The Natiq Chronicle

Today started off pretty rough. You ever have one of those days where it seems like the universe itself is trying to make you late to work? A bunch of little things kept happening that took up moments of my time that I couldn’t seem to make up. Things like, the cup of water I set on the table is knocked over by my sister bumping the table as she passes by, and the stream of water just happens to drip right into the shoe I was getting ready to put on my foot. Or like when I reached into my pocket to grab my keys to lock my door, and the key ring just happens to snag a loose thread in my pocket. My entire pocket was pulled out and all of the contents of my pocket spilled to the ground. While scooping up everything, the bus shows up at the corner, 5 minutes early, so that I just barely have time to dash the almost 2 blocks to the bus stop. *sigh*

Did I mention that it was raining, too? I was running in the rain like my life depended on it, holding my jacket, my tie, my scarf, an umbrella, the new book by Christopher Paolini, “Inheritance”, and some of the spilled contents of my pocket in one arm, and trying to stuff some, now soaking wet, dollar bills into my pocket. Wet money does NOT feel good in your pocket, believe you me. *sigh*

That was how my morning began.

So, as I put on my tie, tie pin, watch, scarf, etc, that I didn’t have time to put on at home, under the not-so-indiscreet observation of the other bus riders, I made a silent little prayer to myself…

“Please don’t let my entire day be like this.”

So, I finally arrived at my destination; the bus stop at the corner of 9^th and Liberty Ave in downtown. Feeling proud of myself for stepping off of the bus without tripping and harming myself or others, I walked the 9 or 10 steps to the corner to wait my turn to cross the street at the crosswalk. I was determined to ease my frayed nerves. I crossed the street holding my umbrella and my book, while digging out my smokes. When I was safely across the street, I quickly ducked under the nearest storefront awning. Now out of the rain, and still trying to find my smokes, I feel the I-pod Nano that I always seem to have on my person. I absently pulled out the tiny, screenless MP3 player, stuck the earphones into my ears, flipped the switch on the bottom to the ‘on’ position, and pressed play. At first, there was no sound, but that’s to be expected. Songs don’t always start immediately. I finally found my smokes and pressed one to my lips. The music start just as I found my lighter and was about to spark the flame. It was the piano solo, “Solitudes”, played by Hashimoto Ichiko. One of my favorites.

I swear that the first notes sparked one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever experienced in life.

In those first chords, it seemed like the world around me slowed to the same legato tempo as Hashimoto Sensei’s improv.  The sights and sounds of the city seemed to come to life all of a sudden. The flame from my lighter seemed to caress the tip of my cigarette, the hiss of the paper seeming to take on a greater significance than was ever intended. I saw a pigeon take flight in slow motion and marveled at the way the raindrops seemed to gently explode into tiny upside-down worlds as they touched the tips of its wing feathers. I saw a man in the passenger seat of a car, yelling at the woman driving. However, with the world under the influence of my music, he appeared to be enjoying a long and relaxing yawn. A saw a beautiful Asian business woman struggling with her hoop earring while appearing to glide across the street. Though my mind know what was really happening, it seemed she was simply trying to more clearly hear the tune from my I-pod.

All around me, the world seemed to bloom to life. The bricks of the building were as red as the sweetest cherry, the cloud-filled sky seemed bluer than indigo to me… all of existence seem saturated with rain-soaked color, more vivid than reality. I had a moment when I thought…

“Wow. The city is so beautiful.”

And then the last chord was played. And the world snapped back into place. Time began again. And all was well in the world.

Natiq...