Last weekend, I attended a philosophy seminar in Sausalito (a Bay Area city in Marin County). The person who kindly picked me up from home wanted to stay for dinner and catch up with his friends from Ibn-i Arabi Society. I told the organizers that I will take care of myself, find the route back home:) As it happens, I stand at the entrance of a local grocery-shop and try to call uber a couple of times. No cars available is what I get for the first time since I began to use the app. A female worker stops by and kindly asks if she can help me. I show her the phone screen, she offers to call a taxi and invites me in the market. She explains it to a co-worker/cashier while reaching the landline. The woman who just overheard the conversation says: "I'll give you a ride! No worries". I look at her face and my jaw drops. She looks like the mirror reflection of Asli Erdogan, only taller and healthier with a suntan glow. I get goosebumps while I mumble some "thank you".
"My name is Taylor, I live on one of the floating homes over there. Sorry, I am sweaty and super casual, I just got back from a dance session. I have been dancing for years. It is called five-rhythms, it is a free-form dancing style and you don't utter a single word. It is amazing." I can see in her the magical energizing effect of the dance. The sun is shining, blinding both of us, she puts on sunglasses and I cannot take my eyes from her profile. Asli Erdogan is talking to me in English and just like in her Turkish shadow-play persona enjoyed once upon a time, Taylor loves to dance. "How much more surreal can things get after an Ibni Arabi seminar on love?" I ask myself. Both women look rebellious but Taylor is free and vibrant. She is full of life. She gives the name of the instructor and address of a dance-space in Berkeley, which she highly recommends that I give it a try. She says she'd give me a full ride back to Berkeley if she did not have to attend a friend's birthday party. I am positive that she means it. I take the ferry and then BART, stop by two olive oil product store to ask about the harvesting time and whether I can arrange a few hours of taking part in olive harvest on a ranch. I am told that there is still time.
http://sosyal.hurriyet.com.tr/yazar/ayse-arman_12/asli-erdogan-teror-orgutu-uyesiyse-bu-ulkede-yasayan-herkes-bu-suclamalarla-tutuklanabilir_40232435
Someone needs to pick olives and dance for you.
Do keep sending me your floating reflections.
Not that one can possibly forget your fragile, incarcerated body
In the land of Free Speech Movement
But because I love surprises from old soulmates
In this uncanny Universe called Literature.
