I've been trying to live more mindfully lately and to help, I thought it might be an interesting idea to document bits of memorable dialogue that I've absorbed from the past week through conversations that I've shared with different people- strangers and friends, people from all walks of life. Anyway I quite like how this came together and sort of wrote itself. I think the very process of putting words down and reading through them, offers a whole new dimension to everyday life and everyday living...
Floating Words #1
I miss you, but I can't come back to Tooting because I know if I do, I'll never go back. That dog was on LSD! I could feel its teeth gnawing on my face. I shouldn't have pushed her, not with her ankle! I think we should wait here till the rain stops. Can you all follow me, the fire alarm has just gone off. I set fire to the rain! And she just pushed in front of me, as though I wasn't even there. I told you it was the queue for Oxfam books! It was about a man with quadriplegia and he fell in love with this woman, and even though it was secular, it was so Muslim. She told me that same day that I didn't get it, I couldn't list all the books on the best-seller list. My son loves wildlife, he once brought a snail home and we gave it lettuce and carrots. Would you be interested in paid work as a nanny? I've been looking for someone just like you. You've got that, but if you get this, I'm making you take it! So I see you've done a lot of work with a lot different charities. Thank you for being such a great team leader on the hike, the photo's were beautiful. We should plan the next one soon! My God, look at that spider's web suspended in air. You have to take a picture of that. It looks like its dotted with beads, because of those rain drops. I don't think I'm going to get married, it's not for me. I mean some people get married, some don't, what so wrong with that! And I came back feeling so depressed, I can't tell you. I'm content, you know, it just takes a good meal and I'm content. I like working in the library. I like books, I like the quiet.
My husband started up The Ecologist, when he was young, back before working in the environment was fashionable. That was so funny! Come with me to Egypt. It'll only be for a month and we can go expeditions out there while we're learning Arabic So what sort of person am I? I just need to start reading the Quran again. I expect for things to change, but I'm sinning constantly. We specialise in Nordic languages too, you know. The old ladies stole the multi-packs of chewing gum and I was like, seriously? I'm cooking my own Birthday dinner. Sisters, don't miss these ten days of Dhul Hijjah, you're never going to get them back! I just want to talk to my sister. Do you have any more interviews lined up? Do you want to go for tea? Well I'm sure they've both told you all about us, we're a small company, but we do well. She provided her three tiny daughters with lessons in Mandarin, it's invaluable, education and what it can do. And languages, languages are like portals into different universes. Oh she's so funny. She makes me laugh, she does. I feel suicidal, I don't think I should be on my own. They said they would repossess my house and I was like Daaaaaamn I just thought it was a bonus! It left its trails everywhere. And this lady, she couldn't speak English four months ago and now here she was emailing me. I couldn't believe it. It's these little things. Oh Barnes Village, beautiful! I just missed the bus by a whiskers. Have you got far to go? Tea time, computer off- now! We hire foreign language teachers from all over, we also have corporate clients like the BBC. She left university to help Dave and then I jumped on board and we've been working on the business for ten years now. You are do-main problem! I can't believe you didn't wait for me!
Do you still want the job, because they just called me to tell me that you've been successful. I work in construction, as an administrative assistant, but it's temporary. You're very accomplished for someone so young. I had a few friends who went there, when did you graduate? I worked in Diesel once, can you believe that? I've just come back from maternity leave and it's all changed. I'm going to throw a carrot at your head now. I can't believe you did that, you're dead! I felt betrayed. I just feel uncomfortable in North London. Can we just do something, can we go somewhere- in January. Let's go somewhere? Mind you, I'm only here on a visit, my husband and I decided to move to Italy a few years ago. Oh it's all changing, I remember in my day we would just have to speak to someone. I'm so glad you feel the same. I like talking about literature and politics and I don't like drama. Are you okay? Well try it out, if nothing else you could always write a short story about it! Good luck!
