Circus of the Moon
Digital Painting, completed about a year ago
KINDRED SOUL WITH A THOUSAND EYES
On Monday, the first day of the work week, when I valiantly try to pull myself together, and when I try to organize confusion and rectify regression, I phoned Hughes Net tech support. We had been unable to get on the internet, something wrong with the connection. We were unable to find out the latest exciting adventures of Kim Kardashian and Paris Harlot. We were unable to buy more stuff, from the comfort of our own home. I think that there is a little space left where we can stuff more stuff in the closet. We were loosing track of our Facebook friends, what were they having for lunch? Did they take a picture of their shrimp and oyster po-boy? This was serious, something must be done.
After finding the Hughes phone number, dialing, navigating the labyrinth of which button to push, getting a real person to talk to, validating that I am really myself, being transferred, validating that I am me, being transferred, and assuring that I am still myself (by this time I was beginning to wonder if my multiple personalities were acting up again), I connected with Gandhi on the phone. Gandhi is not his real name, I am sorry to say that I did not catch his name, but we will call him this most honorable of names.
As I followed his directions, Gandhi, in his beautiful voice, walked me, patiently, through various computer maneuvers. I followed directions and was soon ready to test the internet connection. As my phone partner and I waited for the home page to open, I asked him, "Where are you?"
"India."
"I am in Louisiana" spoken with the imperialistic assumption that he knew where the disaster and corruption state is located.
"How is the weather there".
"We have had too much rain, but I think that the sun is coming out. Early spring is here, the huckleberry is blooming".
"Do you like nature?", Gandhi questioned.
"Yes, nature is important, it feeds the soul. OK, the home page has loaded".
"OK, now see if it can pull up a web page."
I think, click for a web page. Then say, "I am pulling up Wikipedia."
"That is unusual, not many people use that site".
"Not everyone is curious". I laughed.
"Ahh," he paused, " my father taught me, 'A person is born with two eyes, but, if he is curious and if he reads, then he has a thousand eyes'".
I thought, I processed words until the concept dawned, "That is wonderful, I want to tell my children about that".
"I told my daughter, but she didn't listen".
"Some things are the same, the world over".
Wikipedia loaded. We rang off with sincere thank yous. I felt a bit warmer and happier. I wished that I had caught his name. I thought about the distance between us, and the differences in our situations. I thought about our voices traveling thousands of miles instantaneously. It was a chance, ephemeral meeting of kindred souls. I wished that I had asked him to pull up my blog. If he left a message, then we could continue the dialogue. I wished that I had said, occasionally, maybe, I wish, you/I speak wisely, perhaps it will come back to the children, in a few years, when they are ready. See, you remembered what your father said.
