The text message was from my cousin Qingzhao. I have not heard from her in ages since her birthday party gathering in January. That time she was a blonde with hair her tied in a low collapsed bun. She wore short denim overalls and had several bracelets. I wondered whether she came from a fashion model shoot for some Instagram influencer thing she had brain stormed and worked on.
Always an entrepreneur and good with money which explained the expensive University Art courses and trendy apartments and her exotic travel destinations. In other words, all in our circle agreed she was the most successful even in very trying economic conditions. We ourselves were just as talented but did not have that extra appeal to draw in clients like her. We asked many times for her practical advice and no matter how simple and logical it was explained we could not get the results she seemed to effortlessly achieve.
So I accepted her out of the blue coffee offer and chat. I wondered what style she sported and looked like this time. I often reasoned and guessed as thought experiments but got it wrong always.
Unpredictable Qingzhao, I look forward to catching up for chit chat.
This time she wore Olivine and Cinnabar colors and I have to say I was jealous of her outfit of dress and top.
She was stunning with her orange hair, jade pendant and ear rings with several gold bangles. I did not bother to ask about her job, as she was obviously flourishing. So I asked, smiling has she found a guy and settled down ?
She said. "No, I have been burnt-out for 18 months and have questioned what I do. I can't seem to generate ideas anymore. Maybe I need to have a break. My body is behaving weirdly. I am constantly tired and exhausted. So how can I be an optimum creative with everything that is going on with me both mentally and physically" ?
I waited for her to continue and explain more at these shocking turn of events, but in hindsight with her popular and growing social media account and the pressure to create and post every week had obviously take its toll.
She then told me social media had fractured with all those billionaire rent seeking algorithms had made the game difficult now. It made everyone just post more and more in 24/7 cycle.
I asked if she had sought medical advice?
She said she is switching to a Vegan diet and plans to visit home soon. It has has been almost 5 years since she had seen her family. Then to get away from it all wants to travel around Asia for a while with no destination plan, just acting on the spur of the moment. That is why she wanted to talk to me and confide her problems. She asked the others but they were busy with assignments and it was too short a notice. She could not reschedule since she jets out this Friday.
I asked her to stay in touch and hoped she works around her problems. I honestly did not occur to me that she was so burnt out; it could happen to anyone I guess. I did not hear from again until I received a postcard to say she had recovered and was looking forward to do some study with a new friend who is an Astrobiologist.
I was nonplussed. What the ....??? I never heard of it ? my research showed it is multi-disciplined subject that combines aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy to explore the origin, evolution, and potential existence of life beyond Earth.
That sounded amazing but not crack pot weirdness. I was in disbelief - had Qingzhao gone from art to science ? How or why ? it did not make sense.
So she is going to be searching for bio-signatures, that is evidence of past or present life on other planets, such as organic molecules, microbial fossils, or atmospheric gases like methane and oxygen. By using radio telescope data - poring over data sets and model fitting
I never knew she was mathematically minded ?
Yes, there is no doubt about it Qingzhao has not changed and unpredictable as ever or perhaps she kept her other talents secret from us.
It sounds like she has found happiness on a new path, so good luck to her and I can't wait for her to tell me more.
We are fortunate and glad you got inspired to post an unexpected gem. Your jewel box has become a glittering collection.
Being a writer of course you create another story, as there are so many points in the visible and mental spectrum to make new connections for us to marvel at. Any points of interest can be connected to other points. The brain's billions of neurons ensures that synaptic connections are endless as long we can focus so that the wave form collapses. Do you hear the sound of a falling tree on a forest if you are not aware of it ?but do if you make a focused connection when present
All of us a lucky: me; myself, I, to read another of your creations.
The story is awesome, it has everything a delicately balanced East-West soul could desire: quantum theory spiced with Chinese mysticism, food and human drama.
Awesome work CY, I just had a thought: what is the point if you know the story - why re-read it ? Well it is because you loved the story about the sisters so much that you want to experience every detail again ... and again perhaps in an endless cycle.
An impressive idea in a story set at the interface of 先and後天. Powerful closing line. Thank you
Thanks for reading it :)
Is there such a thing as unscientific truth? Artistic definitely maybe truth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zmOVY8pYHQ&t=1s
Fantastic story full of possibilities that feel like truth!
It reminds me of a recent story.
The text message was from my cousin Qingzhao. I have not heard from her in ages since her birthday party gathering in January. That time she was a blonde with hair her tied in a low collapsed bun. She wore short denim overalls and had several bracelets. I wondered whether she came from a fashion model shoot for some Instagram influencer thing she had brain stormed and worked on.
Always an entrepreneur and good with money which explained the expensive University Art courses and trendy apartments and her exotic travel destinations. In other words, all in our circle agreed she was the most successful even in very trying economic conditions. We ourselves were just as talented but did not have that extra appeal to draw in clients like her. We asked many times for her practical advice and no matter how simple and logical it was explained we could not get the results she seemed to effortlessly achieve.
So I accepted her out of the blue coffee offer and chat. I wondered what style she sported and looked like this time. I often reasoned and guessed as thought experiments but got it wrong always.
Unpredictable Qingzhao, I look forward to catching up for chit chat.
This time she wore Olivine and Cinnabar colors and I have to say I was jealous of her outfit of dress and top.
She was stunning with her orange hair, jade pendant and ear rings with several gold bangles. I did not bother to ask about her job, as she was obviously flourishing. So I asked, smiling has she found a guy and settled down ?
She said. "No, I have been burnt-out for 18 months and have questioned what I do. I can't seem to generate ideas anymore. Maybe I need to have a break. My body is behaving weirdly. I am constantly tired and exhausted. So how can I be an optimum creative with everything that is going on with me both mentally and physically" ?
I waited for her to continue and explain more at these shocking turn of events, but in hindsight with her popular and growing social media account and the pressure to create and post every week had obviously take its toll.
She then told me social media had fractured with all those billionaire rent seeking algorithms had made the game difficult now. It made everyone just post more and more in 24/7 cycle.
I asked if she had sought medical advice?
She said she is switching to a Vegan diet and plans to visit home soon. It has has been almost 5 years since she had seen her family. Then to get away from it all wants to travel around Asia for a while with no destination plan, just acting on the spur of the moment. That is why she wanted to talk to me and confide her problems. She asked the others but they were busy with assignments and it was too short a notice. She could not reschedule since she jets out this Friday.
I asked her to stay in touch and hoped she works around her problems. I honestly did not occur to me that she was so burnt out; it could happen to anyone I guess. I did not hear from again until I received a postcard to say she had recovered and was looking forward to do some study with a new friend who is an Astrobiologist.
I was nonplussed. What the ....??? I never heard of it ? my research showed it is multi-disciplined subject that combines aspects of biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy to explore the origin, evolution, and potential existence of life beyond Earth.
That sounded amazing but not crack pot weirdness. I was in disbelief - had Qingzhao gone from art to science ? How or why ? it did not make sense.
So she is going to be searching for bio-signatures, that is evidence of past or present life on other planets, such as organic molecules, microbial fossils, or atmospheric gases like methane and oxygen. By using radio telescope data - poring over data sets and model fitting
I never knew she was mathematically minded ?
Yes, there is no doubt about it Qingzhao has not changed and unpredictable as ever or perhaps she kept her other talents secret from us.
It sounds like she has found happiness on a new path, so good luck to her and I can't wait for her to tell me more.
We are fortunate and glad you got inspired to post an unexpected gem. Your jewel box has become a glittering collection.
Being a writer of course you create another story, as there are so many points in the visible and mental spectrum to make new connections for us to marvel at. Any points of interest can be connected to other points. The brain's billions of neurons ensures that synaptic connections are endless as long we can focus so that the wave form collapses. Do you hear the sound of a falling tree on a forest if you are not aware of it ?but do if you make a focused connection when present
All of us a lucky: me; myself, I, to read another of your creations.
The story is awesome, it has everything a delicately balanced East-West soul could desire: quantum theory spiced with Chinese mysticism, food and human drama.
Awesome work CY, I just had a thought: what is the point if you know the story - why re-read it ? Well it is because you loved the story about the sisters so much that you want to experience every detail again ... and again perhaps in an endless cycle.
Superb.