welcome to whisky talk
exploring santorini - june 2015
Deep conversations. The cliché, ‘I hate small talk’ attitude - it resides deeply in me. We’ve all connected deeply with another human being at least once or twice during this life, I know. But, I was gifted with many years of deep conversation with a few dear friends. With one in particular, we only conversed this way. I think about the times we would stand on this cliff overlooking most of San Diego, from the valleys to the sea. We’d get lost as our minds joined as one, finally vocalizing all of the theories we’ve previously imprinted into our psyches – no subject was too extreme to discuss. We’ve wondered about mermaids, extraterrestrial beings, the paranormal, robots, spirituality, consciousness, and the infinite fates we will meet once our physical bodies fail us on earth. I haven’t spoken to this friend in quite some time, we always meet up when I’m in town, but I think of our talks almost every day. It’s comforting to know that there’s another being on this planet whose mind works similarly to my own. He assures me that although I might be psychotic in my beliefs, I am not alone in them. He has allowed me to be comfortable with the way that my mind operates, how although we live on this beautifully large world, it isn’t the only one. Even though our daily lives seem so important to us and to those we interact with, it’s actually quite insignificant. Not to be negative, don’t get me wrong; it’s just something interesting to hold onto as a side note. Hey, we are conscious and that may not be true for every other living being – quite an accomplishment for our species, I’d say.
We used to stand on the edge of this cliff, there was a bench underneath a grand tree that stood at the top, but we always chose to walk towards the edge where we'd hear the rabbits scurrying through the bushes. We’d stand for hours, lost in conversation, lost in the wonders of our existence, quite lost in each other.
There where short moments where we would fall silent - our thoughts consumed, watching the hundreds of cars on the four freeways making their way around the city. Or the lights in the buildings slowly flickering off as the night went on, all of the working people leaving their cubicles to return home to loved ones. We’d see the two malls and ponder the endless scenarios occurring there in that moment. In my head I would think to myself, a seventh grader might be receiving her first meaningful kiss in the theatre right now. As mines was standing next to me, saying something about how fascinating it was to be watching so many lives being lived at once from up there. It was with him, that I had first felt that another human understood me. It was the very first time that I didn’t feel so alone anymore. We didn’t last as a couple, but we still remain very good friends – I’m still quite upset if I am in town and don’t get to see him. Although our relationship will never excel beyond deep conversation and enjoying life’s trippy gifts with one another, I will always love him and the way he reminds me that not everyone is a zombie.
Since meeting him, I’ve met only a handful of beings that are as open minded about the universe as us. I know there are many people out there who are, but I’ve learned not to jump into those conversations straight away – I used to, only to discover that it isn’t the best first impression. So, there may be similar minds in my current group of friends, I just haven't had the opportunity to explore it without risk of scaring them off. But when you do come across another familiar mind, you absolutely must embrace it. I’ve met one other person back in San Diego, towards the end of high school, and found a mind that may be beyond my own in a dear friend at school in Boston. The tally rolls up to three, but there have been several other encounters that have come quite close – we get deep but it’s still not exactly where I’m at. Two of my study abroad colleagues in Lyon, France are definitely open to the discussion; I’m constantly surprised if not impressed at their ability to not only listen and digest my theories, but to contribute. Each time I open myself up and get these kinds of responses, my soul feels a little bit more full. So this will be ‘whisky talk’ - because I’d like to see if there are any more of you out there. Here, I’ll blab on about anything and everything. I’m not saying to expect any facts or science, or anything you haven’t questioned before – most are recycled thoughts that are quite common these days (thanks, tumblr!). But I’d still like to store each and every one in a central place. Enjoy my mind and feel free to chat!