UTTHAI#01
My internet peoples! First off, sixteen seconds of an elephant I met yesterday. No big.
It’s been a few months. I’m sure at least one or two of you have been wondering, “Why hasn’t Unique Techniques released anything lately?” I could write a book about what I’ve been working on, but, really, who cares? There’s so much media being created every day, I’m sure the few of you who have been loyal to the interviews and videos I’ve uploaded since August 2011 have filled the void with GIFs of kittens, summer living, and instagramming food porn.
I’ve been in Phuket, Thailand for less than a week and I’ve already surprised myself several times. I’ve never traveled internationally before, and my oldest brother told me I would be blown away at just what I could muster up and DO. It took me nearly 30 hours to get here. Sleeplessness. Fear. Excitement. Smiles. Glares. Quizzical wonderment. Subtle head nods. Bows. Mantras…
Dogma is a monster. I’ve never thought of myself as a rigid person, but, since I’ve been here, I’ve quickly realized that I’ve lived my life as dogmatically as the religious zealots and Amuricuh-defending nationalists I shudder to be compared to.
Last night, at dinner, a gentleman from Tennessee came over to our table and asked if he could sit with us, and we all said, “Of course!” He was probably in his 50s and had a sweet southern accent that made me feel warm. As we got to chatting, he said something I couldn’t put into words any better: “Americans are lovely people, but they’re so into their beliefs that they’re afraid to live their lives.” I realized I’m as guilty of that as the crazies I claim to be nothing like.
The night before I left, I saw so many friends come out to wish me well, from all walks of my life. Friends I’ve known for years and friends I’ve just made in the last month. Friends who, if each wrote a paragraph about who I am, could honestly tell you more about myself than I could ever hope to. I was standing with two of my MPP brothers near the grill, and there was a slab of ribs simmering. Josh ate a small piece (for science), cut a chunk off for Phil, and there was a bite-sized piece left. So I looked them both in the eye and said, “this is for you two, because I love you.” and I ate it. That was the first dead flesh I had purposefully consumed in nearly 10 years, and (sorry to disappoint, Jackie) it was disgusting. My first reaction was “sinew”, my second was “leather” and my third was “oily”. But it also tasted like freedom. Not a July 4th-hands-down-the-pants-chinese-made-flag-waving-swill-drinking-sadly-falsified-reflection-of-invisible-chained-freedom, REAL freedom. From the person I’ve clung to in fear of… what? Who? Who have I been so afraid of becoming?
Who are YOU afraid of becoming? Why? I’d like to know. Please, do share. Send me a gmail or tweet @pcpmeltsfaces. I’d love to hear from you. Yes, you. YOU!
I’m going to sign off with a picture I took yesterday. I’ve always been anti-flag, because of what they have always represented to me. Not this one. Not today.
Much love to my Twin Cities and beyond, from across the world and then some.
