#1: SCENARIO: A Psychic Visit (3/07)

H. – Hullo. Are you a medium?

Medium – Yes, it’s me.

H. – Huh, uh, that’s great.

M. – Well, I’d like to ask you

H. – I mean, uh, I’d like to ask you about my…

M. – Life?

H. – No, past.

M. – Okay. I am readied.

H. – Okay, great. Well, medium, the thing is, I’m a guy, a subsistence farmer, and I know what they say about the glamour but hear me out, alright? I’m a farmer up there you know and I, but I mean I got my start down here, like a lot of the farmers these days. So I’ve got two different backgrounds, you see. And I’ve lost my acquaintance with life down here, and I was thinking about it.

M. – I can see that.

H. – I was thinking about how when I was here before, I could get around by sight by now when I’m back, I need to know all the names, and really on top of that, it’s not fair because everyone expects you to travel via underground tunnels this time around and I am having struggles with this system. I wish I could still get around by sight.

M. – Your time has passed

H. – I know, that’s what I’m saying.

M. – I mean your time is up, give me more $ if you want to do more.

H. – I thought this was a service?

M. – Where do you think you are? Sorry, wrong way of putting it…

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SCENARIO #2 (12/06)

Humor me, Robert.

With what?

A banana? I dunno for Chrissake, just humor me.

Okay. Well. The sexes are not equal, even at this day and age. And I don’t think the ERA would have changed much, but It could not have hurt.

Oh?

Yes. And while changing official, constitutional precedent cannot be taken for granted, one must also change, primarily culture, that is, cultural institutions. In the same way our parents can seem racist to us while having clear consciouses, equality must be deeply rooted so that, say “gay” humor in, say, sketch comedy is no longer on the radar.

I see.

To the point where, for example, I would not see an amorous couple on the train in which the woman is making stronger points than the man and both are subtly amused by it, and think, like an ass, “those misogynists!”. When really it is I who is being a misogynist and who is willing to reduce the two people conversing to being “1 man, 1 woman”.

Yes, indeed… Robert, which are the best names?

Surely Andrew, it is Dallapiccolo and Danielpour.

Of course. And how can one talk to one’s parent?

Well, I find it best, most often, to plan ahead. If given a framework of several days, it might be best to block out those days, as if a director, beforehand. That way, conflicting feelings engendered within the time frame will not cause trepidation and wrenching internal debate – one can simply proceed smoothly with one’s charge. Does that help?

Certainly. Very wise.

It is very difficult to pose this concept, talking with one’s parents. If one assumes a traditional family structure, it is even worse. Parents must be proactive in this field, else the child will tend to remain weighed down with care taking and hence unwillingness to take initiative.

Robert, which are the finest structures?

Mmm… I am tempted to say the syncretic. Let me explain: Certainly favorable structures of elemental utility and base – the Brownstones of Brooklyn. But compare this to Chichen Itza; how can a comparison be made? To me, the greatest structure is the one that incorporates the local materials, an audacious impracticality, something green and unintentional, and something in a language of construction. I’m told Colombia has such structures, and I once beheld one in St. Paul. Really, it was near saint Paul.

Robert, I am skeptical of Trader Joe’s, but less so of Ice-Shows.

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