"The Fifteenth Stone"

[note: not these stones, but I do like this photo!]

(Vatchi): Sotto, you just reminded me here of something I thought long forgotten. It's called "The Fifteenth Stone" and I can't recall if it's a true story or an allegory, or what. But let me explain of stones and elephants.

   Somewhere, Japan or China , who knows? San Francisco ? A garden exists somewhere, a rock garden, let's say the size of a tennis court. You can walk completely around it, but you are not allowed to cross its borders. This rock garden contains fifteen large stones of varying sizes, say, knee high to chest high. And this rock garden is so constructed that no matter where you stand on the garden's perimeter, only fourteen of the stones are ever visible. One stone, forever changing, is always hidden from view. Fifteen stones in the garden, and no matter where you stand, only fourteen are visible.

   Which stone is Jim, Sotto? Which stone are you, Surimi?

 

from All Drinking Aside (Rough Draft, Day 8)