NEW EXPERIENCES

Many times before, he had desired to go to places where no one knew him. Probably a place by the ocean, with a dilapidated wooden bench burrowed into by insects that had laid siege when the ocean waves weren’t as boisterous. The bench, which fishermen warned people to avoid, was home to ants that vehemently detested human company – and rightly so, considering humans hadn’t been the most friendly neighbors.

He imagined himself standing on the beach, feeling the sand rubbing between his toes and the cold breeze from the ocean blowing in his face. His shirt would be unbuttoned, and the wind would blow through, much like in beer ads, as the big orange sun disappeared into the ocean. In the distance, he would see a light – a fishing boat on a late expedition for a promising catch, employing rudimentary fishing techniques. The waves of the ocean would strongly beat against the shore, a probable location being one of the African coastal towns on the white sand strip along the shore of the Indian Ocean. The monsoon winds would blow, and he would wonder if slavery still had a pulse, knowing that in the same place, several hundred years ago, turmoil and despair befell it as the best of the continent’s men were taken against their will to work in strange places for little to nothing.

Maybe this was where he would get an epiphany, a sort of higher calling precipitated by poignant memories and an outpouring of emotions. It would be surreal. Then, in his reverie, one of the men from a boat would approach him, probably after a great catch that made his face beam with gladness, on an evening after ferociously writing as he cooled off.

The man would walk up to him, and he wouldn’t see him as a bother because he loved talking to these coastal folk. The man would say, “My brother, good catch today. The gods must have been smiling on me.” He would reply, “Yeah, good for you.” The man would continue, “No, my brother, not good for me, good for my wife. I tell you, as a man who has seen many days, a man is as happy as his wife, so she will be glad when she sees the catch, and then I will be happy. There is nothing for us, my man. It’s all them.”

He would respond, “I appreciate your perspective. I haven’t really thought about it like that before,” though he wouldn’t be entirely truthful, having heard similar sentiments before. The man would come closer, and he would notice the old, ragged skin he hadn’t seen before. Up close, he would also see that the man was indeed aging, with wrinkles and worn skin bearing testament to his hard work. He would respect the man more for it.

The man would offer him a part of his catch, which he would politely decline, explaining that it would be a waste since he couldn’t cook and disliked the feeling of bones in his mouth. He would also narrate how he was too lazy to remove them. The man would say, “No worries, I will have my wife prepare something good for you, and I will also have someone bring it to your wooden shelter.” He would add, “There are many good girls in this town, you know. You’re going to have to be more welcoming to get a partner. A young man like you shouldn’t live on these shores alone. Live a little by adding some spice to your life.” The man would chuckle, and he would chuckle too. Then, the man would leave, and he would stay longer, until the cold became unbearable, and he would soon return to his wooden shelter.

He desired to go to such a place, not for any particular reason like running away from the life he knew. Where he was at now was fulfilling, but a new experience would be a welcome addition, a cherry on top of an already tasty cake. So, it wasn’t a fetish or a vain hedonistic endeavor; it would be a waste if it were. That reminded him of people who traveled as part of their job, gaining new experiences, but he wasn’t sure whether to envy them or feel a little sad. Were their experiences tainted because they came in the guise of a job? Anyone? Henceforth, he would highlight experiences of new things – new restaurants, new places – and journal about them. Maybe, right in there, or on recommendation of someone’s experience, he would find a gem and discover new places.