Category: Art Imitates Life

I heard an instrumental version of this song just now. Alexa served it up for Me, during today’s request to “Play Free Music.”

The lyrics that triggered PASSION in this exact moment are as follows:

“We’ve gotta hold on to what we’ve got
It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not
We got each other, and that’s a lot for love
We’ll give it a shot”

Gina tells Tommy this. Tommy, Gina’s Beloved. He’s tryina bring home the bacon – AKA “make a good Life” for Gina & Himself – and He’s… struggling. Not “killing it” not “completely thrown in the towel, yet”… but, struggling. Where I suspect most Human Beings exist. In this Gray area, between Reaching the Stars and the barest of Survival. Hand to Mouth.

Lyrics like this – random Stories like this – is Why a lot of Folks out there [N: Me, included] love the 80s so much. [N: My guess] Not necessarily the decade, or this period of Life in My Own Story, but the Music. Like just now, I can recall not just the Artist or the song title, I can sing every word of the song, too. And – in doing so – I get a ton of dopamine jolts.

The music of the 80s is the internal soundtrack of My Life, TBH. It doesn’t mean every other piece of music sucks – “pipe down, TECH!” – it just means that music of the 80s resonates the strongest for Me, personally. Probably because it was smack dab in the middle of some formative years… but not just that; also because it was a very high level of toxicity at that time, for Me.

Music was My Lifeline to My Own Survival. It saved Me… in all the ways a Person can be saved. And that saying, “Survival of the Fittest”? Inaccurate. It’s not the Fittest that are surviving, because these are two opposite points on the Spectrum.

Survival is for the Broken. The Full-of-Despair. The… Struggling.

And when I am drowning in the vast ocean of Life? I need a Life preserver. Music is this Life preserver, for Me.

But with all Life preservers, it must be thrown to Me by another Human Being… standing above Me on the deck of a passing ship.

I can only be Saved if Somebody helps Me to reach that place. I can only be Saved if They notice I’m thrashing about in the water alone.

And drowning? It’s usually Silent. Ask any Lifeguard, They’ll tell You.

. . .

Conner’s Comments: And one last thing about Saving any Other Person: It never looks or feels like I Conceptually imagine it to be, in My Own SB. The KEY is that the Person I am trying to save right now ‘sees’ Their Own oasis, appear out of nowhere in the desert. They hafta see it, firsthand. Why? Because f#cking Free Will. [N: loll] And also because “I am Not the Boss of You,” DR.
 

Every Child needs to learn how to do this – to put Their Own feelings into words. Words that can Connect this Kid – this one, individual Human Being – to another individual Human Being.

It’s how We successfully battle the Monsters.

To not be able to call those things that scare Us out? They remain in Our Own Subconscious Brain. And if the Monsters remain trapped in Our SB? They can hurt us. The Monsters can even kill us, given enough free reign to run loose in there, willy nilly.

I keep a List on My cellphone, of South Korean drama shows that, for one reason or another, resonated very strongly for Me. If You don’t let the details create obstacles for You, DR, and if We (You & Me) were chatting & drinking coffee IRL? I would recommend “Fermat’s Cuisine” to You.

Isn’t it funny? How all the things that inspire Me to Connect with Other People – to share, reveal, “try to Help” Other People – all hafta do with “Food”? But – as Wiser Persons than Myself have pointed out to Me in the past, and I Believe It! – “There Are No Coincidences.”

It definitely feels like it… but there are No coincidences, My Fellow Traveler. There is only… resonation. My gut, My head, and My heart… pinging. Signaling to Me, the not-paying-attention-cuz-I’m-so-busy Human Being – Conscious Me, specifically – that Everything I see, hear & do has already “been done before… We just don’t realize it yet.”

If I can put My feelings into words – even when it’s insanely difficult to do so – I can start making sense of things. TECH can start… figuring stuff out. The more acquired data? The less confusion. The less these feelings have the power to control Me. To tempt Me by self-soothing Me… similar to offering a Kid a piece of candy, or a puppy, if They only jump into My car.

And this method works, because this Kid wants what Everybody wants: Somebody to ‘fix’ everything. Someone to ‘make all the Bad sh#t go away.’ It’s Why – My guess – most Other People believe in a Higher Power, be it Buddha or God or the Universe or anything else. If You don’t get too caught up in the details – if You can see “the Bigger Picture” in all of this?

We Are All the Same.

And if I believe that You and I are actually the same – part of the same bucket of Cosmic Goo, where this HP uses a soup ladle each time I visit this rock We call Earth & spend My time during this singular, very Human Life – that will never be repeated before or after – then this means that You, DR, are part of My Herd. And as One of My Herd… I’ve got Your back. You got My back. We Help Each Other. We scan the horizon for bushes that the tigers are hiding in, waiting to jump out of. “Dude! Third bush from that tree? There’s a nasty tiger hiding over there: Watch out.”

The main character Chef Kid in Fermat’s Cuisine? [N: this Pup is “Gaku”] He is a Genius. Like, “A Beautiful Mind” type genius. Gordon Ramsay, Einstein, and some other really Visionary Person… all rolled into one. And like most Visionaries, there is a very real danger that the thoughts whizzing around in My SB will eventually drive Me to insanity.

I fully recognize this possibility, I do. The difference for Me, though, is I no longer fear this possibility.

Why? Because I’ve been practicing Using My Words. And as long as I have breath in My body? Imma keep practicing. And the better I can get at using these words? The more easily I can Find the Helpers. The easier I can find My Herd.

. . .

Conner’s Comments: Watch Fermat’s Cuisine in the original Korean. Practice reading the Story – imagine You are reading a book loll. And the soundtrack is the musicality of the Korean language… I love listening to languages – I can pick out a bunch of them by now: Korean, Mandarin, Thai, Japanese, etc. etc. [N: technically, I think FC is Japanese, now that I am checking imdb.com to finish these notes, here] Okay okay… watch it in the original Japanese.

Ooh, I notice the episodes don’t have any plot synopsises yet! A perfect opportunity to rewatch so I can add them… I discovered this game recently, and it gives Me a challenge, to write in a meaningful & concise manner. [N: practicing loll] When You watch, DR, notice how Kai Plants Seeds for Gaku, then the Teacher bails to let the Student test his own wings. *Spoiler Alert!* Gaku crashes/burns – like a Phoenix, not in a Blaze of Glory – and the reward, after all the dust settles? A bond is formed. Friendship. Which can only be found if You walk through the fire, IMO.

Attention, Attention Students! Class is now in session.

The necessary Context: This is My Own personal – Conner Romesco’s – unique perspective of the 1989 movie “The Little Mermaid.” It’s not that I think it’s the best version ever, of that Halle doesn’t deserve kudos for Her more recent interpretation of this TLM Story… but in My SB? The Jodi Benson one was the one that PASSION Connected with, at a very formative period of My Own Life. Let’s begin.

I am Ariel.

Okay okay. Sure, as a Guy You’d be a little put off, DR, that I insist I am Ariel, but hear Me out: As a powerless Child trapped in a toxic Family Home for the entire first 18 years of My Life, I mostly dreamed about breaking free of this prison… and Why I identify with Ariel so strongly. [N: in full disclosure, I was 17 years old when it came out] She wanted legs? I wanted a Family to Love, and that loved Me back. So not being able to manifest this Reality for Myself, I dreamed of the day when I could be free to go create a new one. On My own. And having a serious thing for redheads, Erik is a total pu$$y to Me, personally.

And – imagining Myself as Ariel in Ariel’s Own Story – Ariel is also every Baby Girl IMO. Literally, a Baby. Lying there in her crib, connecting those huge eyeballs with Yours, Dad. Ariel’s voice is Your Own Daughter’s voice, DR. She’s Everybody’s Own Daughter.

Which makes You? King Titan. The Guy trying to protect Ariel & Her Sisters. The Guy trying to manage an entire kingdom. Titan is juggling a lot of balls!?!

And – because Little Girls watch Everyone & Everything [N: all Children do] – Ariel Connects/attaches to the OOHA [Object Of Her Affection] in the form of Prince Erik. *mental grenade explodes* And that begins Little Ariel’s Conceptual imagined interpersonal relationship with Erik. [N: Ariel totally guzzles the Happily Ever After kool-aid]

So now? Ariel – because She’s growing & changing every minute of every day of Her Life – has a newly manifested unMet Need: Get some legs, walk over to Erik’s house, ask Him out, get married, live Happily Ever After. [N: IRL, this probably happens around the time She gets Her first period – now there’s a nasty surprise! Decades of BS, ruined clothes & blood-stained underwear, and begging Guys like Me to wear a f#cking condom! smh] So She’s a raging little ball of hormones, to boot. Uhh, fin.

Easy peasy, right?? Uhh, not so fast.

Ariel, upon discovering this unMet Need for Herself – and not seeing any other way to fill it [N: Titan is distracted with His job] – goes in search of Someone who can help Her. And Who does She find to help Her?

Ursula. Someone with the power to fill Ariel’s unMet Need. For a price, of course.

[N: Let Me pause for a minute & say something, here, for the record: Not all Adults Who step in to fill a Child’s unMet Needs are Bad. Some legitimately have the Kid’s best interests in mind – but if You don’t have any internal Equilibrium, TECH might get stuck in a Rabbit Hole viewing any Other Adult with suspicion – which is bad for the Adult in the RH as well as the Child who Needs are being neglected right now FYI]

Ursula is a TABI. [N: Trusted Adult with Bad Intent] Now, having the benefit of drawing cartoonish Characters for this movie, Ursula is presented as this Scary Fat Lady. [N: and no, I’m not maligning the incidence of being fat, I’m just pointing out that the film makes use of the IRL Viewing Audience’s internal prejudices by “pressing these Folks’ buttons” AKA intentionally triggering Their SBs- Don’t Ignore the Context here!]

So Ariel gets her legs, hooks up with Erik, who then hooks up with that other Princess Chick [N: does She even get a name in this flick? Or is She just “Erik’s Side Piece” in the script? Inquiring Minds Wanna Know] which now Ariel, completely broken-hearted, is basically f#cked.

TBH? I can’t recall how The Little Mermaid ends loll. I’m guessing it does have a Happy Ending, otherwise TV would not be as enduring as it is. [N: crap endings happen IRL willy nilly, so TV provides a bit of relief from this Reality]

I guess that’s a sign from the Universe to sit down and watch Miss Bailey’s version. Which, can only be done with an open mind.

I totally get it.

. . .

Conner’s Comments: Prince Erik hooking up with that next Princess after Connecting with Ariel is what happens when One’s Own Conceptual data collides with IRL mutual Experience data with the Other Person. That saying “It Takes Two to Tango” applies here. It’s never a good idea to ignore the IRL Experience data; My Conceptual understanding of the Other Person is constantly growing & changing each time We (Me & Them) Connect, and “hang out.” There is no other place where My Own Equilibrium is more important, than in an Intimate Relationship with another Human Being. So many different ways to get f#cked TBH, if I’m not paying attention. And not in a ‘Good’ way.

“So?!? What IS Your air-quotes ‘Fate,’ Conner? Hurry TF up! Spill the beans already..”

Dude. Slow Your roll. And don’t jump ahead of My Story – I haven’t gotten to the best part, yet. [N: I am the Story-teller, so I set the pace of My Own Story FYI]

I will say right off the bat though – *Spoiler Alert!* – it’s not what You think, DR. Why am I absolutely positively confident that You would never-in-a-million-zillion years ever guess the ‘Right Answer’? Why would I bet money that – no matter how many times I sent You to the beach – You would never be able to bring Me back the ‘Right’ shell?

Because. You don’t have the all-access pass to the inside of My SB. *Boom*

You’ll never know everything I’ve “been through.” I may reveal flashes of light here and there, but to swing open the shutters around the Lighthouse? It would blind You. Literally. So, yeah.. not signing up for that, thank-You-very-much.

And – because I watch a lot – A LOT – of TV [N: loll] I already have an idea of what You might expect of Me, DR: 1) get screwed by the People I Trust. 2) go through some completely f#cked up experiences as a Child. [N: Guaranteed to turn Me into a superhero] 3) take one for the team – the team being “every Human Being on planet Earth.”

Uhh, No thank You. I trust the Conceptual Public as far as I can throw them.

I’ve been percolating on this for a while – the pot of spaghetti sauce, simmering on the stove for hours & hours – and I think I finally figured My Mission out… with a out-of-Nowhere Seed Planted, here & there, every so often:

“Keep Showing Up.”

That’s it! Nothing cray. Nothing wham-bam Thank-You Ma’am. Not like fireworks in the night sky.

I hafta keep showing up, like the maintenance Guy Who, after the party is over, pushes the broom down the street… gathering up all the confetti, and empty beer cans, and discarded baby diapers, half-eaten cotton candy, some dental floss over there – WTF?? – whatever tools were once needed – but yesterday’s tools & Velveteen Rabbits are now just today’s trash, headed for the the landfill.

“Why don’t those People throw the trash in the can?” -or- “Why do We hafta have this party anyways?!? It just trashes the joint!” -or- “These People are just honoring an Imaginary Friend-slash-Guy!! It’s Not REAL!…”

And We will agree to disagree here, DR. [N: or should I say, TECH] I decide what is Real, to Me, in My Own World. Not You.

You know what keeps popping in My head right now? That last scene in Dead Poet’s Society. When Robin Williams – a Visionary & My Soulmate, IMO – just got fired by The Committee & now has to leave the classroom. And as He turns to leave, His Students… His Students…

[N: see, I can’t even type that scene out right now because I’m feeling it. I’m seeing it. PASSION is reliving that moment, in real time]

You see that, DR? There’s that wIord again. “Real.”

Imma keep showing up for what feels Real to Me.

Imma keep showing up in those places where I “Come Alive.”

Because I’m choosing – after considering all possible alternatives – My Own fate.

I’m choosing this.

. . .

Conner’s Comments: If You got nothing better to do? Go re-read the Velveteen Rabbit. In those pages lies the [N: not so] secret of what “makes the Bunny Real” to Me. Or even Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Both of these are on My (mental) Book List.

***Edited Hours Later: I’m watching Doom At Your Service, episode 14 right now. My SB is exploding, with all the Money Shots in this single episode. But You can’t skip to the end; that’s not how this Story is meant to be told FYI***

It takes skill, to balance all these Weirdos’ needs! And how do I get more skilled at anything, DR? I practice. I practice a sh#t ton… until I am happy with the results.

But it always pings My SB when I see Other People out in this World – other Human Beings – pulling out all the stops to Plant Seeds. To change the perspective of OP. To “open One’s mind” to the Possibilities.

These are My Soulmates. The criteria for this label, for Me personally? If You, DR – by whatever Your actions or whatever Your words – can give Me [N: My SB, PASSION, specifically] the much-desired ‘dopamine jolts’? Then congrats! We (You & Me) are both “on the same wavelength.”

[N: seriously, it feels just like an orgasm in My SB to Me loll]

One Conceptual Other Person on this List for Me? This punk-@$$ Kid: Noah. And His Bestie… Cheetah. [N: Insta handle goodboy.noah] Note: I perceive Noah as ‘Conceptual’ to Me, not because He’s not a living, breathing IRL Person, but because I am not physically Connected with Him in My IRL-Life. I could be – in another multiverse – but not the one I’m in, in Current Day.

I think – the first Reel I ever watched from Noah & Cheetah – was shared with Me by Another Person in My Herd. And at that Meet Cute? It was Love at First Sight. Now? I will always put My Life on pause – set down TECH’s constant & never-ending To-Do List – to give PASSION a few hits of that dopamine bong.

The Reel that inspired Me to scurry over here & post this Story? Cinco de Mayo, Baby!

Here’s TDiiTD: the date is when I watched this Reel, not technically when Noah posted it to Insta. [N: that’s actually 3 days prior] It’s the Reel about making Hot Pockets from scratch.

Specifically? Here’s what hooked My SB: the line about Diddy.

This one piece of data got slid in there – silently, like an underwater sea monster or a missile shot from an enemy battleship – while PASSION was completely distracted by the visuals, the catchy music, etc. etc. F#cking genius, if You ask Me.

Okay okay! TECH’s calling it: “Noah, Dude? You Are A Visionary. Truly.”

That’s how I think of You in My Own SB, anyways. Now, I can guess that I’m not the only one who thinks this, or feels this way… But TBH? I care less about what Anybody Else thinks.

“I only care about Myself, right? Isn’t that the Rule?”

. . .

Conner’s Comments: And You, DR? Reading this Story right this second? You are the Exception to the Rule. *mental grenade explodes*

I have a lot of movies on My “Favorites” List. IRL? My DVD collection is close to 400 dvds now? Somewhere in that neighborhood. But let’s jump right in to what I wanna talk about right now.

I’m assigning You homework, DR. This is gonna help You – in some UNKN-to-Me way, sure – but since I am confident it will “help You” that’s all My SB cares about. So, take it or leave it.

Pick any one of Your Own “Favorite Movies.” If You have a dvd of it, if You hafta stream it on Netflix? Whatev You gotta do, do that.

Stick it in [N: PASSION “that’s what She said!” *bwahahaha*] the dvd player, press Play, whatever You need to do IRL… and… and…

Just watch the movie. Again.

“But-but-but Conner!? I’ve seen this flick a million times already!? I can literally act out every scene Myself, say every word of dialogue Myself! Why the f#ck would I waste My time – “I’m Soooo Busyyyyyy” – on doing something I’ve done at least once before??”

I knew You would ask that, DR, and here’s My Answer to this question: Because You missed a spot.

Like when You take great pains to launder Your silk shirt & after hours of careful attention, You notice one random wine stain still on the left sleeve. [N: F#CK Me! Grrrr]

Back to My Story.

Watch the movie, but – and here comes the Devil – I want You to *not* focus on the Main Character, or whichever Character resonates “most strongly” for You, personally. Ignore that Guy. Instead? Focus on His Bestie. Or His Enemy. Or His Brother/Mom/Boss/Teacher/The Guy at the Dry-Cleaners etc. etc. Imagine what it’s like, to be This Person in This situation IRL. “If all of a sudden – outta Nowhere – some Guy did ________________ and this _____________ happened to Me as a result? How would I Feel about it?

Ahh, there’s the Money Shot: How I Would Feel.

. . .

Conner’s Comments: After more than 20 minutes of wandering around out here, this idea gives Me pause. This pause is KEY, because this is the brief moment that TECH needs, before I “execute any external behavior” in response to any OP’s actions that firsthand impact ME so I can make sure PASSION is sitting at the table with TECH. To make sure I have a more balanced response/reaction. Contrary to Billy the Kid, I don’t pursue “going out in a Blaze of Glory.” I just wanna get home to eat the Dinner My Wife is preparing for Us, for our 3^rd wedding anniversary We are celebrating tonight. Honey makes the best meatloaf.

The necessary Context: I watched a reel on Insta just now, re-imagining a heart-to-heart between Snow White & the Wicked Queen

In another Art Imitates Life moment, I laughed My @$$ off watching this reel.

Why did I watch it? Well, the image frozen onto the vid – before I hit “Play” gives data to TECH, immediately – that informs Me as to what the rest of the vid probably contains. [N: there are No Guarantees]

Also, I notice Who – specifically – posted the reel. TECH evaluates: “oh, okay. It’s some comedy central or other Folks: should be ‘Safe.’” And so after TECH feels satisfied I’ve done the job of “identifying any hidden tigers in the bushes” properly, I can now hand the reins over to PASSION for the entertainment/enjoyment portion of this performance.

Back to My Story.

This reel [N: posted by Cracked, specifically] plays a scene where Snow White is arguing with the Queen that She doesn’t need to do all this other BS – trying to murder SW, terrorize the Villagers, etc. etc. – because “You Are a Queen!” A powerful Sorceress, can do cool magic transforming into apples, and so forth!? You are already awesome & cool!?!” You know the Story, DR.

“Why are You so threatened by Me?”

*mental grenade explodes*

And SW – sensing in this conversation that She has an opening into the Queen’s SB – pushes the envelope even further. SW asks Queenie Why She is “giving all Her power to some man-face Dude in a mirror,” that – In Reality – She doesn’t need Any Man to validate Her Own existence?!

And then – smooth as f#cking silk, or melted chocolate? – Snow White ‘flips the pancake.’ Snow starts asking Queenie rhetorical questions to test the Wicked Queen’s beliefs… by shining a flashlight on them. This puts the Power back in the Queen’s Own hands, and She can ‘see’ – with Her Own eyeballs -that how TECH is evaluating Her existing data just doesn’t make sense. [N: I refer to this as “getting the Other Person’s SB on My Side]

What is Snow White doing here, in this exact moment? Snow is literally handing the purple crayon to the Queen, so She can start revising the entries in Her Own MadLibs. Firsthand. Instead of how the f#cking Mirror has filled them filled in. Instead of how the Other Person has labeled Her. [N: ever wonder Why part of Her name is “Wicked” instead of just “Queen”? hmm]

So now at least? The Queen, Herself, has a fighting chance to jump out of this “I Must Be the Fairest In the Land” Rabbit Hole She’s manifested for Herself, in Her Own mind.

*mental grenade explodes*

If Our positions were reversed, DR, and I was reading this Story that You were writing? I’d go on Insta and hunt down the reel so I could watch it. Why? Because I love the visuals. [N: and this reel? does Not disappoint for what I want to Experience] And I might think: Why doesn’t DR add an Instagram button, so I can just click on it & go there faster/easier? Because in My SB – and this is My website – it’s like Me hosting a potluck. You are My Guest, but I’m not gonna just load up a plate & set it down in front of You. That’s weird! And I dunno what food You like to eat… I’m just gonna point to the table where the food is.

“If You want some tasty food? It’s right over there. Help Yourself.”

Or, TECH – because of the previously acquired data in My mental Files – will just scream “Woke!?!” and not “waste My time” on ‘stupid videos on the Internet’ because “I have more important things to be doing.”

Suit Yourself, DR. I am not the Boss of You. But there’s a saying that applies here, “The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend.” That’s what Snow was using with Queenie, is My guess.

Now, Snow White is already in the can, in terms of Story-telling. You can’t “change History.” But Me? I write My Own Story. And the Seed that is Planted when I watch this reel can potentially help Me navigate a Future air-quotes ‘Enemy’ by giving Me these bread crumbs to follow.

The necessary Context: “The Emperor Isn’t Wearing Any Clothes.”

. . .

“Children should be Seen and Not Heard.”

“That’s inappropriate.”

“Shhhushh, the Adults are Speaking Right Now: Be Quiet!”

“You, Kid, are not allowed to use profanity… if You do not cease & desist, I will end this call.”

“Don’t embarrass the Emperor – Your Daddy will get fired!”

“Do You want to get locked up? Arrested? Lobotomized?!? Go to Your Room!!”

“How Dare You!?”

“You are looking at naked men – *clutches Pearls* – go to the Principal’s office!! They can deal with You… smh”

“You’re grounded!”

“SILENCE!”

. . .

. . .

“CRUCIFY Him! CRUCIFY Hiiiiiiim!?!!”

The necessary Context: A reel I just watched on Insta, by the Master himself, Mr. Anthony Vincent (anthonyvincentofficial) who personally sings “Happy Birthday” to Me, every year without fail.

This reel is – literally – a Master Class in how to Plant Seeds. It has all the elements PASSION likes – visuals, sound, unexpectedness, distraction – and interspersed in between all that chaos?

Grains of f#cking Truth.

[N: because that’s what a Seed is, FYI]

The topic de jour is calling out “the Emperor is naked!?” – wait! Wrong Story!?! Lemme rewind. *bzzzzzzz-zzzzz-zzzz* [N: this is a rewinding the cassette tape sound]

Tony is discussing the Concept that includes “Internet Trolls” and “doom scrolling” and “Opinions are like @$$holes” – and the @$$holes are always easy to spot.

But the Chef’s Kiss in Tony’s reel – for Me, personally – is in those final moments. The last words. The ones that ‘wrap up the discussion.’ The words You close with, when You leave the house to go to work, and – not knowing if You are gonna die today because a plane crashed into Your high-rise building – You make those last words count:

“I Love You.”

Because all the rest, DR? Details. And in some things – Death, especially – the details don’t matter.

It’s the Bottom Line that matters: You are Dead. Gone. Never to return to this physical space, again. At least, not until I level up… and We (You & Me) until We meet again.

That’s how this Game is played, DR.

. . .

“Words Matter.”

It’s All Gonna Be Okay.

/CR

I read an article in the recent past about a Guy – a Dad – who was at the local park with His Kids. [N: My guess, I didn’t firsthand see Them IRL… so TECH fills these Madlibs blanks on My own]

This Dad was observing another Dad – I’ll call this guy “Playground Dad” – who was physically on the actual jungle jim, running around & screaming with abandon – essentially, mimicking the behavior of all the actual IRL Children in the near vicinity.

Imagining this scene in My Own SB: I don’t  have any Proof that Playground Dad even had any of His Own Children there – or even that He has any Kids IRL – but PASSION, who loves a good Story, *believes* this is True. [N: Beliefs as a Rule require No Proof]

So Dad who in the Future wrote this article, was “wondering out loud” – basically, writing the article which I as the Reader could read at My leisure, which I did in the recent past – was giving Me, Conner Romesco, one of the billions of Conceptual Human Beings in Writer Dad’s “Readers of My Articles” mental File a peek inside His Own Subconscious Brain.

*mental grenade explodes*

Once I realized this – “had an Epiphany” – the entire World shifted for Me. I didn’t technically have to learn how to read minds!?! I just had to sit around and keep My own mind open, and all the Other People milling about on this rock right alongside Me will invite Me into Their SBs!? Just like inviting a Vampire into Your house! You are completely vulnerable!

Yeah, ‘Vampires’ is Another Story for Another day. Back to the one I’m telling right here, right now. loll

Where was I?!? Oh yes. Writer Dad trying to piece out Playground Dad’s antics. Writer Dad, trying to “dig in the sh#t & uncover the Pony.”

*Spoiler Alert!* I don’t think Writer Dad figured it out. Poor Unfortunate Soul. [N: maybe He did, later… but I don’t get the rest of His Story, because Writer Dad is a Conceptual Other Person to Me in My Own Real Life; if Writer Dad & I were Connected IRL? I’d just ask Him verbally loll]

Here’s the answer Writer Dad was seeking. The answer His TECH was seeking, technically.

Playground Dad was “Meeting Them Where They Are.” He was playing, right alongside those Kids! He put the cellphone down – or left it in the car, that works too – and He “was present” because the data in His Own “what a Good Dad does” mental File – My guess – informed Him of what to do. Informed Him of how to behave, externally, IRL, with His Own Kids. With Kids in general.

And how did that data get into that mental File in the first place, You ask? Well, My guess is that Playground Guy learned it from His Parents. Maybe His Own Dad. Maybe His single Mom put it there. A Kindly Uncle who adopted Him. The Possibilities are endless… but those details don’t matter to Me, because it doesn’t change the plot for Me, personally. It doesn’t change the lesson for Me, personally, by reading this article in the first place.

Playground Dad did what any Good Teacher does, when facing a Class of New Students. Think about it. The Teacher is – by default & design – “the Smartest Person in the Room.” But having gobs of Conceptual data in the mental Files isn’t what makes a Teacher ‘Good.’ It’s the ability to flex from the TECH side – “I know Everything, You are all Stupid” – to the PASSION side: “I wanna inspire these cute little Rugrats… open Their minds to all the possibilities of the Universe. Anything could happen, literally!”

“Anything is Possible.”

. . .

Conner’s Comments: Writer Dad made another Rookie mistake in his ponderings of “being a Good Dad.” He kept telling Himself: “I can’t be like that Dad over there.”

A total Rookie mistake. loll