I Know I'm Not Alone

Yesterday on a music-buying tour of the Thrift Shops of Carrboro and Chapel Hill, I discovered in the Open Eye Cafe a barista that looks exactly like Maggie Gyllenhaal. It's true! I'm not setting you up for a goose. I would have pinned her pic to prove it to you except that I'd opened the conversation with that old "Don't I know you from somewhere else?" gag, and if I'd followed that by asking to make her portrait, I'd have to marry the girl.

As Maggie was taking my order, I was struck by the thought, like a bolt from the blue, that life is unfair. Just consider for example that some remarkable musicians become Supertramp but others become Steve 'n' Seagulls. Not that there's anything wrong with the Seagulls. A fine, deserving group of musicians is my opinion and I hope you agree.

Still, as I was about to say, some Gyllenhaals become movie stars while others become baristas. So heavy did this insight weigh on my shoulders that I ordered a double Americano and took a table outside in the sun, but not too near the street. 

The mind drifted in the void for a while; it may have been minutes; it may have been more, and I mused on how true are the words of the Buddha, "All things are..." what is it? Begins with an 'I.' Imperfect? Improbable? Something that means they don't stick around long. It will come to me. At any rate, I drifted for a while until awakened by another thought, one of many that arise like shiny, multicolored soap bubbles. Impertinent! No that's not it either. Give me a moment. Where was I?

Oh yes, another thought arose and this one reflected the iridescent words of Karl Wallinger...

"What I see just makes me cry; 

I'm way down now, I'm way down now...

And the rats are on their way;

They're clouding up the images of a perfect day,

But I know I'm not alone, I know I'm not alone."

The words of that song brought enlightenment to this dharma bum in the realization that being a barista or Steve 'n' Seagulls or World Party for that matter is only disappointing to the cream of the northwestern quarter-sphere--that means you and me. Most of the world would think it paradise. I now had a different and a brighter perspective on the morning.

The day had begun with my being driven from Chatsford Hall, not unlike my ancestors who were driven from Eden. My ancestors were driven by angels bearing flaming swords while I was driven by emotional slings and arrows. Like Adam and Eve, I am emboldened by the experience to live ever more fiercely. 

Following the suggestion of Emperor Haile Selassie, I shall:

"Rage against Babylon, Brah, until we sail the ship on home to Zion." 

All things considered, it was another big day for thought, word, and deed. Impermanent! That's the word, all things are impermanent. That's what the Buddha said. But it's no big deal to me; nothing is a big deal to me because Ms. Wonder loves me and that makes all the difference. 

She loves me! And with a love like that you know I should be glad!