Ode to Narcissism

This is what I like best.

Goodmorning.

For the sake of closure, I am just gonna tell you that I decided not to blog about work.  It’s just work.  I’m mad, and disappointed, and unhappy, but it’s just work.  There are more important things to share.  I’m not going to waste time complaining about it here.  This is my space to share, and I’m going to share something worth sharing.

I went with my friend to a Universalist Unitarian service yesterday.  I loved it - she didn’t.  Well, love is a strong word.  I liked the people.  A lot.  Especially this old white-haired guy who you know was some bad-ass rebel activist in the 1960’s, listening to fucking hippy music and smoking weed.  He got up to talk about this group session thing they tried out (did I forget to mention they have no “minister” in the Summer, and the members just basically meet up on Sundays and sing and discuss shit?  Well, yeah.  There you go).  Anyway, he got up there and started talking about the group sessions, and one of the first things out of his mouth was, “You all know how anti-establishment I am.  I did not want to do the group meetings.”  He teared up a little talking about how much he learned about each person in his group, and how connecting with other people through diverse and open dialogue is what it’s all about… just beautiful.  I am not a convert (I don’t even know if you can technically “convert” to UU), but I enjoyed the atmosphere.  And for those who don’t know - UU is basically a melding of a bunch of different ideas from a bunch of different religions.  Its focus is on communication and connectivity between people, not so much the mythical and blood-soaked religious stuff.  They cull out the good ideas… they save the baby, and throw out the dirty bath water.  There is no real structure.  Just dialogue.

My friend didn’t enjoy it as much as I did.  After the UU service, she took me to her church - The Church of Religious Science.  And I gotta admit… her Reverend (a woman) said some amazing things, and I left there feeling uplifted and more human and compassionate and just overall well. 

These churches aren’t about “God” in the traditional sense - there are bits of that in there, but no - I am anti-religion, anti-establishment, anti-anything that represses and is negative.  They are churches which promote open dialogue, and connecting with others, and connecting with yourself, and focusing on the positives… all good things.  I am still partial to the UU church, just for the record.  And the UU building is lovely.  A little old red clay building right by the Mission Inn and the big Catholic church in Mission Inn Avenue.  It’s smaller by far than the others, but it has so much character, you notice it more.  Plus, they have this sign in the front where they always put quirky little messages, like “Communication is key” and shit like that.  Beautiful little place.

Oh, and I also shopped.  A lot. 

Things are progressing well with the new guy.  We are so different… and maybe that will be our downfall, if we have a downfall.  But for the time being, it is refreshing having my idea of what a certain type of person is blown to shit.  It’s nice to be wrong sometimes.  It really is.

I leave for San Francisco on Friday.  The show at the Fillmore is Saturday, then that festival on Sunday to see Jack Johnson, then home by Monday.  I am supposed to meet up with Mikey to have lunch in the city at some point.  We’ll see if that happens.

Alright.  I have to do some work.  Be back soon - I hope.