I have never seen Star Wars
nor the Perseid meteor shower.
I have never seen The Godfather
nor been to a night-club.
I have never owned a television set
nor played a video game.
I have never entered the totalitarian
"world of work", or a McDonald's,
KFC or Starbucks - though I once
ate at a Pizza Hut.
I have never seen Stonehenge
though I have a website on prehistoric megaliths.
I have never been in debt
(mortgage, credit-card, etc),
never eaten sushi or sheep's eyes.
I have never liked 'popular' music
(with perhaps a dozen exceptions)
nor been to a pop concert
nor a football match.
I have never wanted to visit the USA
nor Belarus - though I did visit
East Berlin (as was) just for a day.
I have never driven a tractor
nor a trolley-bus, even though my
driving licence allows me to.
I have never worried about contracting cancer
nor tolerated stress
(because of a low tolerance of adrenalin)
which is why I never was
a taxpayer or a ballet-dancer.
9 comments:
But you have known many who have owned television sets, and done many other things on that list. You have liked unpopular music (Gustav Mahler should be on that list) and cleared other peoples financial debts when they have been unable to clear their debts without help. Albania was welcoming to you too....
How I envy you. Raúl
This is a very admirable list. Authentic and aware, you understand the essence of Zen, far better than the monks and the rest of us practitioners do. But then, you are a poet, too. But, alas, my friend, are you not mired like the rest of us in the worst transgression of our day and time, because it is so close, so often authentic and aware, so often self-justificatory--that is, our own narcissism?
"...but on the other hand, Jindra, I have to confess that I used to vote in elections.
But I have been to the rain forest of the southern Central African Republic (twice) - and lunch today was three bunches of 'Strawberry' grapes harvested from the front of my former home, a disc of Rocamadour goat's cheese and a glass of local wine.
Well, Marc, we are almost *forced* into narcissism now. But it takes many forms, ranging from agressive egocentrism to painful shyness. I tried in this blog not to sound self-justificatory (what a word!) - for those things I have never seen and done were not done consciously. It would simply never cross my mind to enter a McDonald's or a Starbucks.
You have been to Africa.You are an adventure and your lunch was amazing. I envy you more. You are a hero. There should be at least a book about you. Be safe. Raul from Paraguay.
Thank you again, Raúl.
You can come over and write the book. But the sad history of Paraguay has always interested me, so perhaps I should come to you, especially if you are not living in Asunción...
I live in Asunción. Thanks for replying. Raúl
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