June 3, 2005

  • I’m trying to track down a friend I worked with in South Africa.  (I just realized, he’s the one pictured in the boat on my background) He’s about 30, and I remember he’d lived a fairly nomadic lifestyle.  Haven’t spoken to him in a year, but I was able to get the phone number of where he was staying, which turns out to be a hostel near LA.  I spoke to the chick on the phone, and she had this very fun vibe about her.  Told me how she was out there looking for work and a place to live, so I ask her what she’s doing.  “I don’t even know you, and besides, I’m superstitious about things like that.  If I tell you, it might not come true.”  She called me a stalker for the way I was trying to track down my friend.  I really think there’s a whole other world out there from this east coast life of mine.


    I napped from 7-9 pm.  When I awoke, my room was dark, except for a bit from the street lamps.  For I moment I thought I was camping, because it’s rare to ever be awake and not be consumed by some form of light all the time.  That’s one of the nice things about camping, you awake to the sun, and sleep when the sun goes down. 


    Have you ever had a sleepover, and the second you turn the light off, it’s goodnight.  There’s something to be said about letting your eyes adjust to the dark.


    That made me think about this age old question, would you rather be blind or deaf.  I have an interview (yes…pretty much my first interview ever for a job), working for a program for the blind.  Now, normally I’d think it’d be better to be deaf, because you can still communicate, and some technology now exists to help you hear somewhat.  Plus…you can be more self-reliant than a blind person can. 


    I started asking myself, what’s more important, sight or sound.  What’s more important when it comes to memories?  Most of my memories are visual, both in my mind and photographs.  If I had the opportunity to see someone I’ve probably long forgotten about, I’d probably rather hear their voice, or a recorded conversation, than see pictures.  So…I guess in some way hearing is more important.  Plus…it allows you to enjoy music and have phone conversations.


    I also like the ability to enhance other senses, like Ray Charles had for sound.  Have you ever tried eating with your eyes closed.  It’ll be weird at first, even if you’re alone you may feel strangely self-conscoius.  (I’m typing w/ my eyes closed now…and it’s actually less strain on my eyes fom the light I realize).  Anywyas…i notice that eating w/ your eyes closed really enhances the taste experience.

Comments (6)

  • It seems to me that a lot of people go to LA to escape their former selves… which could also be why she didn’t want to inform you about her life….

    Just a thought.

  • buddhists do that. there is this practice of eating siletnly with ur eyes close to focus on the eating…be in the moment.  it does make food taste better…….actually there is tantric practice too…..i tried that too…wow was that best chinese food i ever had that time lol….

    anyways man, good to see you around…i felt like you were posting for awhile….dont be a stranger 

  •  The game’s up – they finally found us:  http://aaroncommand.com/blogs/apatters/archive/2005/01/31/3425.aspx

  • In the question of deaf or blind, I would have to say blind. This is why.

    For me, a memory can be just as easily brought back by a song than it can a photograph. It can be brought back with a voice, or a specific sound like a bell ringing. In the land of the blind, you can make up any world that you imagine. Like Matt, I would also have to say that heightened awareness that comes with being blind would be worth more than not being able to hear a sound.

    Have you found your friend yet?

  • Hmmm. That site above. I checked it out. Very interesting…

  • Madagascar and Monster in Law…. I guess it was more to go to the drive in rather than see the movie… Screwed up my sleep pattern though, which really ruined the day. Ah well. It was fun watching reactions.

    The sight or sound issue is such a conundrum…. I’d give anything to see this one person again, but would I rather hear their voice than see them? It’s difficult to decide.

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