tides. To pause from non-stop thinking. To exist inside the set of chaotic circumstances and yet, to be at peace. To be that dolphin. To survive and yet to glide… peacefully along. To listen to the sea’s soothing rhythm while beating against its rocky depths along the way.
Feeling alive. Dreaming. Forgiving. Moving onward with the world around me. And then, to be taken under water. I can not breathe. And it is okay. I am one with the screaming, crying, laughter, dancing, smiling, and suffering. All around me. Pain and joy; they co-mingle like a waltz of death and life together. But, it’s okay. I am alright. I am a dolphin.
I have to get home and go for a jog before I race out to the grocery store to get snacks for the kids’ lunches. And, I should get some sour cream and guacamole for our chicken tacos. Oh, and I need some more toilet paper. We are always running out of toilet paper. Goodbye fellow Starbucks junkies. Enjoy another fruitful day on planet Earth. Click save.
“I’m back. Thanks for watching my stuff,” Jen said while texting Mr. Loser a million words a minute, no doubt.
“No worries Chica. I’m out. I’ve got a billion things to do before getting the kids from their schools. I’ll text ya when we’re about to eat. You can join us for Taco-Tuesday, unless you’re having dinner with Jared, or something,” I prophesied with uncanny spiritual prowess.
“You guessed it Girl. I am going out to Café Sevilla with Jared and we are going to a show after that. And then, I’m not sure what after that. So, don’t flood my phone with texts Renee. That would be rude, you know interrupting things,” she giggled.
“Whatever. Give me a hug. I’m going jogging and then to the store. See ya Sweet-pea.”
Jogging. Then kid pick-up. Snacks. Homework. Dinner. Bathtime. Brush teeth. Read stories. Clean up from dinner. Check email. A glass of Merlot. Chat with Hubby. Crash into bed. Sleep! Dream!
----------------------------------------
(That's the end of chapter two. I hope you are enjoying the excerpts). :)
