Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Thursday, June 14, 2007
"Without thoughts of progress"
Privileged Westerners like yours truly have the luxury of leisure time. Perhaps no better indictment of “civilization” exists than the fact that so few of us indulge in what Bukowski calls “doing nothing at all for great periods.”
Charles Bukowski sez: “Pace is the essence. Without stopping entirely and doing nothing at all for great periods, you’re gonna lose everything ... there has to be great pauses between highs, where you do nothing at all ... How many people do this in modern society? Very few. That’s why they’re all totally mad, frustrated, angry, and hateful ... So, yeah, leisure. And I don’t mean having profound thoughts. I mean having no thoughts at all. Without thoughts of progress, without any self-thoughts of trying to further yourself ... It’s beautiful.”
Beautiful for me is to sit on my fire escape (third floor, facing the back) with a small AM radio and listen to the Yankee game.
What’s beautiful for you?
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Those of you who visited the comments section yesterday learned that JOS (the highest ranking Expendable in terms of seniority) is in the midst of a family crisis. JOS is the “James O’Shea” quoted in this article. Anyone interested in making a donation to help keep the search going, can send money here:
Kathy Garrigan Volunteer Fund
Community Bank of Oak Park-River Forest
1001 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301
Attn: Sean Olis
(Also, please spread the word and/or post this info on your blog or website.)
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
