TIRED and looking for a PLACE to address some basic needs – SLAKE my thirst, fill my belly – I land in a small restaurant in a glitzy shopping mall. These places that I would not consider at home, become possible perhaps even attractive when traveling. I have no trouble deciding on a bowl of ramen, noodles and broth sound comforting. A man approaches me and asks if he could help me – befuddled I say no, and then realized too late that he worked there. I BLAME my misunderstanding on the fact that he is dressed in ordinary clothes, nothing indicating his status. Fortunately, he takes no offense and returns to take my order. Relief that I will soon have a bowl of deliciousness in front of me, I allow my mind to turn off for a moment, and slump ever so slightly in my chair. I rest my chin in my hand, and look without seeing, staring at my reflection in the GLAZE coating on the table top.

Georg’ann

I felt the push and pull, the way it is when one becomes part of a CROWD. Hard to TEASE out individual from collective energy, we all are swept up. Bodies, voices in unison. No BLAME in falling off the spiritual PLANE for a bit in the midst of the game as we boo the refs and the pep crew jeers the other team. These final minutes of the championship game are too tense. Later there will be no memory, it will all be a GLAZE. No conscious thought functions in such a surge of adrenaline.

Heather