May 25, 2016 (Tyler\’s 24th!)
As I contemplate Oliver 3 floating in his tank — and my wildest son\’s 24th birthday (with his genes he\’ll always be leaping out of the tank) — my thoughts again turn to being part of a think tank — where I can sit on my ass, or, as in Oliver\’s case, just float…and think…
Oliver 1 and Oliver 2 were both very active goldfish (like Son Tyler). So while Oliver 1 stayed with us for close to 5 years, Oliver 2 did a toilet dive around 6 months…so I\’m not so sure that activity is the key dynamic for longevity…and I feel like I\’ve been active plenty long enough in this life. But unlike his/her predecessors, Oliver 3 just floats in the tank all day long — only moving to receive food (hence the names of our 3 goldfish who have always \’wanted more\’).
I wonder how Ollie\’s thoughts parallel my own? Are we two lost souls swimming in our respective fish bowls?? Is Ollie also constantly trying to figure out what the hell we are doing here???
Whatever the case, I am envious of Oliver 3\’s floating stasis — a sensation that I experience before falling asleep, during naps, and, when I re-awaken each morning to from my time spent in the spirit world. I wouldn\’t mind extending this state of being for eternity…just floating and thinking…
Of course my thoughts would always hover around how we homo sapiens can harmoniously co-exist (with some time spent on trying to create a hit song). So my thought soup ruminations would be sociological: from politics; to education; to sports; to the arts; to occupations; to, well, living meaningfully.
I had heard some time ago that Arnold (pronounced \’Aah nald\’) was going to form a tank — but I doubt very much that I would want to float with him (unless he still likes his cigars and tequila). Recently I have learned that a Los Angeles billionaire is forming a tank also — with some real \”duds\” being invited to join. These \”duds\” all have money and, of course, names — but they have never been outside the American Sinking Tank. Nonetheless, I have asked my students should they bump into him to let him know that I am available. I would love to have a patron saint like the artists of old…someone to sponsor me — just to create — or, to think…
Lest anyone take umbrage that I referred to some social titans as \”duds,\” I did so because they are so American, and by definition, isolated and undereducated from the world. By now anyone who has seen beyond the veil of American tunnel vision and provincialism (the \’box\’ most Americans are trapped in) must realize that most American thinking is invested in maximizing profits at the expense of-just-about-everyone and not, for improving the quality of life for the many.
Every think tank going must be dealing with the Trump Thang — but I\’d still like to know who killed Anthony Scalia (and why) and why American pundits and entertainment critics are riding my man Trevor Noah so hard?! Even Jon Stewart got 2 years to get his Daily Show rolling.
So while Ollie 3 and I may be trapped in our respective tanks, I, at least, have had some time swimming outside of it — in many different parts of the human ocean, and, would welcome floating in a think tank that generates a wave of new ideas…