E. A. Blair: January 2008 Archives
Like waves crashing on the shore of my mind
Where to begin? This is a bit “stream of thought.” At times I ask myself questions that seem to be unanswerable. Or are they simply difficult to answer but easy to ignore? As Jules said to Vincent in the scene Joe brought up yesterday, "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions." They recede like the tide, never fully washing away, and come back time and time again. I’ll go weeks or months sometimes thinking about the same things all day. I have struggled to even write this article because it’s difficult for me to see a beginning. The questions aren’t always the same when I’m in a phase like this but over time they mostly repeat themselves. So maybe by writing them down here I’ll be able to at least stop the repetitive beating of the drum and figure out if I can even start to answer them. Perhaps I’ll even make this a recurring topic and if anyone out there has any thoughts I would love to hear them.
Other Peoples Lives
When last we spoke, I was beginning to realize that what I assumed to be true perhaps wasn’t truth at all. My disdain for television was rooted in a deeply held belief that programs for the masses, such as American Idol, were somehow, in some way, shape, or form, contributing to the downfall of America, as unspecific as those belief were. But now, here I sit wondering is it something bigger, something broader? Is television, on the whole, what gives me this sinking feeling?
A story around a campfire
Staring at flickering light is among the most mesmerizing of human experiences. The beauty of it is indefinable, yet it is without a doubt at the center of many of the peaceful, beautiful, and meaningful moments one has in life. Most would agree that some of their most tranquil experiences have been enjoyed while sitting on the beach quietly staring at the ocean glimmer on a sunny day, losing themselves in thought while gazing into a crackling campfire, or enjoying a walk through a park as the breeze rustled the leaves fluttering helplessly on the limbs above. Something about it just gives you a feeling of being connected to life and to your own self.
Dave Eggers and a Lost Boy in Philadelphia
For those of you who don’t know, One Book, One Philadelphia is a city sponsored project to promote reading, literacy, library usage and community building throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The selection committee has chosen Dave Eggers’ What is the What to be the featured selection for 2008. I was fortunate enough to catch Dave Eggers last night at the Philadelphia Free Library on a speaking tour for his new book which brings awareness and actual aid to Africa, specifically the Sudan region.
