Well, I did it! I finally joined the cadre of progressive Los Angelinos actively seeking greater communal participation. I am pushing (though not really believing until I sent the first email) for people to join me in a collective struggle towards something. I am starting a book club.
Who cares? Only I am aware of the cognitive dissonance it took for me to be pursuing things like this. Jonathan Frey starts a book club? It’s such a strange thing for me to do, though no one should bother to connect the dots as to why. I don’t do this sort of shit. “Who needs some dumb book club?” says former me. But current me, transformed into someone consciously seeking things like groups and the companionship of strangers, says, “Wouldn’t that be a great way to explore something new with others?!” Huh?
It’s aging. It has to be. When something that was an understood notion just evaporates and is trampled over, it’s just… I’m looking forward to it! What are we going to pick??? Will other people actually say yes (!) and join me in a read-a-thon? This is dumb to analyze so much. I’ve had 2 vodkas tonight and I think I’m working myself up to the point of patting myself on the back for trying something new. I think I’m going to push for Infinite Jest. I know it’s a motherfucker, but that’s exactly why I want others onboard! Let’s take this bear on together! Let’s encourage each other to push through all of the footnotes… and then discuss? And, how often?…
Technically, I still need to send out the email to officially invite everyone, but it’s out there in the ether… Jonathan wants to start a book club. It’s yet another one of my mini breakthroughs during the “pause”… like working out in the middle of my living room. It’s awkward, but it’s possible amidst the current limitations we live under… thereby nixing a lot of the usual over-analysis. You either do stuff or you don’t – straight talk for anytime seemingly – but that cold of reality in a world of social distancing is much starker (and CLEARER). Literally, you either do shit, or you don’t. The emphasis is placed on YOU, as little else in this (isolated) world is truly going to hold you accountable.
This one wasn’t funny. Maybe that’s me turning over a new leaf too... Straight Talk Express! Dorks.
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