A Handful of Things  

normalisokaytoo 54M
69 posts
7/26/2021 11:05 am
A Handful of Things


… or " All Over the Map ".

Another schitzo post, drawing bits from other pieces I am writing for other audiences. Think o f i t as a greatest hits selection… you, the reader, don't have t o muddle through the B-sides and lame entries.

First, thoughts o n material things. There was a time when I owned a warehouse, full o f professional sound reinforcement equipment – most o f which required two or more strong men t o maneuver from floor t o truck t o stage.
Many of the rolling roadcases had duplicates. Spares. Stuff fails hundreds o f miles away from headquarters. Some remote locales don't have an outlet that can rent the same thing; so critical gear was always duplicated.
These days however, there is a very long trail o f sound equipment behind me… in my past. Gone but not forgotten. Glory days, I guess. I DO miss my pianos – haven't touched one in over a year.
Today, I am a minimalist. Everything I own fits into my four-door sedan. This has been proven many times over during the past three or four years.
I still like t o visit flea markets and garage/yard sales t o look at all the "stuff" people are trying t o shed from their balance sheets. Sometimes I'll leave with a knick-knack; something I certainly don't need but was too damn cute t o not have sit atop a window ledge or countertop (my current residence doesn't have a mantel unfortunately).

This almost dovetails into part two. Character.
When I write fiction (which is quite often), my favorite activity is characterization. I write pages and pages o f a character's backstory. Much o f this exercise doesn't make it t o the actual story being written but I was taught by a much better writer than I, "You must know EVERYTHING about your character or i t's not real."
But a fictional "character" is merely the second definition o f the word. The primary meaning o f "character" is an attribute or feature that distinguishes an individual person. Kinda the same thing, but not quite.
I'm reminded o f the statement by Mr. Wolf, a character in the film Pulp Fiction, in which the two are differentiated. He says t o his niece at her father's junkyard, "Just because you ARE a character doesn't mean you HAVE character." -- Or something like that anyway.
My feeling is that "character" – in the primary sense o f the word – is how a person behaves when no one is looking. Almost like a form o f integrity or dare I say, quality.

I let that hang there on purpose. Quality is an entirely different discussion t o which I refer any interested reader o f fiction one (o f many) tomes I have read that changed my life: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by the esteemed Robert M. Pirsig His exploration into the "Metaphysics of Quality" says more about the topic than any I am aware o f otherwise. I f you know others, please let me know.

So then, mentioning "qualities" o f a person's character leads me into two more ideas. The first o f which is the comparison and contrast o f "courage" and "bravery".
Oddly, multiple sources claim these two are synonyms. But I disagree. Courage is not a quality. I t is an ability. A choice. A person with courage chooses t o confront something without any fear. This person is usually driven by a cause – a belief that he or she feels is worth fighting for despite multiple reasons not t o.
Meanwhile, a brave person is simply that – brave. I t is a quality o f a person that does something without any fear. Bravery simply happens, courageousness is a learned trait.

This finally leads me t o the issue I am currently having a difficult time writing about: fate versus destiny.
Since I'm at a complete loss, I ask you, my intelligent readers: was it fate that you have read this far? Or was it your destiny?

" Her smile had in it something of the intoxication of parched earth after a sudden and furious downpour " -- Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi. I sure wish I could write like that!


normalisokaytoo 54M
68 posts
7/26/2021 11:17 am

I found this image. Does this picture tell a thousand words?

" Her smile had in it something of the intoxication of parched earth after a sudden and furious downpour " -- Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi. I sure wish I could write like that!


mufdiver69er2 63M  
1953 posts
7/26/2021 12:40 pm

what if your seeming choices were preset by fate? that you were meant to choose the choice you made?

woop woop


normalisokaytoo 54M
68 posts
7/26/2021 2:53 pm

    Quoting mufdiver69er2:
    what if your seeming choices were preset by fate? that you were meant to choose the choice you made?
Therein, my SCUBA-cootching friend is where my brickwall has laid for almost a week.

To me, it comes down to whether or not the deity-of-your-choice has REALLY given mankind "freewill" or not. Personally, I feel that an omniscient being already knows what choices we will make... therefore nothing will surprise Him/Her/It. That being the case ( if indeed it IS the case ), destiny and freewill are man made phenomena that are just figments of our imagination and basically rationalizations to make us feel like we are in control.

I'm not sure I like that

Thanks for weighing-in.

" Her smile had in it something of the intoxication of parched earth after a sudden and furious downpour " -- Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi. I sure wish I could write like that!


SweetMysterie 51F
3641 posts
7/26/2021 3:06 pm

Although I've never liked the word "fate" (to me it evokes a negativity that I'm unable to put into words) I do have a tendency to believe things happen for a reason. I think that the choices I make, even the poor ones (or maybe ESPECIALLY the poor choices) eventually lead to something positive or beneficial.

As for whether fate or destiny brought me here . . I'm curious if knowing the answer would change what transpires once I've left this comment.

Thought provoking post. Thank you.



“As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.” ~ JB Wirthlin



normalisokaytoo 54M
68 posts
7/26/2021 3:51 pm

    Quoting SweetMysterie:
    Although I've never liked the word "fate" (to me it evokes a negativity that I'm unable to put into words) I do have a tendency to believe things happen for a reason. I think that the choices I make, even the poor ones (or maybe ESPECIALLY the poor choices) eventually lead to something positive or beneficial.

    As for whether fate or destiny brought me here . . I'm curious if knowing the answer would change what transpires once I've left this comment.

    Thought provoking post. Thank you.
I always look forward to your comments ( and blog posts ), ma'am. Thank you for gracing my window.

I, too, believe things " happen for a reason ". I further believe that we don't always find out what the reason is.

I prefer to use , " things will work out one way or another ". Possibly the truest words ever strung together in the English language. Assuming time moves forward... SOMEthing will inevitably take place.

Interesting you associate fate with something negative. There are many examples, I suppose. Oedipus Rex - 'nuf said. Granted, a work of fiction. But a lesson, nonetheless.

I think I was destined to reply to your comment. Whether your comment was fate remains unknown... perhaps to both of us, eh?

" Her smile had in it something of the intoxication of parched earth after a sudden and furious downpour " -- Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi. I sure wish I could write like that!


normalisokaytoo 54M
68 posts
7/27/2021 3:25 pm

    Quoting  :

Yikes! You can read my thoughts?

-- blush --

So you know all about those fantasies I have about you

" Her smile had in it something of the intoxication of parched earth after a sudden and furious downpour " -- Henry Miller The Colossus of Maroussi. I sure wish I could write like that!


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