“Hey Bill. Come look at this. I think I got one.” Laura gestures across the room to her fellow angel while rewinding the thought episode she just watched. “See? He’s whispering the trigger words to himself. It’s not very loud, but the words are there. And even though he smiled afterward, from the situational context his intent is clear.”
Pleased with the chance to debunk yet another of Laura’s great finds, Bill approached her desk. “You know we don’t accept triggering episodes where the Subject is laughing or smiling anymore. No exceptions for context.” Bill continued his lecture to the back of her head, as she stayed glued to the screen. “The Time Council came out with that major ATA revision last week. We want to be absolutely sure there’s real intent before taking action. You remember what happened with the Phil Simmons ATA episode.”
“Yes. Of course,” shaking her head. “Just horrible. But in that very same meeting last week one of the Council Members actually said the triggering words out loud during the meeting … and without smiling, leaving no ambiguity. So a fellow Council Member obliged, and the meeting itself never really happened. And therefore the revision never happened. At least that’s what Clara told me.”
“Oh, Laura. Everyone but you knows that was a joke. As per Council decree, we are obligated to ignore any episodes now where the Subject appears to be kidding. Only intentional, unequivocally clear communication by way of speech or in writing can trigger an Angel Time Activation (ATA) intervention. Clara was just yanking your chain.”
“Yanking my chain? My oh my, sir. You’ve been scrolling through historical thought episodes again, haven’t you. Bill?? Helloooo! Are you listening to me?”
“Got it! See?” Looking into the viewer and pointing at Subject’s smile, Bill glowed with righteous triumph — a look he always gets when he wins a point. While his review of the thought episode did indeed reveal the triggering words that Laura was trying to turn into an ATA, he knew this one was not a winner. True … the Subject whispered ‘That’s two hours of our lives we’ll never get back.’ But then he also definitely smiled. As did Bill when he pronounced the peer review showstopper words: “No activation allowed.”
Laura shook her head. And she continued to do so as she walked home. She was not happy with this new rule. And anyway, she was pretty sure it was a non-negating ironic smile. The Subject did want those hours back. She could feel it in her gut.
I was about 10 when I first heard the words “bullet train.” The picture those words etched in my head sent a thrill of adventure pulsing throughout my body. And for the flash of a second I was on that train, racing through time and space. With nothing but possibility ahead of me. And not one bit of heavy baggage or transfers to worry about.
Just the idea of magnetic levitation and wheels that retract once the train picks up enough speed … well, it still sets this girl’s brain into a tizzy. The feeling of float-flying above ground. Something dreams are made of. Racing through the air at over 200 miles per hour. And they’re working on some now that can go even faster … well over 300 mph!
Over the years, I’ve felt utterly grounded by reality. And pretty much everything. Often way too slow to change tracks when needed. The bullet train is basically the opposite of me in speed, flexibility, and ability to defy gravity … and it can carry 100s of passengers. I can carry a Brita pitcher to a waiting glass and not spill any water. Usually.
So why am I thinking about a bullet train today? I just got my COVID vaccine. And I picture it racing through my body to activate warrior T-lymphocytes and antibodies. Like a bullet train. Or Superman, who was faster than a speeding bullet.
Just looked it up. Bullet speed can be 1800 mph. Far faster than a speeding bullet train for sure. And good ole Superman is faster than both of them. Plus he can carry at least as many people, since he could simply lift the bullet train up. And he can easily carry enough Brita pitchers for them all on top of that.
But what about the vaccine running through my body now? How fast does it go? Will it need to stop for any signals? And just how strong will it eventually make me in my fight against COVID micro-enemies? Will I leap tall buildings in a single bound? Or bend steel with just two fabulously strong fingers? Or simply sit in a restaurant and feel safe.
I really don’t know. But there is hope.
NOTE: I‘m actually just musing while waiting for my vaccine appointment day to get here. But there is indeed hope.
Just want my subscribers and anyone else dropping by to know that this seemingly endless stream of haikus are merely my way of documenting snippets of thoughts and feelings while mostly staying inside my small apartment while mostly trying to stay mostly sane.
Wishing you all good health and as much sanity as life allows — both now and always. 🙂
No need to worry.
Spiraling toward end days
Takes no thought at all.
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OK. A FEW THOUGHTS: With so much going on with COVID-19, it’s easy to forget that we also have critical environmental issues crying for attention. Ones that may make it easier for even more pandemics if we don’t find solutions. Ones we have no time for now.
I wish I had a solution to offer. I don’t.
But I do know it will take a united world and strong leadership willing to work together — and willing to move beyond personal agendas. The very same thing we so desperately need now. IMHO.
Out of My Head 