This past week, I ended up accompanying a friend to an estate sale up in The Heights. I enjoy estate sales, even though I almost never buy anything; right now, I’m getting rid of things, not bringing them in. But from aesthetics and history perspectives, they can still be fun time capsules to explore.

And I found a hell of a time capsule! A spiral-bound notebook from 1986. No name written on there, though, curiously, but the date was scribbled on the inside of the front cover. Math exercises fill out almost every page; not sure what type since that the subject gives me a rollicking case of the anxiety spirals. What piqued my interest was some of the prose scribblings in the back.

It combines the rhythms and free expression of the Beats with the thesaurus fetish of a freshman creative writing major for a bizarre, but certainly unique, read.

I asked the people running the estate sale about the notebook. None of them had any idea whose it may have been. They didn’t recognize the handwriting at all, and said I could go ahead and have it for free. In the end, I only tore out the page of interest. It’s transcribed here for preservation’s sake. Took a while, too, since the handwriting is both light and terrible and the pages browned a little with both coffee and age. I did my best, though, and if the author of this experiment wants to take credit or discuss their thoughts while writing this, I’m certainly open to hearing.

***

An individual in my acquaintance informed me that I would find myself overwhelmed by society, owing to my questionable cognitive fortitude. However, she herself looked equal to or less than the very qualities she accused me of holding as she formed a perpendicular gesture with her hands and held it atop her countenance.

[Meredith’s Note: I’m assuming the author was trying to find the right spots for their writings, since bits are scratched out and rewritten elsewhere. I’ve preserved those crossouts.]

Time moves forward in a linear fashion and it will continue to move forward in a linear fashion. While obliged to follow the laws and strictures of the community in which I live, I find myself with the desire to flee; they are too restrictive in my quest for enjoyment. Intellectual pursuits may fortify the mind, but at the cost of neglecting to strengthen the integrity of the heart and the soul. The world offers many stimulants for the ocular cavity, and I see no negatives with piquing my curiosity by taking alternate routes. After all, one cannot perceive a destination without pursuing a destination, as one cannot exude an agreeably upbeat personality without first nurturing an inner personal satisfaction.

Yea, athletes find gratification in the physicality of their performances.
Yea, musicians find gratification in the creation of their performances (and the fiscal compensation).
In everything, the glory of precious metal hoarding.
Those who seek novel solutions set the precedent for new ideas.

These humid continental climes continue to experience drops in temperature, I’m told. Currently I’m dressed for warmth, though one’s tolerance will no doubt decreases over time. However, the weathermen disagree, providing the latest Doppler data as proof.

Our excursion to the frozen pond was cut short by a melt, though we opted to take a dip in it later in the day. I feel energized and inspired. And yourself? It is an enjoyable state of being, full of endless excitement.

Yea, athletes find gratifi

One day, a woman inquired if I would loan her a little money to keep her car going. She required a restart out of town. I agreed wholeheartedly, and realized that transferring to a new atmosphere would likely prove beneficial to me as well. I think that strategy works for everyone.

Time moves forward in a linear fashion and it will continue to move forward in a linear fashion. While obliged to follow the laws and strictures of the community in which I live, I find myself with the desire to flee; they are too restrictive in my quest for enjoyment. Intellectual pursuits may fortify the mind, but at the cost of neglecting to strengthen the integrity of the heart and the soul. The world offers many stimulants for the ocular cavity, and I see no negatives with piquing my curiosity by taking alternate routes. After all, one cannot perceive a destination without pursuing a destination, as one cannot exude an agreeably upbeat personality without first nurturing an inner personal satisfaction.

Yea, athletes find gratification in the physicality of their performances.
Yea, musicians find gratification in the creation of their performances (and the fiscal compensation).
In everything, the glory of precious metal hoarding.
Those who seek novel solutions set the precedent for new ideas.

In everything, the glory of precious metal hoarding.
Those who seek novel solutions set the precedent for new ideas.

——-

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