because a Reverend can't be wrong.
Thanks to the guidance of the “wonderful Kim”:http://pleasefindaseat.blogspot.com/, I’ve made my first movie / video blog / vlog / stupid thing on the internet that you watch.
Enjoy. Ha.
(You can also “watch this on YouTube”:http://youtube.com/watch?v=_POkJd9T2b0 if you’re having trouble getting the other link to work. I’m still figuring all this stuff out. Sorry.)
Having not read any of his other work, I’m speaking specifically of “Naked“, though, I imagine it will apply universally. David Sedaris‘ writing has the same effect on me that I’ve always hoped my expressions would have on others. While I’m sure not everyone will be capable of this (and I think it would lose it’s potency if everyone could) I immediately related to David. It wasn’t what he’d done, who he’d seen, or where he’d been that made him relate-able, it was his way of thinking, his approach to life, and his social programming. I felt that, presented with certain situations, I would naturally choose to act in a fashion similar to him and, therefore, I could learn a lot by seeing how it turned out for him.
The book, apparently, is mostly autobiographical. While that certainly adds a touch of realism to the experience, I don’t think it’s at all a requirement to relate to the “character” of David, whether he’s based on a real David or simply a figment of the imagination of a very good writer.
David’s book, “naked”, is simply a series of stories, jumping forward and backward in the time-line of his life exploring those pivotal moments that change the entire course of a man’s life.
While I’ve never visited a nudist colony, David’s week long stay at one brings a a hard hitting idea to the front of the mind. Even those people who are open and naked (quite literally in this case) in a way that most of us could never accept or understand still have their taboos, rules, and unspeakables. It’s also interesting to realize how quickly we can fall into an “open” stance, and how uncomfortable we become when we have to close ourselves up once again in order to be a part of “society”.
For large portions of his life, David’s primary mode of transportation was hitchhiking. Though I’ve never hitchhiked myself, David’s recounting of many trips across the US with only his thumb and a small bag of belongings makes it seem heroic and hopelessly romantic. He shows us that, in life, sometimes you have to take what’s presented to you and hope for the best. Confrontation won’t travel nearly as far as a smile and a nod will and should be reserved for minds that you care about, and situations that you can easily remove yourself from. In the end, he teaches us that most people aren’t so much stupid as they are kind but that cruelty is always lurking in the darkness and sometimes you have to jump out at the next corner, roll yourself into a ditch and try not to breathe until danger passes.
From dealing with obsessive compulsive tendencies as a child, to his own homosexuality in a mostly disapproving world David shows us how he’s dealt with life, and what affect those choices ultimately had on his life. From the wide range of odd jobs that most people would shudder to consider, to hitchhiking across the US with a quadriplegic, we see David’s triumphs and mistakes and learn something about ourselves in the process.
To describe David’s book, “naked”, as life altering doesn’t really do it justice. You need to read this book to understand. I haven’t felt this changed by a piece of writing since I read “The Perks of Being a Wallflower“.
Next, I intend to read “Me Talk Pretty One Day“.
I’m back.
I feel like I’ve changed a lot in a week. I know I mention lots of life altering events and because of this you’re inclined to assume I don’t mean it, and, if that’s the case so be it, but I really feel like I have. A week of solitude, forced confidence, and a David Sedaris book (my first from him) can teach a person a lot about themselves. Maybe you’ll hear about it later.
Oh and Indianapolis is awesome. I change my mind at least once a week but, right now, I’d move to Indianapolis in a heart beat.
h2. Five Questions
[stolen from Rachelle]
1. What do you use to cut your nails?
Nail Clippers. What else would you use? I’m quite obsessive about it. When I cut them, I cut them as short as possible, sometimes to the point of where it hurts and I fear they will bleed.
2. You are a merciless alien emperor. Describe the uniform your army wears:
This one’s obvious. I feel like I shouldn’t even bother telling you. But, I will. First, they’d all be female as females are much better when it comes to thinking quickly. Their uniform would be a small communications wrist band, a small arm band to display our planet’s insignia and their rank, and when in combat, a helmet to support the mental uplink to the alien craft that they pilot.
3. What drink do you have nearby right now?
A 12oz can of Diet Coke.
4. Describe the most annoying person in your life right now (no names):
No names!?! What fun is that? Okay. Here goes.
It gets very picky about how certain things in life are handled and doesn’t care even the slightest about other things. Trying to decide which things it will care about and which things it won’t is like trying to call a coin in the air. There are somethings that it is absolutely obsessive about; some are understandable, others are quite stupid, and some are absolutely strange. It is constantly trying to do things that will change people’s minds or make them see things a different way, or get them excited about one of the stupid things it is excited about, but, it does it in such a way that just really puts people off and pushes them away. Its constantly complaining that it is misunderstood when in reality people find it so annoying that they don’t even want to understand it.
5. When you’re working with someone who obviously has a cold, how do you feel about that?
Eh. I’d rather not get sick but I also understand that sometimes there is too much to be done at work or people are too stubborn to call in sick that we end up there despite the cold.
h2. Five More Questions
[stolen from Liz]
1. What about you makes you unique?
I’ve stopped calling myself unique because being unique is a fairly common thing, and, in that, it really isn’t unique at all. I mean, there are plenty of cookie-cutter people out there, but, even cookie cutters have to be handled by a person, and the dough was still rolled out by hand and all the cookies cook at slightly different temperatures so, in the end, none of them actually come out the same. But, I’d say my strongest feature is my undying passion for people and communication.
2. What aspect of your physical appearance do you think makes you stick out from the crowd?
Quite literally, my gut. It sticks out. Aside from that, nothing really.
3. What do you always have with you while out in public? (for example, earrings, purse, wallet, watch, etc.)
Generally, a wallet, a set of keys, and a camera.
4. Is there anything about your body that you think isn’t normal?
Normal is such an odd definition when we’re discussing living things. If you were to hook me up to a machine that counts limbs, toes, and other appendages and then tests all five senses and vital signs and compare the results to other people my age you’d find I’m mostly “normal”. However, there are certain aspects that are more unusual than others and certain statistics that fall outside of the optimal ranges.
My eyes are near-sighted and seem to get more so every day. I’m about 20 pounds heavier than my “ideal weight”. I have what seems to be a constant case of poison ivy. I don’t have any chest hair and can’t grow a complete goatee. My hairline has begun to recede a lot sooner than I had hoped. One of my big toenails grows funny thanks to a stupid doctor many years ago. I have a very small birthmark on my arm, a larger one on my wrist, and an even larger one on my elbow, the smallest being smaller than a pin head and the largest no bigger than an American quarter. I am incredibly well endowed. I’m sure there are other things, but they escape me at the moment.
5. What are you complimented on (looks, smarts, anything) the most? Why do you think that’s the case?
Quite honestly, I don’t receive many direct, verbal compliments. Some people, from time to time, tell me they enjoy my photography. My boss, peers, “customers” and associates generally mention that I perform well at my job.
The biggest compliments that I receive, are indirect and non-specific, though. They come from those of you who choose to spend your time with me. They come from those of you who think of me with an IM, email, hand written letter, phone call, or text message. They come from those small acknowledgements that state (either directly or indirectly) that other people are glad that I’m alive and part of their life.
I’ll be travelling all next week — July 10th through July 14th. I’ll be in Tampa, Florida Monday and Tuesday, Indianapolis, Indiana Wednesday and Thursday and then I’ll come home Friday.
If you live in or near either of these parts of the great United States drop me a line and maybe we can get together for dinner, nerdery, coffee, a photo session, sight seeing, or whatever. If you know of any state or national parks, lively night districts, or local dives in these areas, I’d like to hear from you too.
Party’s still on: This Friday. Things should be bumping by 9pm, even if there’s only five of us.
Sometimes hope comes from the strangest of places.
If I consider too much, the world crumbles underneath me. Sometimes it’s easier to live without thought.
Despite the *fucking enormous* burden it would create if it were to happen, I often wonder if, in the end, losing my job might bring more good than bad. Despite how *ridiculously responsible* I am, I wonder if some day I might do something subconsciously to make that happen.
We lit a lot of fireworks on July 3rd and, amazingly, didn’t get in trouble. And before the day turned into night the sun left with the most spectacular of sunsets and I didn’t even bother to get my camera because you didn’t deserve to see it. And that night I slept under the stars and the sounds of thousands of crickets and the heat of the earth washed over me and pressed into my chest and I found that if I lay still enough and breathe slow enough I could see infinity. And I awoke the next morning to the playful calls of hundreds of birds, and the deep greys and honest blues parted and I felt the heat of the sun on my face.
“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.” — T.S. Eliot
Sometimes, just breathing is enough and sometimes, it’s more than I can handle.
As much as I miss her (and her, and her, and you) it’s probably better this way: I leaned too hard on her and she made for a terrible crutch.
Please,
remember me
Seldomly
In the car behind the carnival
My hand
between your knees
You turn from me
And said ‘The trapeze act was wonderful
But never meant to last’
The clown that passed
Saw me just come up with anger
When it filled
with circus dogs
The parking lot
Had an element of danger
– Iron and Wine / The Trapeze Swinger
I’ve said this before yet I still feel compelled to say it again. I think that, perhaps, I let myself forget too easily and then, when I remember, it feels like revelation all over again. So, here it is: I don’t need dishonesty in my life. And I don’t need assholes in my life. And I certainly don’t need any dishonest assholes. Fade away.
Yeah, sometimes I read more into somethings than I should but, most of the time it’s right.
Dear Canada–
Happy 139th birthday.
Thank you for your beautiful cities, friendly people, high standard of living, and excellent fashion sense. You serve as an inspiration to peace-seeking nations and flannel-wearing populations alike. Your name means, simply, “village”, and you continue to uphold that meaning with your citizens and your visitors. You are the world’s true melting pot bringing in diverse cultures from all over the globe yet remaining distinctly, uniquely, Canadian. Your people share a strong environmental ethic, support for the rights of all people, a passion for hockey, a love for Tim Hortons, and a religious devotion to milk in a bag. Thank you, Canada, most of all for creating my beautiful, loving, passionate, quirky, and thoroughly Canadian “wife”:http://sivatonight.livejournal.com/. I am forever in your debt.
May your flag always wave high above your vast fields of wheat and grain, immense forests, large deposits of nickel, zinc, and gold, Rocky Mountains, beautiful coasts, expansive tundra, icy seas, and the 32.5 million kind, loving, two-four drinking, donut eating people that call you home.
Happy birthday, Canada, a nation I am proud to call my neighbor and my friend.
Love,
Jim
