such is the impermanence of life

On my way to watching Katita Waldo teach a master class, I think I ran over a squirrel. It made me sad, for the squirrel could not have known better, nor could I swerve out of the way. It is a very unfortunate circumstance, and now I am burdened with this knowledge. In order to distance ourselves from other animals, it’s typical for us to not ascribe to animals the social traits which we suppose are wholly human in nature — that they might have a family, for instance. Forgive me, squirrel relatives. That I could turn back time.

On an unrelated note, my sister said she was able to get me the present on my birthday wish list. I’m giddy and listless with anticipation.

The return flight

A Chinese man and a white woman in the airport lobby
In SD, that city by the sea,
On their way to San Jose, like me,
A quarter-size violin at their feet,
Chatting of movies and Suzuki
Recitals, busily checking their Blackberries,
While their sons, about five and three,
The younger watching the older quietly
Playing Nintendo DS; and me –
Across the aisle – they do not see,
A figurant in their biographies.
A dream fulfilled by others, at least,
Gives me hope to keep living.

Me and Emi D

“Faith” is a fine invention
For Gentlemen who see!
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency!

–Emily Dickinson

The difference between religion and science, as far as I can see, is summarized above. God might be so cruel to deny salvation to those who don’t believe, but science operates whether you believe it or not. Medicine will (or won’t) work even you don’t believe in it; same with gravity. And if God will save the faithless, then is there need for faith?