It’s a Saturday, inside of Starbucks it is unusually quiet.

There is a steady rain falling.  Movement in the out-of-doors is avoided by most.  The temp is comfortable yet, for mid October.  It would be fine to go for a walk in the rain.

Gazing at the empty tables, the view is peaceful, unobstructed by the bodies of patrons.  Each would bring a distinct history, a collection of Gordian Knots which they themselves have tied, and would untie if they could.  But we cannot.

This photo in the New York Time’s morning email bulletin struck me as iconic, yet another version of an event which occurs over and over throughout human history.  These are the lucky ones, they are on their way to safety, en route to “life.”  And the others, obstructed by advanced age, by physical disability, or maybe without needed help…

Saturday, and the rain falls in Geneva.

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I read further in the Zhuangzi, a collection of stories conveying the Taoist point of view.  In Jewish and Christian religio-intellectual traditions there is the notion of Eden.  What I mean is a time of origin, a time before, a time of natality.  A time when all was harmonious.  Hearts and minds were synchronized, there was no friction of difference, no conflict of wills.

The Zhuangzi observes even if one were to know the arts of the “Embryonic Age,” what would be the point?  What of this would be valuable to us?  We live in the sequel-time, we live East-of-Eden.

We, Outlanders…