So Many Stories

I used to write all the time.
So many stories would come to me, and it seemed a shame to not give them life.
Now, they still seize upon me and I follow them, and then a few moments, I snap out of it, no longer feeling the obsession to continue writing them.
But today, there were two stories that were particularly strong.
So, Here they are:

1. A boy coming of age, lives in a normal, pleasant community. Mother and father. nothing too corny, strict, repressive, outlandish or indulgent. not boring, not overly exciting. The one thing that could be said of this family, (mother, father and son) is that the boys is distant from his father, who is not all that interesting, involved with work, but doesn't really have much to add, but is kind and a good father and obviously loves his wife and son. One day, through the sloppiness of the son, the mother finds a marijuana joint in his pocket. it's half smoked. she also finds some weird little drawings that the son has drawn. she tells the father. after dinner a night of so later, the father says he would like to talk to the son. the mother leaves the table, the father and son talk. the father doesn't mention the joint. the father then takes the kid down to the basement. the son doesn't think there is anything of interest down there. the father unlocks a room, and it's a beautiful workspace with drafting board and all kinds of very imaginative drawings. a lot of native American motifs. the father was an artist. he has many psychedelic experiences. he shows his sons his drawings. he tells his son that he can come down and use this room whenever he would like and use his materials. over the next several weeks and months, the son comes to find out that the Father was raised by his native American grandmother and grandfather before being placed in foster care when one and then the other died. he was adopted by a white family. he lost touch with his culture. it hurt too much, so he forgot it. until he got older, ran away at 15 and went back to the res. he found a spirit man. he did sweat lodges, learned the history of his people at the pine ridge res. he then saw his friends, one by one, fall to the wayside due to drink, dv and other evils. he went to AA, renounced. went to church, met his wife. started as a graphic artist, went to school, rose to the level of art director, and then supervisor, no longer doing art. the son, learns much from the father, and much of what he has thought and felt has come true to his vision. the end.

the idea for this came from that key time in life when you are in your adolescence and the world begins to open up to you and you are exploring, experimenting and seeing things from many different angles. in a sense, you can come to know anyone at any time. but in adolescesnce, you challenge your parents and in this story, the key is, that the boys is ready to hear and to know something very intimate and special about his father.. .that changes his complete conception of himself, his father, his mother and the world in which they live.

2. this story sets up with a couple driving out in the country for a weekend to just do something different. they come to a little bullshit festival with a carnival type atomsphere. they stop. they walk around and do a few basic things, and then they see a ride that says, "time stops" and the carny running the ride says that inside the ride, time stops, so you can take your time and spend as much time as you want, but not have to worry that you will miss anything, that it will get late, that they have something else they have to do, or anything.. they can spend as much time in there as they want, but once they come out, they can't go back in. the couple observes people coming in and then coming out, they only spend a few seconds in, or a minute or two. when they come out, they ask them, 'what's it like" but the people only smile and walk by, sometimes laughing. they go inside and it's true. time stops. there is a shaman inside of sorts. he can offer any wish. and he helps them as a guide to do whatever they want for the time they are insdie. the expanse is wide, there are fields... and they are able to indulge without feelig that they are missing anything, are missed, anyone is worried, obligations, etc. they stay for years, and then come out, and as part of the deal, have agreed to take a 7 day vow of silence as part of their reintegration.

the idea for this came from an idea i had for a "time stop" mediation. a lot of the reason we don't meditate or do our regular practices, is becasue we don't have time.. so what if we had time? it really is silly, because if we are moving and living, then time is passing... but somehow, "time stopping" eliminates a lot of the problem in centering, focusing, listening, being patient and being present...