Sunday, January 7, 2001

 

10:37 p.m. A serendipitous piece of email this morning has given me much to think about all day today as I went about my ordinary routines of scanning, daydreaming, worrying, planning, scanning, reading ... worrying, planning.

One of my companions in the writing biz has come up with an idea, a key idea, that helps to correctly line up many of the worries and plans I've been thinking about. The gears are meshing and a whole new paradigm is emerging.

Can I say, exactly, what it is? Not right this minute, but soon. Can I say that it's exciting and exhilarating and altogether wonderful? Sure -- that I can say. Soon, you won't be able to shut me up, but for now, I'll keep it under my hat.

Meanwhile, as I knew I would, I shamed myself with all that talk of yoga yesterday. I woke up this morning knowing that I was going to have to make good on the idle boast that I could do yoga, I should do yoga, I would do yoga ... if ...

So, I gathered up my small cadre of books on yoga and brought them here to this machine so that I can surround myself with the knowledge of the masters and read a little more and a little more (while I run that blasted scanner), and then when I've read enough, then (and only then) will I assume the position.

I'm a little afraid of confronting my stiffness and my lack of balance and my shallow, labored breathing, if you want to know the truth. However, I've rationalized that my out-of-shape condition gives me a unique chance to prove that I can improve ... and to be able to look back and laugh, assuming I can look back the way I used to be able to do.

Yeah -- it happens. Every now and then. The distinctive sounds of automatic weaponry and tonight, two isolated pop-pops. Sounded rather close, actually. This is a city and sometimes you have to hit the decks.

The walls of the houses are not very thick around here because it doesn't really get cold enough to bother with much more than chicken wire and thin lathe and a schmear of plaster. Thus, if you really think you're hearing a bit of warfare in the streets, it's probably a good idea to get down on your belly and shimmy across the floor.

Urban yoga! It's a lifesaver.