(((coffee with tom)))
walking down a sidewalk on a mid-June morning, warmth emanating from the still rising sun, on the way to meet a friend for coffee and conversation…
an idea early on…
if i am listening without thinking about what is being said, without trying to figure out what is meant, whether or not a certain response is warranted or expected, whether or not i’m supposed to feel something specific or relate in some particular way, am i not still listening?
if not, what am i doing?
then another thought…
“that’s good… you should write that down”
not exactly a well formed thought next, but awareness that i’m actively walking which would make it difficult to write and I don’t want to get caught up and be late, so i’ll just remember it…
silent recitation begins…
“i’ll write it down when I get the the coffee shop” intermingled among the repetition…
walking down the sidewalk continues…
then the awareness that no clear conscious attention is being given to walking down said sidewalk. i’ve made it at least two blocks repeatedly reciting a thought for the sake of remembering it to be able to write it down…
I stopped then ran across a crosswalk without knowingly paying attention; i waved in gratitude to a driver who waited to let me pass…
next arose the idea to write about the inner process explained above…
now reciting and trying to remember that as well…
still walking…
feet on the ground, step by step…
warmth of the sun on the right, just over the horizon of the rooftops, the tickle of a gentle breeze of unknown directional origin on the skin…
then…
“moving through this physical world, living in an entirely different but not separate mental one…”
then something like “ooh i should write that down too!” then “i should tell tom all about this” then “ooh, i should name it after him and let him know he participated in its inspiration, then read or explain it to him…”
then i was walking downtown - tom just ahead not having yet seen me…
then we were together…
i explained the whole experience, more or less as it has just been, while we sipped coffee, talked about discomfort, relationships, spirituality, physiology, attention, experience, the universe, all while simply enjoying each others company…
home now…
still riding the fascination with the whole experience…
of sharing this inner world with my friend…
with you…