I love that you added a playlist to this and gave it audio ambiance. I have a running 'Baron's Playlist' featuring several of the musical gems you use on Insta. I've tucked my own into it as well.
I think it's all about perspective... the coffee, and the pizza. When you're a kid, your sphere of known reality is marble-sized. Swimming pools, and cheese pizza, and bicycles are almost everything in relation to the measure of that marble. The more you grow, the more you see through your heart, and head, and eyes, and the swimming pool becomes the ocean, the cheese pizza becomes a multi-course meal served on fine china with linens and a string quartet. The bicycle becomes a machine with four tires and good speakers that flies along the road. The marble has grown as big as the whole wide world, and so has the view.
Years on from that, perhaps simplicity returns in another way as our perspectives have expanded enough that we see ourselves minuscule in the vastness of the universe. The ocean reduces to a little pond down the lane where we stroll to feed the ducks. A warm cup of tea is plenty satisfactory, and the wheels have transformed into a park bench or a café table where we sit with a friend to remember the moments that stand out most.
Moments like that cup of coffee in San Diego, on a foggy morning, with love and pride stirred into it like the sugar and cream of life. The best cup of coffee ever.
Perhaps it isn't the color that changes so much in our view as the relativity of the size of our world and our experience in it that evolves with time. Perhaps it's both, or neither, but it's an interesting point to explore. I'll be thinking about it a while.
I think “In Relation To” would be such a terrific book title. Your comment reminds me of a scene from an obscure 90s movie with John Belushi and Michael Caine called “Mr. Destiny.” It’s kind of a knock-off of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but the John Belushi character likes to make these model cars and later in the movie when all the destiny magic happens, he winds up owning all these cars in real life along with an enormous mansion. At first, he loves it, but then he starts to make model cars again (even though he owns all these cars) and his wife asks him why and for some reason he, “just likes them better this way.” I don’t know if the writers even meant for that to be a profound moment, but that moment reminds me of this. Thanks for you comment :)
I've seen that movie. It was good! He goes back to his original life in the end, I think, realizing how much he had to begin with. Sometimes the grass we're standing in is as green as it gets.
I've read, written, and published a lot of books. Small phrases often catch in my mind and I think, 'that would be a good chapter title', or occasionally, 'that would be a good book title'. 'In relation to' would be enough of a title to make me pick the book up and read the blurb. Good call. 😁
Keep writing. I'm looking forward to what's yet to come.
I was wondering if there is any way to reverse that. Would increased exposure to nature and decreased time around gadgets help? They say we can still retain our childlike spirit and wonder if we choose to hold onto it and keep looking at the world from its lens, but I wonder if that is also possible literally.
One of the most beautiful things I’ve read in such a long time: “where chaos hasn’t bumped you into place yet”
Much like your perfect cup of coffee, this catapulted me back to the beach in Santa Barbara, phosphorescence glowing, the buzz wearing off, the smell of salty tears and ocean mixing. The simplicity in not knowing a key memory is being seared on the brain.
I absolutely love this exploration of memories, and the power the mind has over them. The bias that you can place on a cup of coffee because of how proud you were of your friend, the value you can nominate to a cheese pizza as a kid, or take away as an adult. I’ve just received his book all the way in Melbourne, Australia and I can’t wait to read it.
“It’s only when you know better that you start to stop thinking your honesty is enough…”
As a musician preparing for college, this hits hard. I used to think that playing something the way I felt like it and enjoying myself was simply enough, and boy was I surprised when I realized there’s much more preparation and nuance required for a complex and deeply satisfying performance…
- NOT that it’s bad to enjoy yourself when creating without overthinking, but I appreciate your sharing this, as I think it’s crucial to remember that we mustn’t forget our inner souls, the honest expressions, and self belief in our creation.
I'm twenty-two now, and this makes me feel a hell of a lot better about not knowing what I'm doing with my life. So thank you for sharing—you reminded me to appreciate the uncertainty of the now instead of waiting for life to start when I'm older. My best cup of coffee was at Hole in the Wall Bagels at 5 am just outside my college campus, and that's okay because that was my world and this coffee was the center of it.
This was truly a "wait for it" read (and no skipping ahead!), as your description of San Diego/The Cup had some kind of familiarity, with me as a native San Diegan. The Cup, adjacent to the Wisconsin Market in Oceanside, CA, (north San Diego county) still feels exactly as you described it! Thank you for the nostalgic feels, and the opportunity to examine the "why", your writing creates. :-)
What a proustian vibe I got by reading this. He got his madeleine, you got your coffee, or, even better, what you think you remember of that moment.
The part about being proud of your friend “coming back” where he belongs is so poetically thought and yet effortlessly put. Thanks for sharing these pieces.
It was such a nice experience to listen to the music you picked While reading your Thank you so much. It was the best opener for us Sunday morning. I miss my dumb 22 year old self as well. Thanks for reminding me this.
As a current twenty two year old who was just bumped by the chaos of it all, this was such a comforting reminder that it’s a phase I should embrace and hopefully will be able to look back on with nostalgia as you and others have mentioned. There is so much fear in this age where not having it all figured out feels very “end of the world-y.” - I’m going to another 22 year old friends wedding this week, so maybe I’ll bask in the dancing and the feeling of simply existing for now.
I love that you added a playlist to this and gave it audio ambiance. I have a running 'Baron's Playlist' featuring several of the musical gems you use on Insta. I've tucked my own into it as well.
I think it's all about perspective... the coffee, and the pizza. When you're a kid, your sphere of known reality is marble-sized. Swimming pools, and cheese pizza, and bicycles are almost everything in relation to the measure of that marble. The more you grow, the more you see through your heart, and head, and eyes, and the swimming pool becomes the ocean, the cheese pizza becomes a multi-course meal served on fine china with linens and a string quartet. The bicycle becomes a machine with four tires and good speakers that flies along the road. The marble has grown as big as the whole wide world, and so has the view.
Years on from that, perhaps simplicity returns in another way as our perspectives have expanded enough that we see ourselves minuscule in the vastness of the universe. The ocean reduces to a little pond down the lane where we stroll to feed the ducks. A warm cup of tea is plenty satisfactory, and the wheels have transformed into a park bench or a café table where we sit with a friend to remember the moments that stand out most.
Moments like that cup of coffee in San Diego, on a foggy morning, with love and pride stirred into it like the sugar and cream of life. The best cup of coffee ever.
Perhaps it isn't the color that changes so much in our view as the relativity of the size of our world and our experience in it that evolves with time. Perhaps it's both, or neither, but it's an interesting point to explore. I'll be thinking about it a while.
Thank you.
I think “In Relation To” would be such a terrific book title. Your comment reminds me of a scene from an obscure 90s movie with John Belushi and Michael Caine called “Mr. Destiny.” It’s kind of a knock-off of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but the John Belushi character likes to make these model cars and later in the movie when all the destiny magic happens, he winds up owning all these cars in real life along with an enormous mansion. At first, he loves it, but then he starts to make model cars again (even though he owns all these cars) and his wife asks him why and for some reason he, “just likes them better this way.” I don’t know if the writers even meant for that to be a profound moment, but that moment reminds me of this. Thanks for you comment :)
I've seen that movie. It was good! He goes back to his original life in the end, I think, realizing how much he had to begin with. Sometimes the grass we're standing in is as green as it gets.
I've read, written, and published a lot of books. Small phrases often catch in my mind and I think, 'that would be a good chapter title', or occasionally, 'that would be a good book title'. 'In relation to' would be enough of a title to make me pick the book up and read the blurb. Good call. 😁
Keep writing. I'm looking forward to what's yet to come.
The comment about your eyes becoming more yellow is fascinating. I never knew that and now I’d quite like for that to stop happening.
I was wondering if there is any way to reverse that. Would increased exposure to nature and decreased time around gadgets help? They say we can still retain our childlike spirit and wonder if we choose to hold onto it and keep looking at the world from its lens, but I wonder if that is also possible literally.
I like that idea a lot. No idea if that’s possible but I’d love to see people try.
Well, I know I’m definitely going to try.
'but so much needs to be shed to see the world that way again' painfully real
Unselfish pride in someone else’s dreams coming true, and how it inspired your experience, is such a breath of fresh air. Keep writing these.
As a fellow INFP, I love to sink into nostalgia. Even the most bizzare memories. Hehe
Perhaps slightly irrelevant, but are you aware of the jungian cognitive functions? :o
This made me tear up, my heart full of nostalgia for my old 20-year-old self. Thanks for sharing ❤️
I don't drink coffee, but the way you reminisced this memory gave me a first-hand taste. Thanks, Baron!
One of the most beautiful things I’ve read in such a long time: “where chaos hasn’t bumped you into place yet”
Much like your perfect cup of coffee, this catapulted me back to the beach in Santa Barbara, phosphorescence glowing, the buzz wearing off, the smell of salty tears and ocean mixing. The simplicity in not knowing a key memory is being seared on the brain.
I absolutely love this exploration of memories, and the power the mind has over them. The bias that you can place on a cup of coffee because of how proud you were of your friend, the value you can nominate to a cheese pizza as a kid, or take away as an adult. I’ve just received his book all the way in Melbourne, Australia and I can’t wait to read it.
Good lord, I’m profoundly touched you ordered it all the way to Melbs… I know how much that might have cost. Much gratitude and so much more :)
I realize it may not be as great as The Cup, but I hope the cappuccino while holding the physical copy of your book is one you enjoyed.
“It’s only when you know better that you start to stop thinking your honesty is enough…”
As a musician preparing for college, this hits hard. I used to think that playing something the way I felt like it and enjoying myself was simply enough, and boy was I surprised when I realized there’s much more preparation and nuance required for a complex and deeply satisfying performance…
- NOT that it’s bad to enjoy yourself when creating without overthinking, but I appreciate your sharing this, as I think it’s crucial to remember that we mustn’t forget our inner souls, the honest expressions, and self belief in our creation.
I'm twenty-two now, and this makes me feel a hell of a lot better about not knowing what I'm doing with my life. So thank you for sharing—you reminded me to appreciate the uncertainty of the now instead of waiting for life to start when I'm older. My best cup of coffee was at Hole in the Wall Bagels at 5 am just outside my college campus, and that's okay because that was my world and this coffee was the center of it.
This was truly a "wait for it" read (and no skipping ahead!), as your description of San Diego/The Cup had some kind of familiarity, with me as a native San Diegan. The Cup, adjacent to the Wisconsin Market in Oceanside, CA, (north San Diego county) still feels exactly as you described it! Thank you for the nostalgic feels, and the opportunity to examine the "why", your writing creates. :-)
What a proustian vibe I got by reading this. He got his madeleine, you got your coffee, or, even better, what you think you remember of that moment.
The part about being proud of your friend “coming back” where he belongs is so poetically thought and yet effortlessly put. Thanks for sharing these pieces.
It was such a nice experience to listen to the music you picked While reading your Thank you so much. It was the best opener for us Sunday morning. I miss my dumb 22 year old self as well. Thanks for reminding me this.
As a current twenty two year old who was just bumped by the chaos of it all, this was such a comforting reminder that it’s a phase I should embrace and hopefully will be able to look back on with nostalgia as you and others have mentioned. There is so much fear in this age where not having it all figured out feels very “end of the world-y.” - I’m going to another 22 year old friends wedding this week, so maybe I’ll bask in the dancing and the feeling of simply existing for now.