Anticipating the gathering of a circle of friends tonight, for a holiday social.  A portion of the day will be dedicated to completing projects of final preparation.  The guests are fellow travelers.  I need company, others with whom to share the risk of thinking-out-loud.  To think out loud is one description of philosophy.  To think, to venture into strange, unfamiliar mental and emotional environments is to lose control.  To not know what to do, or said differently, — when there is nothing to do, no playbill indicating what one can expect, you just hang on and if fortunate, learn something new about oneself.  I am sure such a course cannot be taken alone, without the assistance, even the resistance of companions.

So, we are having a party tonight…

Why do you keep at this, this philosophy thing?  I do not have a good answer, but the matter feels as if fate is involved.  What else is there?  I know that I could just settle, just walk away from the game, to be done with the risk.

That would not be where the fun is!

I surprise myself by falling into anguish and yet!
I don’t stop taking risks: this is the condition of the intoxication of the heart.
But it is to measure the nauseating depths of things:
     to gamble is to touch the limit, to go as far as possible,
          and to live on the edge of the abyss!

-excerpt On Nietzsche by Georges Bataille, trans. by Stuart Kendall p. 94

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It is possible that none of this makes sense.  If so, the music redeems the post.  Life, focus is rewarded always by a tune, by edged-lyrics.   Human by The Killers carries us as a raft into the rapids.

Human

By The Killers

I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought, but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes, clear your heart

Cut the cord

Are we human
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye, wish me well

You’ve got to let me go

Are we human
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we’re receiving
Let me know, is your heart still beating?

Are we human
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer

You’ve got to let me know

Are we human
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Are we human
Or are we dancer?
Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Lyrics by: James Harris Iii, Terry Lewis

The Lyrics are taken from taken from a quote by Hunter S. Thompson ‘We’re raising a generation of dancers,’