This piece reminds me of my notorious career as an improvising professional clown all over the world. Where I gleefully intruded into people’s private worlds from outside and tried to touch their humanity and senses of humor. It was quite a life being an outlaw clown, trying to touch and connect people… but not “strange” at all .🤣❤️
Haha exactly. I remember seeing that movie in Paris: L'insoutenable legerete de l'etre. I always thought the definition of "insoutenable" as "unsustainable" changed things a bit.
Beautiful essay.Great title. I talk to strangers everywhere also. I enjoy that anonymous contact that lasts such a short time. It warms the heart and the soul. Thanks, Tommy.
While reading THE BEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF STRANGERS I thought wow, it has a stellar Vaudevillian theme and would make a super short film, given the times, Vaudeville humor is needed.
The 21st. Century is ripe for a Vaudevillian revamp and who is better than you, I don’t know! Peace, love and Vaudeville, LG
Strangers are always a possibility of a contrast, they are your new chance to no repeat your worn-out repertoire. Maybe in the next encounter, if you're luck enough, you'll be the stranger to yourself. Another great piece.
FWIW, I think them dice you roll with strangers are your version of playing craps against apathy because you know that strangers are "every bit as real as you are." (I am paraphrasing what Jonathan Franzen said about his friend, David Foster Wallace). Franzen called DFW's dice, "Molotov cocktails of bottomless empathy".
Brilliant piece! 🙏🙏🙏“Strangers owe us nothing, and when we engage with them, the slate is clean, or even better, there is no slate, just me in my human suit and them in theirs, both of us wandering through the mystery, taking the time to acknowledge each other, and say, "Yeah, me too."
I remember that movie 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. So I presumed, when I saw the title of this piece, that you were playing with that idea, and speaking instead of a lightness that (rather paradoxically)binds us more fully to the world.
And I was right! The whole article is about being nice and friendly and intimate with people - especially complete strangers. Of course, you'll never make it to the White House with that attitude!
By the way, I wouldn't mind going 'elbow to elbow with a gold-toothed senora'. Well, at least, for an intimate minute or two. Very enjoyable article, Tommy!
This piece reminds me of my notorious career as an improvising professional clown all over the world. Where I gleefully intruded into people’s private worlds from outside and tried to touch their humanity and senses of humor. It was quite a life being an outlaw clown, trying to touch and connect people… but not “strange” at all .🤣❤️
Charlie Chaplin
Paradise.
A version
I just love that title!
Always good to steal and make it your own at the same time.
Haha exactly. I remember seeing that movie in Paris: L'insoutenable legerete de l'etre. I always thought the definition of "insoutenable" as "unsustainable" changed things a bit.
I enjoyed your Narcissi post this morning, but I felt too much self-guilt to leave a comment. Lol.
Oh no lol
Beautiful essay.Great title. I talk to strangers everywhere also. I enjoy that anonymous contact that lasts such a short time. It warms the heart and the soul. Thanks, Tommy.
Mine too. it's a soul warmer
I love talking with strangers, too. Maybe a New York thing?
Might be.
There is nothing like the gentle and intelligent expression of an old vaquero.
So true. Violin player eyes, and I'm not saying that because I know my audience
Cool
While reading THE BEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF STRANGERS I thought wow, it has a stellar Vaudevillian theme and would make a super short film, given the times, Vaudeville humor is needed.
The 21st. Century is ripe for a Vaudevillian revamp and who is better than you, I don’t know! Peace, love and Vaudeville, LG
Strangers are always a possibility of a contrast, they are your new chance to no repeat your worn-out repertoire. Maybe in the next encounter, if you're luck enough, you'll be the stranger to yourself. Another great piece.
FWIW, I think them dice you roll with strangers are your version of playing craps against apathy because you know that strangers are "every bit as real as you are." (I am paraphrasing what Jonathan Franzen said about his friend, David Foster Wallace). Franzen called DFW's dice, "Molotov cocktails of bottomless empathy".
Old Franzen always showing off.
Brilliant piece! 🙏🙏🙏“Strangers owe us nothing, and when we engage with them, the slate is clean, or even better, there is no slate, just me in my human suit and them in theirs, both of us wandering through the mystery, taking the time to acknowledge each other, and say, "Yeah, me too."
I remember that movie 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. So I presumed, when I saw the title of this piece, that you were playing with that idea, and speaking instead of a lightness that (rather paradoxically)binds us more fully to the world.
And I was right! The whole article is about being nice and friendly and intimate with people - especially complete strangers. Of course, you'll never make it to the White House with that attitude!
By the way, I wouldn't mind going 'elbow to elbow with a gold-toothed senora'. Well, at least, for an intimate minute or two. Very enjoyable article, Tommy!