Conversations with Calliope- Connecting with Joe Cocker

(Oatka Creek Falls)

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Still savoring last night's adventure.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: For the first time, I heard Joe Cocker perform. It's been a long time since I had an experience which defies words.
CALLIOPE: Tell me more.
JOE: We have been discussing words, writing and reading lately. Last night reminded me that there is more to experience than words and ideas.
CALLIOPE: Such as?
JOE: The visceral aspect. The rumbling of the percussion resonated in the core of my being without conveying any words.
CALLIOPE: Did that surprise you?
JOE: Not really. I just tend to forget sometimes that words are not everything and that experience can surround me in many ways besides verbal.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you enjoyed it.
JOE: I did. The volume of the performance eclipsed any thoughts I might try to have. The music filled me and took over my consciousness.
CALLIOPE: Wow!
JOE: That's what I thought. I think I need to be more aware of my surroundings and what they have to offer to all my senses. Talk with you tomorrow.

Following Our Senses

I am currently reading Diane Ackerman's book, A Natural History of the Senses. I am reading it to help me be more aware of sensory experiences in my writing and incorporating them to make my writing more personal and graphic. It has been interesting how, as I read about each sense, I become more aware of it and less likely to take it for granted. I think the book will make me more attuned to my character's senses but will also help me be more aware of the sights, sounds, tastes, smells and touches which surround me and carry me through each day.

(Silver Sword plant- Haleakula Volcano- Maui

Sitting on the Porch

I have been reading Diane Ackerman's book Natural History of the Senses lately. I am interested in a better appreciation of the different senses and in heightening my awareness of them. I opened my journal for today's entry and started writing. To my surprise, almost my entire entry consisted of documenting the various sounds I heard while sitting there. I didn't know I could do that. Every once in a while I learn that I have a skill I did not think I had.

(Breakers on the shore- Curacao)

Gustatory Delights

After my post yesterday on the joys of smell, I thought it only fair that I gave some recognition to the sense of taste. This is another of those shortchanged if not entirely overlooked source of sensory information. I find it interesting that the mere memory of a taste can start the digestive juices flowing as easily as the taste itself. We have four taste receptors in our tongues-sweet, bitter, sour, salty. Whoa! I just looked to be sure I had this right and discovered that there is a new taste classification whose acquaintance I have never made, the umami variety which senses certain salts like MSG. I wonder how long that has been lurking in the collective consciousness of the internet. Learning through taste is usually reserved for foods. We do taste other things sometimes by accident. I suppose we could learn something about each other by tasting although that doesn't usually happen until we are on a quite intimate basis. Please enjoy you umami taste receptors at your discretion.