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.

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Pretty good. I am enjoying the sunshine and promise of warmer weather.
CALLIOPE: What have you been doing lately?
JOE: I worked on editing Marital Property yesterday. I tried to address continuity, clarity, grammar and voice all at once.
CALLIOPE: Did it work?
JOE: Not very well. I thought there might be some shortcuts in the editing process. But it just diffuses my attention so I can't concentrate very well on anything.
CALLIOPE: Too bad.
JOE: Maybe. Doing everything at once might work for some people. I recall that Mozart could write a finished work without any later editing. Genius seems to be in a different class. The rest of us might need to work one aspect at a time. At least I do. It takes longer but I think that is my best chance to produce polished work.
CALLIOPE: I think it's good to know yourself, your limitations and what works best for you.
JOE: No argument there.
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?
JOE: I will read some of Marital Property tonight at Lift Bridge Writers Group and would like to look over my selection. I will also do some more editing on the text. Saturday is coming up so I have to start working on a column. I cut it pretty close last time.
CALLIOPE: Do you have a topic.
JOE: Giving words a rest comes to mind. My right brain attended a wind ensemble concert on Sunday. I enjoyed experiencing the concert without having to describe it in words. I think I will pursue that idea. I had better get going. See you tomorrow.

Writing as Living

Last night I was thinking about all the experiences I have not had. Some were by my choice and some just from not being able to do everything in life. There just isn't time. Then I realized that I could experience anything I wanted by writing about it. Maybe it isn't quite the same, but I have total control of my adventures and no constraints of time and money. Why didn't I think of this before?

(Lillian Hellman's Cabana- Martha's Vineyard)