My friend, Mark Jacobs, travels fairly often, and whenever he goes some place particularly interesting, I am sure to request something silly of him in the spirit of our original experiment. The last request was for him to hug a Japanese person when he and Yoo-Mi were in Japan, and of course he did it specifically for this purpose, which is why it is fun to ask him. :)
This time, it was his turn and he asked me to kiss a cow. I decided that I wanted to take a ‘snap’ of the event for him, which made the task many-fold more difficult. First of all, I hardly ever have a camera with me, so when I see a good opportunity, or a particularly attractive cow, I am not able to take full advantage of the moment. And when I do have a camera and see a good candidate, I am generally in a city and – this being India – there are almost always tons of people around. I’m sure I love cows as much as or more than your average Indian, and I think I’d be down with just going for it even with crowds around, but somehow I’m just not sure how well this particular assignment would be publicly received in the land of the Holy Cow.
The other day, however, it all finally came together as a very fine looking cow was walking by. My friend happened to have her camera. We were in the city, but there seemed to be a rare moment of calm. I puckered up. She puckered up. Anjali snapped the pic. And this, Mark, is all for you. :)
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June 6, 2005 at 1:04 am
MBJ
Unc!
You should tell people about the original impetus for all this silliness: your reflection on the notion that, while sitting “alone” at a keyboard one can create an effect (and hopefully a positive effect) half a world away.
Your insight helps to reveal what folks like to call “the butterfly effect.” You were wise enough (and empathetic enough) to understand that, by setting in motion simple “mechanisms” like information technology and friendships, you can illustrate the mysterious subtlety of the unity of things with commonly understood “chunks” we can all wrap of brains around.
Your “experiments” make interconnectedness seem less forbiddingly abstract. But they also deliver a much more important lesson: you reminded us of the importance of intentionality in the mix.
If the flapping of our wings can influence weather patterns, then to the extent we can predict the consequences of our flapping, we should direct the rain to draught-stricken lands and not to the sodden deltas of Bangladesh. It is sanity-restoring to remind ourselves that we cannot begin to know all the havoc to which our actions (and thoughts) might contribute in an infinitely complex universe; but that does not absolve us from the responsibility to understand and responsibly exercise such control as we do have.
So, I’d remind everyone that this silliness teaches important lessons, both metaphysical and moral.
By the way, the kiss was beautiful – as kisses usually are. And I think the cow really likes you.
MBJ