Upside Down Kris

A Conversation with my Brain "Take it flip side 'round," says Brain quite clearly.  She has cut into my monologue, although  I haven't asked her opinion. Nonetheless, I have to admit she's right. There is a flip side, a back of the mirror to everything. You just have to turn it around to focus on something else. "So, if  I don't like something, should I look at it from upside down? Or rather, downside up?" I wonder. "That might help," Brain replied. "But I'd say it's more like facing your boat upright again. It's like you have taken a dip in the river of life and remained capsized. Your boat is covering your head so you are forced to look down into the murkiness of the river bottom and floating seems quite far away.  Do you know how many people face their lives from inside their boat of thoughts, unable to lift it off their head when all they would need is a slight push? The river flows around them and they are missing the ...

    The Me I'm Meant to Be "I'll never be that me again," claims the ground. It makes the statement in tones of white,  its intent clear:  the cigarette butt indicating it to the right.  This despite the stains on the statement and around it, and its dubious, dirty appearance. Who knows how many people have walked over it, not seeing it or taking it for granted. But you notice it. You stop, pointing your shoes at it–pondering it. "Which me is it referring to?" you wonder. "Which me do I want to leave behind?" Your mind is suddenly not responding. Your cells are running into each other, trying to come up with a solution. You try to see past the oil marks and spoiled cement spots. You feel like the message is meant for you, but you're not tuned into it. Your feet patter away: Ka-clump, ka-clump. Your steps are dissonant yet regular, melding into the sounds around it. Ka-clump, ka-clump. If you clink loud enough you can keep your thoughts at bay. ...

Accolades for Japan Cleanliness, order, and respect: that's what I would say Japan's mottos are. No stains on the seats of trains or subways like I've experienced almost everywhere else I've traveled. No need to recoil at your feet sticking to who knows what on the floor. The Japanese would also never dream of dropping litter anywhere, inside as well as outside. This despite the fact that the only garbage cans to be found are next to vending machines. The idea is that your waste is your responsibility. In my opinion, the maximum height of Japanese cleanliness and inventiveness is the toilet. In almost all the bathrooms private or public, the toilets have a built in bidet and seat warmer as well as a sound distorter if you're worried about someone hearing you during number twos. Simply fantastic! They also found ways to save space by building a sink into the top of the toilet in some places. (Obviously, using clean water.) The Japanese pride themselves on efficiency,...