Saturday morning is gray with on and off light rain falling. Starbucks has been quiet. It is Saturday after all. At present a few people stand patiently by the counter until their internet app orders are completed. It is a few minutes until 8 o’clock and families will shortly come by.

Today the Batavia Farmer’s Market opens in the out-of-doors space on North River Street. The market space occupies the entire street, approximately a two block stretch, a promenade to encourage being with others who live in the area. Even better than a leisurely walk-through, perhaps a conversation or two prompted by the sights and sounds of the moment. Without a doubt this old-school activity is transgressive, contrary to the screen based exchanges of information to which a majority of us have become accustomed.

A screen based exchange is hardly a conversation. Truth is quite low on the value scale. Frank conversation is beside the point. Internet postings typically are made to provoke a response of some kind from the anonymous recipient of the message. “Stimulation for effect” to put it differently. Screens conceal a cross fire of mixed motives. Consider how dramatically opposite this feels, by comparison to face to face encounter. It is just easier to speak candidly with nothing in between us.

Upon engaging anyone that I may have occasion to see once again and perhaps enjoy further conversation, the context favors direct, plain speech, – that is speaking the truth in connection with the focus of attention. The entire bandwidth of self-presentation is available for use and for evaluation… A “no B.S.” interlude to the swarms of deception, of advertising, and of political speech to which we are exposed nearly all of our waking hours, nowadays.

At the Farmer’s Market you can have street tacos for breakfast or even a Bloody Mary. There’s no better grounding, a firm foundation of one’s place in community than a handmade delicious taco, or the tang of tomato juice with a blend of spices and celery salt.

I’ll take some photos and post them later today.