I once had a long conversation with a man on a plane and then maybe six months later one of my colleagues stumbled across a transcript of it in the man’s blog. So wild. I do some of my best thinking about storytelling when I’m on an airplane and traveling.
It really is fascinating, isn't it, how being in that liminal travel space opens up a more direct line of creativity. Something about relinquishing control / resigning ourselves to fate, or at least the in-between. In many ways, it's one of the biggest reasons I travel, as much to discover buried stories as it is to discover new lands.
This is superb. So many gems and observations. Two thoughts/takeaways:
1. Wall Street is bullshit, full stop. The stock market has been on a forty-year bull run, so anybody with any exposure should have made money. The fact that so many hedge funds crash and almost all underperform the S&P 500 index is unequivocal proof "active management" doesn't work and the people behind it are frauds. There's only one way to beat the market: insider trading. Anything else is luck.
2. I absolutely love the interaction with the Customs Official at the end. I'm sure it was intentional on your behalf, but depicting the scene brings the jingoistic indoctrination into stark relief. This man's own country doesn't care about him, and he doesn't see it, and even if he did, he wouldn't accept it.
Thank you my friend. I did indeed make sure the customs scene was the final one, but that was inspired by a real-life conversation with a customs agent who absolutely couldn't understand how anyone who COULD live in the USA would CHOOSE to live anywhere else. It's tough coming back because there are a lot of people who I like here, but I can't seem to keep the itch off, so maybe the bigots are right, maybe I should go back to my country, because wherever that is, it sure ain't here
And, my take, tell "those people" to go back to where they came from first. I can't imagine their "home countries" would be too excited to welcome them back.
I don't know whether that's actually verbatim or fictionalised but either way it's hilarious (and somewhat frightening). Nice work that gets to the essence of situations, as always!
Why is that every single flight to LA. And why do I always come out of it a raging socialist lol. And why does your writing bring it to life in a way that’s so much better than the real thing 🤩😍
Haha that's an interesting thought, and I can attest that after my return flight yesterday, I was on the verge of becoming a neo-Marxist for the entire 1.25 hr bus ride to Union Station. In what world do you have to take a shitty bus to a shitty parking lot to then order a rideshare for $100+?? Lalaland. Thanks for the kind words friend.
Great transcript of most airplane conversations. Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing! HA! Welcome to LaLa Land!
Nailed it. "Full of sound and fury." The glitz and glamour is coming next. Or at least, their simulacra.
I once had a long conversation with a man on a plane and then maybe six months later one of my colleagues stumbled across a transcript of it in the man’s blog. So wild. I do some of my best thinking about storytelling when I’m on an airplane and traveling.
It really is fascinating, isn't it, how being in that liminal travel space opens up a more direct line of creativity. Something about relinquishing control / resigning ourselves to fate, or at least the in-between. In many ways, it's one of the biggest reasons I travel, as much to discover buried stories as it is to discover new lands.
This is superb. So many gems and observations. Two thoughts/takeaways:
1. Wall Street is bullshit, full stop. The stock market has been on a forty-year bull run, so anybody with any exposure should have made money. The fact that so many hedge funds crash and almost all underperform the S&P 500 index is unequivocal proof "active management" doesn't work and the people behind it are frauds. There's only one way to beat the market: insider trading. Anything else is luck.
2. I absolutely love the interaction with the Customs Official at the end. I'm sure it was intentional on your behalf, but depicting the scene brings the jingoistic indoctrination into stark relief. This man's own country doesn't care about him, and he doesn't see it, and even if he did, he wouldn't accept it.
Bravo.
Thank you my friend. I did indeed make sure the customs scene was the final one, but that was inspired by a real-life conversation with a customs agent who absolutely couldn't understand how anyone who COULD live in the USA would CHOOSE to live anywhere else. It's tough coming back because there are a lot of people who I like here, but I can't seem to keep the itch off, so maybe the bigots are right, maybe I should go back to my country, because wherever that is, it sure ain't here
I believe it.
And, my take, tell "those people" to go back to where they came from first. I can't imagine their "home countries" would be too excited to welcome them back.
I don't know whether that's actually verbatim or fictionalised but either way it's hilarious (and somewhat frightening). Nice work that gets to the essence of situations, as always!
Oh I'm not that good of a fiction writer, that customs agent was just a Grade-A doofus. At least he can be memorialized now, forevermore.
Why is that every single flight to LA. And why do I always come out of it a raging socialist lol. And why does your writing bring it to life in a way that’s so much better than the real thing 🤩😍
Haha that's an interesting thought, and I can attest that after my return flight yesterday, I was on the verge of becoming a neo-Marxist for the entire 1.25 hr bus ride to Union Station. In what world do you have to take a shitty bus to a shitty parking lot to then order a rideshare for $100+?? Lalaland. Thanks for the kind words friend.
First piece of yours I’ve read and I’m hooked. Was great meeting you at Izzy’s party. See you in Paris someday!
Thank you my friend! We shall drink wine in celebration in Paris one day soon.