Top Five Conversations

I had lunch with Joe & Rachel today at Pataya. Two of my favorite alumni, who *are* friends.

It was very chill. Very enjoyable. At the end Joe made a meta-conversational observation. Something along the lines of how he would've liked to talk about a bunch of other things with us. I couldn't have agreed more.

Some people, some moments seem just perfect for *holding* ideas together. Good With-ness.

He juxtaposed this to the (far too common) sensation of being five minutes into a conversation with someone and thinking.

How long can this possibly go on?

So I tried to get him (unsuccessfully) to name the top five conversations we should've had.

And so I was thinking as I was mixing supper together.

What would be my top five conversations i would've liked to have today?

Kind of a regret-modified-by-hopefulness-and-honest-reflection:

1. I'd love to have engaged Lynn (my partner) about whatever she's thinking about. She's in Chicagoland observing a literacy center. But her conversations about literacy are never *academic*. they're always rooted in her passionate interest in developing people -- integrating learning and living -- and finding new vocabularies that help her / us / them grow.

2. A character arc conversation with Gary. We're revising a screenplay and I love the process of LIVING WITH characters...coming to know them gradually -- as you invent them.

3. Having either of my parents tell me their entire life story. Long form. While taking long walks by big bodies of water.

4. Sitting in a booth in Josephs, my favorite Canton bar swapping stories with some of my storytelling friends.

5. Talking about theology and anthropology and psychology all dancing around the idea of *hospitality* with a small group of people who care as much about the topics as I do. I think you know who you are....

I'm glad for the conversations I had.

I'm glad for the with-ness that's sewn my whole life together thus far.

peace~