collecting stones
dominique gonzalez-foerster, bahia desorientada, 2005, video

my friend raised a disturbing question yesterday.

i told him about tropicalia, how i hadn't yet had a chance to totally understand where their joy was coming from, being as most of the participants, artists and consumers alike, managed to work together and produce an amazing, colorful movement despite belonging to different backgrounds.

we watched the whipped cream, candy cane and chocolate syrup in my coffee deflate and sink into liquid, and then he said, "masaya siguro maging latin."

if the world had turned to a red rock around us, and the ground beneath my feet crumbled to sharp, massive boulders, freeing my body to fall into infinity, i wouldn't have noticed. i would have pegged myself on his answer to that question. as calmly as i could i opened my mouth.

"i had never in my life wished i were someone else," i said. "why do you say that?"

we agreed that there are elements of the spanish in our heritage, but i had to listen to him because he hadn't yet spent as much time as i have in this city. "if you think of it, filipinos are still extremely asian. if you go to concerts, they're enjoying themselves and they show it by standing still and watching. whereas the hispanics, they have no inhibitions with regards to their feelings."

i had to agree. i also had to break our conversation because we'd arrived at the end of my hourlong workbreak.

without saying anything, he reminded me that sometimes it's important to spend time just talking, even if issues come out. like everyone else, i hate unresolved issues. and already i'm rapidly collecting them before the 10th of the first month of the new year.

but this friend, me and another friend of ours are driving to new york city this weekend; there'll be more than enough time to talk. i can't wait!!! :-D  ¶ 1/10/2006 09:48:00 PM