Beached

We're standing on the edge of a beach,w here the sand reaches out its grainy fingers of broken rock and shell to the water’s lips. I see it trace them carefully. Even when the tide breaks like shattering porcelain dishes it is graceful. Like the water has a mind of its own as it dances over the rocks.

It’s early October and the beach is naked and empty of people, of foot traffic, this early and frigid morning. Our wool scarves match the turning leaves on the tall maples that tower behind us at the far side of what feels like the ends of the earth. The ice cream huts and hot dog stands are closed. Their bright, warm summer colours and pictures of treats and hand painted prices look faded as if no one has been here for years.

I take a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. The hot air trapped in my lungs becomes visible in the cold that surrounds us. I dig my hands into my pockets for fear they might turn blue if I don’t. A brief breeze sweeps my hair into my face, tickling my cheeks but I don’t smile, I don’t move. I wait until it rests on my shoulders again, limp and lifeless. It’s such a waste of my energy to grow it. I look out at the water and see a great New York skyline burst from the quiet waves. The lights of Time’s Square all lit up for us. The skyscrapers and traffic and Broadway signs are resilient in the morning. But I blink, and it’s gone. It was a figment of my imagination, disappearing like everything else.

I look at you from the corner of my eye. You too are motionless and silent. Like the frost on the windows of empty cottages that sit on this beach, you don’t say anything, or budge, or dare to melt. I pull my hand out of my pocket and reach for yours but, it passes through your fingers, like smoke. You don’t exist. I feel tears collecting in the corners of my eyes, tiny droplets of emotions I hate. I suck them back and pretend it’s the cold. What does it matter anyways though? No one’s here, not even you. I’m alone. I wonder if maybe you’re alone too, somewhere else, in another beach or maybe in a empty street or maybe in an apartment building, or a forest or a park or a store or a movie theatre or a fucking garbage dump, I don’t care. I just want to know you’re alone too.

The thoughts collect so fast in my head I can’t process them all. I fall on my knees but, I’m still not crying. I lay on my stomach but, I’m still not crying. I reach out my hands and let them hang in the water but, I’m still not crying. I get pulled under the sea and I drown. Now I’m crying.

Then I wake up.

Taboo for you

Hey guys. Long time no post. I’ve taken a break from writing for awhile as I’m focusing on my music and other endeavours, but, I decided to drop a line inspired by a recent philosophy assignment I was given.

Taboo is an online quiz game that reads into your moral ethics. It’s a little “out-there” for some people, but, it really gives you a look into your mind that you might not have gotten otherwise. The game isn’t too long and it’s a lot of fun so I suggest you check it out : http://www.philosophersnet.com/games/taboo.php

For the game, I took in my friend Ryan to play and get a look at HIS answers. I was actually surprised by some of his responses.

NOTE THIS SECTION CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE QUESTIONS. DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT THE QUESTIONS TO BE A SURPRISE!

At the start of the game, Ryan answered one of the questions by saying he agreed with the fact that if an action undertaken by a person is completely private and causes no harm to the person then there is no reason why it should be deemed morally wrong. As we started the game, this proved to be true to him. The question regarding the brother and sister having sexual intercourse was fine with him. He mentioned that since they both seemed to benefit, no one was hurt and no one knew about it that the actions taken by them were in fact fine. However, the following question about the man having sexual intercourse with a frozen, dead chicken was extremely wrong to him and he even believed that people who did this should be punished. I suggested to him that I found it strange that he decided incest was okay but sex with a non-living animal was not. He seemed to review his answer in his head briefly, perhaps thinking “yeah, that is strange. Since I would usually think incest to be wrong in all accounts” but, he stuck with his idea that the action was “necrophilia and bestiality!”

I’ve always thought Ryan to be very morally mind-set. I knew he would have strong opinions coming into the game but, I was still very surprised that he found things I thought were the most offensive to be the least offensive. I agree with the analysis at the end, that it wasn’t clear what his moral mind-set was because he believed that actions that were safe and private were okay but certain actions, though stated as such, were wrong.

Overall, a very interesting experience I would love to try with more friends and perhaps some family.