Fetch

I got talking to Ikkyu Sojun the other day. At first I was a little confused by his strict nature, until I realized that what I mistook for a strong personal code of conduct was simply a very intense joy in being here. It's very intimidating to be in the presence of someone who doesn't think about anything. I offered him a beer and he accepted. I was a little surprised until he said, "I'm not breaking any precepts, this is your hallucination."

And with that I was struck dumb. I sat for a moment considering the idea of living words. Words that do not remain on the page, but instead cause a mild explosion of images, sounds and emotions in your imagination. You can no longer feel the book in your hand nor the pillow under your head. Time is a consideration for others and space is infinite. That's a good book.

Ikkyu sat quietly while I reflected on this, drinking his beer. I snapped out of my reverie and apologized for leaving him alone, like that.
"I wanted to ask you about Mori.", I said, "I wanted to ask you about love."
He looked at me for a long time and answered, "Love is a topic I know nothing about. It's neither here nor there. It doesn't come and never goes."
"But you loved her?"
"Thank you for the beer."

I thought about the love I have for my friends and my family. I thought about everything I have ever said that I loved. A good cup of coffee, hot summer days in the park, hot summer nights at the pub, rolling around with a pretty girl and driving a nice, fast car. I realized that 'Love' is a dead word, unless you're feeling it, unless you've forgotten where you are, what time it is and don't give a shit what anyone thinks about it. It's not a dog you can teach to fetch, it is a dog fetching.

I grabbed my jacket and followed Ikkyu out. He can move fast for a guy who's been dead for 500 years. I laughed to myself as I thought about how much I love the feeling of 'going out.'