The Year Ends and Begins A Tapestry of Thought Part 1

As the year draws to an end, I am watching a flickering montage in my mind of all that has gone passed, linking events together as one can only do in one’s mind to make an imposed order upon it. At the moment I have re-read The Vampire Lestat for the first time since I was in high school, and whenever I have just read a book by an author with a strong voice like Rice has, I tend to project that authors style of viewing their world through their character’s eyes using their prose and poetic approach. I want to experience the world through their eyes. Not just eyes, because when I read a novel, I use all my senses, including the metaphysical ones. After all, using my imagination, I really can transverse space and time. I think there is something mathematical and analytical trying to fit a fictional world view onto one’s life. Empirical.

That’s when it becomes a style, an aesthetic, a fashion, a costume, an act, a mask. And how much tragedy has been wrought because of a mask?

Many times a year we all put on a mask, a costume, adopt a persona, escape to a netherworld or fantasy by reading a book, watching a movie or playing an online rpg. I hope much of what we do in our actual daily lives is a part we’re in because we enjoy that part. New year is the time for asking that question: Does my wardrobe need an update? Which is really another way of asking: Am I living the life I want?

In fashion there have always been parts to play: The Lover, the Romantic likes a bit of flair and ruffle, a bit of drama and sensual textiles to show they are passionate. I love these Pre-Raphaelite designs at : www.renaissance-artist.com/victorian.html. The Tailored look often combines with Classical chic for professionals and those who like to comand and be in the captain’s chair and those who take orders. I remember the very basics of fashion personas explained in a book when I was a teenager in these stereotypical ways. Are you so easy to define? I like dressing up, knowing that every time I put on a dress or an outfit it was a chance to say something, or put on a costume so to speak. A dramatic.

A romantic and a passionate person, I own a velvet blazer, but I do not like everything with lace and all my skirts with crinkles and tiers and my hair fanned out like I’m Stevie Nicks all the time.

At the same time I do not like frumpy suits of sweats or am uncaring about my appearance even at home and have never that I can remember worn pajamas to the grocery store.

How far one can go to embody their vision of life. How rich a country we are that I can think of all these choices and wonder at them.

Since my youth I have wondered what it was like to think and feel and smell and taste what another person did. I am fascinated by awareness of self and awareness of other. The likenesses and differences. The subtleties. As I’ve gotten older I appreciate subtleties more. I have less patience with people who do not think or who remain willfully ignorant about what is going on in the world regarding human progress. I have more appreciation for empathetic people and people who think. I identify with Lestat in this respect.

I have had many good political discussions this year with family and friends. I enjoyed watching videos and debates on Youtube. I think of all the hopes people have had for who will be president and what will happen to our freedoms. How much is our president OUR president?

I wonder if I really have power as a consumer after hearing about vaccines gone bad, health plans suing clients for reimbursement, lead in toys, the Electric Car being killed and possibly resurrected, huge houses no one wants to buy , failed mortage lenders, and deploring lack of courtesy from surly receptionists and clerks everywhere. A person behind the desk at a doctors office has an obligation and duty to be a damn sight more friendly than someone at a bank.

I am thankful for people going green, and taking global warming seriously being mainstream, because Hi! I care that my children have an earth to inherit that is even more gorgoeus than it is now. Reminding me we almost scored twice on finding earth class planets this year.

Atheist books being on the bestseller list was a quite a snappy pop culture commentary. Thank the sapiens with sentience that there is still healthy skepticism.

Ah books, arts,science, all our aspirations.

Does the bestseller list reveal what Americans are discussing, thinking, feeling, or is it revealing what they are entertained by? The entertainment that is fed quickly in one ear and out the other, or the entertainment that people want imitate? I’d like to think people, especially Americans are experiencing subtle revelations that all add up to a life & planet changing epiphany for the better. It seems tradition defined as that superficial rote glaze over rut ritual to make a person not have to think about thinking, because it was good enough is good enough and will always be good enough is what’s winning in the mainstream now. But assuming that was good enough is good enough and always will be is wrong. For starters, that view takes for granted the present life and what our forbears went through. Are you evolving or devolving? You want to honor the humans who have come before us learn about their struggles and loves and triumphs. Pick up a good book. Read it. Ask if the vision revealed therein is a ripe prophecy for our time. Is it time to resurrect old gods, sacrifice new blood to the god you have, or chart your own course? It’s a good time to decide. Get some perspective, if you’re fresh out. Time to whip out the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia.