On finding the slim man inside of me…

I seek the slim man inside of me and I’ve decided to walk aimlessly every day until I find him.

I see it as a sort of peripatetic Zen; a journey with no tangible destination — the ‘destination’  (a virtual node in the stream of existence) will present itself without conscious effort.

If I walk enough, without a particular purpose in mind, I’m certain to eventually happen upon the man I seek.

I think I’ll practice some Qigong as well; it can’t hurt, will possibly center my being, and will surely increase the density of synchronistic events surrounding me.

But I’m convinced it is the walking that will lead me to the man I seek: “…a man returning home by climbing over a hedge, to the surprise of his walking companion. Oh, how I love to reach home by climbing over the back fence, and to travel on bypaths!” [from the preface of Lin Yutang’s The Importance of Living(p. v – vi)].

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Cat’s Bibliophilic Café

We were driving along the Fraser Highway, on our way to pick up our eldest daughter, Bailey. I’d turned the radio down because we were discussing Cat’s idea for a used bookshop/coffeehouse…

Cat: “…and we’ll display the works of local artists.”

Me: “You should be clear with the artists that you’ve got ‘particular tastes‘: you’ll want to be able to give them a polite ‘no thanks.’ After all, you don’t want dogs playing poker, do you?.”

Cat (mostly ignoring me): “…and poetry readings…maybe even some beatnik poetry.”

Me: “I suppose you already have a guitar-player lined up for Opening Night?

Cat: Nodded and said, “Yup: Jim Cuddy.”

We  both sat in silent contemplation. I turned up the radio; and, after listening for a half-minute, it slowly dawned on…

Me: “Is that Jim Cuddy? Did you mention him because his song is on the radio?”

Cat: “No I didn’t. But I think that is Jim Cuddy.”

It was Everyone Watched the Wedding, from his new album.

Maybe something clicked subliminally in Cat’s mind as the music played quietly, but the music had been almost inaudible. Perhaps it was synchronicity. I doesn’t matter. I’m going  to buy the CD when I get a chance…it will be perfect background music in her shoppe.