The world is based on the average...people forget this. The slow, perhaps imperceptible, shake of one's head. A pause in speech and the penetrating silence. The conversation becomes dull. Is dull the right word? Or am I simply unimpressed. Unknown. I found myself disengaged, withdrawn. Nothing to add and nothing to take away. And a question in the forefront of my mind, "Will it matter to you...will this thing that makes you exceptional...do you embrace it and let it shine...or will you continue to pound us with words that cannot replace action?"
Conversations. Sipping tea. Switching to coffee. An edge of sorts needed. (Or an escape for a minute or two?) There is a point when it is just noise when one listens. No discernment of words, no translation, no processing of what the words mean...just noise. My eyes drift outward to what lies beyond the windows. Every now and again laughter comes through--distinct, happy and the edges of my mouth respond. Or the mother scolding her child--that too comes through...and as he swings about I can't help to think, "but this is a jungle gym" an adult jungle of misperceptions, assertions, holier than thou. The child has it right. One should never take this intellectual playground too seriously. But he listens to his mother. Tamed. Hmmm. In thirty years he will be sitting where I am? Listening to a noise that is just the clucking of tongues in a specific fashion finding himself only to wonder if it was better to think this better a jungle gym and nothing more?
"Earth to Zane, earth to Zane."
I smile. "Yep, yep."
"How were your travels?"
"Comforting. How is it here?"
We laugh.
"I wish I was where you were."
"I think it is always best to be where you are."
"Amazing talents you have being two places at once."
More laughter.
And this is why I am here, no? Because in some way it resonates. This sharing of space, this thinking thoughts beyond what is being processed by the receptors in one's ears. There is something that clings, and reaches for, and values the immediate.
"More coffee?"
"Sounds good."
"I thought it would be better."
"It's average."