At this point it is important to pause and take note of the incident because it could easily because of its insignificance be forgotten. And I advise you dear reader to always do that.
I will now tell you of my first "Aha" moment which happened when I was a young woman in my twenties on a foggy evening in London England. I had just come back to England after an exciting six month's tour in Europe with a friend and had come back alone to find work as I was broke. I was walking down Devonshire High street on my way to my flat after a long day's work in a local dress shop, carrying a bag with a green pepper a tomato and onion bought from a French speaking street vendor and was looking forward to my first evening meal alone when this thought struck me-
"No one knows I am here here in London. There is no chance that I can bump into anyone I know. I am a complete stranger alone in this huge city." I felt a big thrill running down my spine and recognized something I didn't know I desired - to be alone in a foreign city with no possibility of bumping into someone I knew. I stopped and said to myself "Laurie this is something you have always wanted ! Never forget this wonderful moment." And I have never forgotten that moment
The next pivotal moment happened when I was a mature woman.I was embarking on a new adventure as an artist in the art world. To accommodate this adventure and to support it I worked night duty as a nurse to free the hours in daytime. Every morning at seven thirty on my way home to sleep I stopped at a local cafe for breakfast. This cafe was a typical restaurant for working people- unpretentious with vinyl booths and a long counter with high stools-a decor that hadn't changed since the nineteen twenties. The cafe called "Mars cafe" had a reputation with the trendier population who on the weekends would sometimes make a point of breakfasting there- the food was basic and good -and brag about slumming it. The regular clients though were mostly labourers on their way to work or single men who lived in local rooming houses. You could see they were regulars as they never had to give their orders. Obviously the waitresses who looked very experienced, tough and had an air of no nonsense about them knew them well and just brought them their food as soon as they arrived. It was a nostalgic example of cafes of the twenties-not gentrified and it suited me. Every morning I ordered the same breakfast; two eggs over easy, two rashers of bacon,toast and coffee. One morning I came as usual in my uniform,tired as usual, sat down wearily in my usual booth and prepared to order. The waitress, a mature woman with dyed blond hair, took her pencil from behind her ear nodded at me and said "two eggs over easy, two rashers of bacon, toast and coffee and swayed back to the counter with my order. I smiled to myself and said "Baby you have arrived" I was a regular too.
'Lately I have taken up an interest in the local jazz scene and have spent several evenings in a lounge that features jazz on specific nights. I usually go with a friend and through him have been introduced to one of the singers and her accompanist on the guitar. I like their music very much and have seen them several times. Last week I knew they were performing again and went alone. It takes -for me-some nerve to go into a bar alone. This evening I was late, the entertainment had already started and I had to brave the jazz enthusiasts as I walked by them all to an empty seat. I ordered a drink as unobtrusively as I could and sank back in my chair hoping to be unnoticed. At this moment the singer who was sitting on a high stool performing turned towards me and smiled and waved. I waved back trying to look casual but deep inside of me was the AHA moment saying jubilantly "Baby You have arrived."
Another gestalt moment brought to you by my mother. Aha!
ReplyDeletethank you-you are right -a "gestalt " moment by me I did not think of it that way
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