I’ve made the
mistake of getting into a habit. I'm never being comfortable without carrying a
book. To make matters worse, I often choose to carry tomes around. Of late, I carry around with me The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft. It’s probably the
second largest book I own. I’ve gotten into my head that I
should carry it around in the event that I have a lack of something to
do. Idleness is something I’m constantly trying to avoid.
Other large
anthologies fill my bags. The straps cut into my neck and shoulders—I was
carrying around Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination and The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor. Very few of these are
actual schoolbooks—I usually keep a digital copy of those. The books are often
ones that—I’m usually certain upon leaving home—I know definitely that I will
not have time to read. Why then, do I insist on bringing as many as I can with
me? In addition, I carry a multitude of sketchbooks—probably around five at a
time. While moving, I’ve noticed that boxes carrying books are the greatest
burden. The concentrated weight in even a small volume seems to eclipse that of
entire pieces of furniture.
Besides books, I
carry apple cider vinegar drinks with me everyday. Sometimes, I carry them in
my coat pocket—which is likely to result in a strange shape and contour of my clothes. Sometime I carry
small bags of raw snacks. Both of these things are to regulate my blood sugar. Carrying
these things is uncomfortable, especially when I add the weight of my drawing
tools—the digital ones.
These are only the physical books I carry with me—there are plenty of downloaded audiobooks on my phone. I listen to them on walks.
Digital or not, there seems to be a weight—independent from a physical one. A weight of words that seems to factor in somewhere.
Hey Romey,
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you. I don't know what it's like to be in your position, carrying unnecessary baggage. I always take with me the things I absolutely need: my credit card, drivers license, textbooks, homework, and keys. It’s not that I mind the extra weight on my shoulder; I just feel safer knowing everything I value is safe at home.
You say it’s uncomfortable carrying so many items on your back and inside your coat, however it seems as if it would be much more distressing if you left all of your processions else where. What if you were only able to carry one items and it couldn’t be your books?
Romey,
ReplyDeleteYou're very eloquent. I also see where you are coming from. It's an interesting problem you face yourself with. I used to be really interested in Japanese when I was younger. I wanted to learn how to speak, and learn Japanese so when I went to Guatemala, and Mexico I carried this huge book about learning Japanese around. The book was big, and my eleven year old self was small. I carried that dumb weight around for eight months to probably two dozen cities, yet never opening it. I think that cured me, at least partially of carrying unneeded weight around. I still often brings with me on trips I know I may never read, but at least I have them.
Perhaps you could alternate days between your sketch books and your big books. It's an idea. Another thing I thought was interesting was that you mentioned your apple cider vinegar drink. I noticed it on your desk the other day, and I wondered what medical was it was for you to possess such a thing. Sometimes you ask and I guess you really do receive. You describe how uncomfortable is to carry them in, and in turn give us as the reader a glimpse into how obnoxious, it is to have to be on top of our blood sugar all the time. You describe the physical, but pierce the veil on the physiological well. Thanks for your post!