1) She faked a fake O in order to not give him the satisfaction of knowing she was having a real one. Am such a witch, she thought.
2) It was not his fault, but she was not in a generous or kind mode tonight. She felt rotten and up for cruelty. Not his fault.
3) Fault is over-rated she thought. Life is a series of incidents, often accidents and she had decided to treat it as such. Tough
Showing posts with label short story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label short story. Show all posts
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
"No more globalization please, we are human"
Short Story, semi-fiction:
"Because the world has changed" he said.
That is why his country (which one is not the point) has changed radically in recent months. When asked about events and actions of the past and how they correlate with the new attitude, he replied that these either took place because of the way things were then, in the world, in the US, in the UK, in Europe, not just his country or that events were not as they were reported to be.
He felt sea sick. Maybe he was feeling like that a bit already because of the weather, this climate change "thing". Maybe because some things happened today that did not settle well in his stomach (aka subconscious/instinct), maybe something he actually ate today and actually did not settle well with his stomach. Maybe.
"Go get your blood pressure checked" advised someone. She runs from doctor to doctor, many years now, every time she feels something is wrong. She has actually made it to 78, so far! She is hyper, but she has adjusted her lifestyle and living parameters to fit her quirks! And by the mere fact that she has made it this far in spite of chronic health issues since many decades ago, and a phobia for germs, among other things, which she freely admits, she is a winner in the game of life.
Game of life? Since when is life a "game"? To some it is an "arena", or a "Colosseum", to some "war", everyday in the trenches. like WWI, to some "a mission", to some "a committed relationship with .. themselves", etc, etc. Life philosophies, or philosophies on living or mindsets.
Some people are becoming "born again virgins", some are finding comfort in a drink or two every night, some in work, etc, etc!
"Because the world has changed"! Winning formula, realism or flagrant opportunism?
The world always turned, it was always volatile, it was always risky, but it seems that human nature drives us to want some stability. Some benchmark, some place to call home, some value to hold on to, or a life to hold on to!
"Get a life"! Well, many people today self label themselves as "spiritual". Others are re-discovering religion. Not many self label themselves as "philosophical" or "rationalists".
The world was always volatile, but the perception varied. Today, in the global 24/24 news era, one can run but cannot hide from globalisation's "effect", something like "sea sickness". A butterfly in ... China affects things in ... Smallville, USA, for example!
"May you live in interesting times" was not a wish, but a curse, an Ancient Chinese curse.
No more volatility please, we are human! How much hot to cold and cold to hot showers can we really take?
"The world has changed". Yes but, still, it way too radical for the world to .. stomach, in such a short time. Needs time to settle. Like "Breaking News"!
In NYC the idea of "Safe" (aka "Panic") rooms is not new (see eg the "The Panic Room" movie with Jodie Foster). Some people, mostly kids, invent imaginary friends. Maybe some construct imaginary "safe rooms". When in bonkers times ....
'Driver, you are driving this bus too fast, either you slow down or make a stop and we get out" said the mother. She had a child to protect, and she did not like the way the bus was being driven in combination with the weather!
"No more globalisation, please, we are human"?
Or a more balanced one (not just trade and news and stock markets)?
March 2008
Saturday, March 13, 2010
"The Gatekeepers" (of markets?) - re world trade and its talks
It is March 2010 and the Doha Round of world trade talks has not been completed yet.
Read below a short story (fiction) that I wrote back in July 2003. It was partly inspired by a true story, unrelated to free trade, and partly by the then lack of progress in free trade (a few weeks later, in September 2003, "Cancun" demonstrated this lack of progress).
"The Gatekeepers" (a short story)
Andreas likes to walk. Usually at night. Many times had he thought of giving up his walks. He did not appreciate worrying about his safety.
"But why should I surrender my right to walk", he had thought. They were like local tyrants of times past. Protecting their territory. That is how they looked.
Could he avoid them? No, they were everywhere.
In every neighbourhood, in, almost, every street. As if they had marked and divided their territory. Guarding it for themselves or somebody else, their "bosses".
He walked for fun. But it was also a necessity.
For some time he tried different territories. They were everywhere. He tried different times of the day, but they were almost always there. After all, it was at night that it was most convenient for him to take his walks.
A few weeks ago, he was in the north suburbs. At least two or three of them were there, when he got out of the car. He could see two of them, sitting, watching over, and he could hear one more. First, he stayed near the 24/7 bistro. Other people were there. He felt somewhat safe.
Then one of them approached him. Friend or foe?
He decided to make the first move. He got sick and tired of being on the defensive. "Hi, how are you" he said, hiding his concern as well as he could. For one or two seconds his heart beat quickly. A pause.
Then he saw the signs. At first he was not sure. He never had a dog. He had heard that when a dog shakes his tail, then he is friendly. It turns out that it was true.
He decided to proceed with this tactic. He concentrated in this area. He got to know them well, and so did they. Every time he enters their territory, they can smell him. They know him.
They have accepted him. They have given him a de facto pass.
Little by little, he has expanded into one or two other territories. Each time making sure that these "gatekeepers" get to know him and accept him. They bark at strangers, especially cars. It is still hard for him to understand the pattern of their behaviour, assuming they have one.
But, in any case, he is now accepted in the club. The same goes for the owner of the 24 hours store. They all know him now. He is now part of the community. He is not an intruder, a raider.
He is not the only one. Others seem to have done the same.
He now enjoys his walks in 2 or 3 different places, making sure that his rotations are frequent enough so that they do not forget his smell.
Dogs too, it appears, have a fear for the unknown. Once you have been around for long enough, you are de facto part of the scenery.
He now has started to think in "us" vs. "them" terms too.
Strangers are not welcome. Unless they manage to break the ice. To become part of the scenery too.
"Why don't you explore, walk into new territories" asked a friend.
"I would like to. I like change. I am actually starting to get a bit tired of the same places over and over again. But I am comfortable with the places I hang out now. I am not willing to go through the trouble of going through all those "blending" motions again in new places", he replied.
July 2003. All rights reserved.
Read below a short story (fiction) that I wrote back in July 2003. It was partly inspired by a true story, unrelated to free trade, and partly by the then lack of progress in free trade (a few weeks later, in September 2003, "Cancun" demonstrated this lack of progress).
"The Gatekeepers" (a short story)
Andreas likes to walk. Usually at night. Many times had he thought of giving up his walks. He did not appreciate worrying about his safety.
"But why should I surrender my right to walk", he had thought. They were like local tyrants of times past. Protecting their territory. That is how they looked.
Could he avoid them? No, they were everywhere.
In every neighbourhood, in, almost, every street. As if they had marked and divided their territory. Guarding it for themselves or somebody else, their "bosses".
He walked for fun. But it was also a necessity.
For some time he tried different territories. They were everywhere. He tried different times of the day, but they were almost always there. After all, it was at night that it was most convenient for him to take his walks.
A few weeks ago, he was in the north suburbs. At least two or three of them were there, when he got out of the car. He could see two of them, sitting, watching over, and he could hear one more. First, he stayed near the 24/7 bistro. Other people were there. He felt somewhat safe.
Then one of them approached him. Friend or foe?
He decided to make the first move. He got sick and tired of being on the defensive. "Hi, how are you" he said, hiding his concern as well as he could. For one or two seconds his heart beat quickly. A pause.
Then he saw the signs. At first he was not sure. He never had a dog. He had heard that when a dog shakes his tail, then he is friendly. It turns out that it was true.
He decided to proceed with this tactic. He concentrated in this area. He got to know them well, and so did they. Every time he enters their territory, they can smell him. They know him.
They have accepted him. They have given him a de facto pass.
Little by little, he has expanded into one or two other territories. Each time making sure that these "gatekeepers" get to know him and accept him. They bark at strangers, especially cars. It is still hard for him to understand the pattern of their behaviour, assuming they have one.
But, in any case, he is now accepted in the club. The same goes for the owner of the 24 hours store. They all know him now. He is now part of the community. He is not an intruder, a raider.
He is not the only one. Others seem to have done the same.
He now enjoys his walks in 2 or 3 different places, making sure that his rotations are frequent enough so that they do not forget his smell.
Dogs too, it appears, have a fear for the unknown. Once you have been around for long enough, you are de facto part of the scenery.
He now has started to think in "us" vs. "them" terms too.
Strangers are not welcome. Unless they manage to break the ice. To become part of the scenery too.
"Why don't you explore, walk into new territories" asked a friend.
"I would like to. I like change. I am actually starting to get a bit tired of the same places over and over again. But I am comfortable with the places I hang out now. I am not willing to go through the trouble of going through all those "blending" motions again in new places", he replied.
July 2003. All rights reserved.
Monday, December 14, 2009
The journey. All aboard!
The following short story, originally written a few years ago, is a fictional case study, food for thought on some of the complex, somewhat zany, social dynamics of the era.
"Why are you so desperate?", asked Anne.
"Because I do not want to be alone", replied Mary.
"Why are you willing to settle for less than perfect", insisted Anne.
"Because I am in a race against time. And who know if my 'perfect' choice actually exists", argued Mary. "Most people live their lives in quiet desperation", she added. "So I am desperate not to be desperate alone".
"What makes you think that being desperate in a group, or with a partner, will make your desperation any lighter or more affordable?", asked Anne. "Unless the partnership is perfect".
"There is no such thing as a perfect partner or perfect partnership", proclaimed Mary. "It's all about making any partnership, any relationship work. A lot of hard work", she added.
"All work and no play", said Anne, somewhat sarcastically.
"I am not good in the searching game, what I want is a relationship, my dear friend", proposed Mary.
"A relationship, a relationship, your "kingdom" for a relationship", argued Anne.
"You mean my freedom", asked Mary.
"Dear Mary, we are born alone and we die alone. Life is a journey", said Anne.
"Yes, but I want to take this journey not alone, but with a companion". Sometimes Anne was a pain in the neck.
"As long as you can find the right one", proposed Anne.
"It's not enough to find the right person" proposed Mary. "Building a relationship, making it work takes a lot of effort, sometimes pain. But no pain, no gain, dearest Anne".
"Emotion and Logic, love and marriage, two cornerstones of a perfect relationship", proposed Anne.
"I will agree with you on that one, actually", said Mary. "Love is a prerequisite, but not sufficient to make a relationship work".
"Yes but if love and a relationship both involve 'pain', why bother with either of them", proposed Anne.
"With out pain, there is no gain dear", said Mary, sure of her convictions on that subject. "You are a hedonist, dear Anne. By seeking pleasure so much and avoiding pain, you are missing a main ingredient of life".
"You may be right, you may be wrong. You are an "investor" my dear Mary, and a romantic", said Anne.
"Actually, we both are romantics, dear friend", replied Mary, smiling.
"I believe in perfection and you believe in pleasure. Both are elusive. But it is the journey and the effort that count".
"Why are you so desperate?", asked Anne.
"Because I do not want to be alone", replied Mary.
"Why are you willing to settle for less than perfect", insisted Anne.
"Because I am in a race against time. And who know if my 'perfect' choice actually exists", argued Mary. "Most people live their lives in quiet desperation", she added. "So I am desperate not to be desperate alone".
"What makes you think that being desperate in a group, or with a partner, will make your desperation any lighter or more affordable?", asked Anne. "Unless the partnership is perfect".
"There is no such thing as a perfect partner or perfect partnership", proclaimed Mary. "It's all about making any partnership, any relationship work. A lot of hard work", she added.
"All work and no play", said Anne, somewhat sarcastically.
"I am not good in the searching game, what I want is a relationship, my dear friend", proposed Mary.
"A relationship, a relationship, your "kingdom" for a relationship", argued Anne.
"You mean my freedom", asked Mary.
"Dear Mary, we are born alone and we die alone. Life is a journey", said Anne.
"Yes, but I want to take this journey not alone, but with a companion". Sometimes Anne was a pain in the neck.
"As long as you can find the right one", proposed Anne.
"It's not enough to find the right person" proposed Mary. "Building a relationship, making it work takes a lot of effort, sometimes pain. But no pain, no gain, dearest Anne".
"Emotion and Logic, love and marriage, two cornerstones of a perfect relationship", proposed Anne.
"I will agree with you on that one, actually", said Mary. "Love is a prerequisite, but not sufficient to make a relationship work".
"Yes but if love and a relationship both involve 'pain', why bother with either of them", proposed Anne.
"With out pain, there is no gain dear", said Mary, sure of her convictions on that subject. "You are a hedonist, dear Anne. By seeking pleasure so much and avoiding pain, you are missing a main ingredient of life".
"You may be right, you may be wrong. You are an "investor" my dear Mary, and a romantic", said Anne.
"Actually, we both are romantics, dear friend", replied Mary, smiling.
"I believe in perfection and you believe in pleasure. Both are elusive. But it is the journey and the effort that count".
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