a short story about mexico
So i think it was one of my first Go tournaments, i think it was my second or my third. I was trying to hold 1d, and i got to play greg lefler. The VT club hadn't gotten going yet so i'd just driven up by myself, i think. I might've been seeing people up there.
On the drive up I got the song "Mexico" (by Cake) stuck in my head. This might even've been the summer G was in Mexico, but who knows. I remember because the song was stuck in my head the whole weekend. It's a nice slow waltz, with a lazy feel.
I had a match, but she had a lighter
i had a flame, but she had a fire
i was bright, but she was much brighter,
blah blah blah.
I have a really strong memory of having that in my head, and having the patterns i was reading just appear on the board like they'd grown there. It was like my own little mystic chant, an 'om' or a 'krishnakrishnakrishna' sort of litany, my consciousness was singing this stupid song and the rest (best?) of me was in the zone.
It was really amazing, i was looking deeper and farther and clear than i'd ever remembered doing. The games were unremarkable, but that feeling of pattern flowering really stayed with me. And it was all this silly Cake song that didn't really mean anything, but i zoned my way to 3-1 on the day and holding 1d. I only lost to one Mr. Greg Lefler, the only game i got to play against him.
I'm pretty sure i've written all this down before, but tonight i listened to "Mexico", and there it all was again front and center. Now i'm going there, with the only expectation that it be a change from here.
And also, it's one of the reasons I had a strong associations with Greg -- he was a participant with this weird state of mind i had. The second Lefler Memorial tournament was a few weeks ago, and i never make any claims to anything beyond an acquaintance with the guy, but he's very tied to that experience for me and i really liked our game. That wasn't anything special either, i mean neither of us would show it off, but it was a really calming game. So that ties in too, and its been on my mind.
Ohhh baby, i was bound -- for Mexico!
Ohhh baby, i was bound, to let - you - goooo. oh wo whoaaa
So, i'm bound for Mexico today. I have no idea what'll happen, but ohh sweet vacation you're long overdue.