Today I invited a neighbor friend over for tea and cake, and we spent the afternoon reorganizing the known universe. She's a serious introvert and lovely woman, so the deal is that if it's not a good day, just say, no problem, no persuasion. Today was good though, so she enjoyed the sweet potato etc cake. I always hugely enjoy her company.
Later Gary came dashing over to arrange foster care for this begonia, which he grew from a cutting I rooted for him. I'd prune it to keep it bushy but he loves the height, so I'll refrain.
He'll be away two weeks starting Wednesday, so it needs watering in his absence. He's got a visit set up for the other plants but this one needs more care.
On Janice's blog on Sunday, she mentioned synaesthesia. Since I'm one of the fortunate people to have this in many forms, I thought you'd like to see this.
what a nice man he was, very interested in my observations, some of which had been dismissed by other doctors. He pretty much sums up my experiences very succinctly here. I felt honored that he gave my ideas serious attention. He really was a lifelong learner.
Synaesthesia is a real gift. When colors have literal taste, music has colors, names and numbers trigger color, movement and shapes, your world is so rich. The same effects have been triggered throughout my life, unchanging, as far back into early childhood as I can remember
It does have a downside -- clutter literally interferes with my hearing and creates physical stress, and some colors -- purple, some browns -- cause me nausea. But mostly it's lovely. And the passage of time has a kind of scrolling effect, rolling left into the past and right into the future. Each century has a blocky shape, too.
Speaking of the future, I've arranged for a car buying company to come to the house Friday (crumbling dark green material, curving down, fyi!), to check out and buy the car. They can do all this on the spot without my having to go to a dealership.
They already gave me a decent price estimate, based on my reporting. So I'm hopeful that this will go well, and I can start using rides. I already signed up with a preference for women drivers.
Happy day everyone, enjoy your day, whatever's in it. There's bound to be something nice, even if it takes a bit of finding.
Oliver Sacks was such a humane human being. What a gift for listening he had. Another friend corresponded with him about neurological deficits left after a stroke, and reported he experienced the same serious attention that you received.
ReplyDeleteI can see how synaesthesia could be both a blessing and a curse, but what a richness it would bring to an artist.
Your visit with your neighbor sounds satisfying for you both. As an introvert yourself, it's clear you respect her preferences as she must do yours.
You're moving briskly (and wisely) on the car sale. And once again, plant-sitting for Gary :-) You two are a great team.
Chris from Boise
The car sale should work out well wrt Gary -- turns out he's going to be away and it will be done, dv, quite a while before he gets back. Just think, if I'd agreed to his idea I'd be on hold immediately for two weeks, then it would be near Christmas etc etc..
DeleteI'm not surprised your friend got Sacks' attention. He was so attuned and generous with his knowledge.
The friend is a wonderful one. What she did for me around Handsome Partner's death, particularly the day of, can never be repaid.
How fascinating. I never realized that I, too, taste colors. My sensitivity is clearly not as strong as yours, but there are colors that sicken me and others that leave a sweet or spicy flavor in my head. I’ll have to read more about synaesthesia.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you're sensitive to color. I wonder if you may discover more as you read. And I wonder if you never thought of your perception as anything other than normal. A lot of people assume their experience is normal till they find out to their surprise that other people don't have their normal.
DeleteThe first time I heard of synaesthesia is when reading David Baldacci. His character Amos Decker has this condition. And that ride share option is wonderful; which service is this? Or, maybe it's all and I just don't know it.
ReplyDeleteThe ride service with the choice is Lyft. I don't know of any other.
DeleteSynaesthesia gives extra aspects to life doesn't it!
ReplyDeleteYou are a good neighbour... understanding how others "roll".
Sounds like that car buying company is a good deal, so long as they match your research. You know that they need to make money on reselling, but some take advantage
I have that good day deal with other people, too. Probably because we're on a similar wavelength.
DeleteTheir offer is considerably better than the dealership, so even if it drops after inspection, it's still okay. There was a higher one but it involved a dealership an hour away and chances of dropping anyway, so I passed on it.
I hope that their fair estimate holds when they check the car out.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post! Synaesthesia has intrigued me ever since I first learned of it. What a unique way to experience the world, with whole new layers of sensation! And so very cool that you connected with Oliver Sacks!
ReplyDeleteHe must have had an enormous correspondence, so open to new ideas and responding.
DeleteI've been reading your blog for one year, and I haven't heard tell of Oliver Sacks in this time! I'm a huge admirer of his work, and I've read nearly every published work by him, including those published posthumously. Although my introduction was reading his clinical work, my favorite has been his 2nd autobiography On the Move: A Life. What a writer he was! I also very much enjoyed the book by his partner (Bill Hayes), titled Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me. I'm in awe of your correspondence with him. To return to the topic that evoked by surprise, synesthesia, I didn't know you were gifted with that! I hope you write more about it, at least from time to time.
ReplyDeleteHe was a wonderful man and thinker and writer. I'm always open to questions about synaesthesia, and I'm glad that nowadays it's seen as an enhancement to life, not a mental illness as it used to be. One of my high school teachers described it that way. No wonder people didn't freely discuss it. At least with people like her.
DeleteIf you are open to questions, would you perhaps say more about how many senses are involved and how they intersect/overlap? I'm not sure how to ask say what I mean exactly... For example, do you see (feel?) purple if you touch cold metal? My other big question is when and how you found out that not everyone experiences the world as you do.
DeleteHow wonderful to have been a correspondent with Sacks! Such a fascinating man. I don't have the taste reaction to colors you do and I'm a little glad I don't. Mostly I am very sensitive to the messy and the cluttered. Really any sort of situation in which there is a lot of sensory input, especially if it's loud or seemingly uncontrolled overwhelms me and I have to remove myself from that situation. It has gotten worse as I've gotten older to the point where even family gatherings with a lot going on, are too much for me. I want my peace and quiet.
ReplyDeleteThat's different from synaesthesia, which isn't about overwhelm. I think you're what is known as HSP -- a highly sensitive person. You do need to protect yourself from too much input. Even family groups can be too much, I agree.
DeleteI've always been fascinated by synaesthesia but have never met anyone with it. It's also so nice for you to be seen, heard, and understood. It's really what we all want, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad the car sale is going to be so quick and easy for you. Who knew?
People with synaesthesia often don't talk about it because it seems to us that it's normal. Others have been mocked, so they don't invite more. So you may know people who are blessed with it.
DeleteI'm hoping the car sale goes easily. We'll see.
Wow! Your synaesthesia sounds incredible. And you're giving up the car? A good decision. I will have to read some of the posts I've missed in my busyness.
ReplyDeleteI'm ready to move on from driving.
DeleteHow interesting to have your synaesthesia recorded for all time. You certainly seem to have the full spectrum. I loved the account of the little boy who thought everyone saw colours when they heard music. He thought the lights were dimmed at the beginning of a concert so that everyone could see the rainbow of colours over the orchestra.
ReplyDeleteGood news on the car. One less thing to worry about.
Yes, most people assume their experience is universal. It's a surprise when you find maybe it's not.
DeleteI'll exhale about the car when it's done!
I didn't know about synaesthesia but you explain it well. Does it affect your food choices too? Like do purple or brown food bother you? Interesting...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the car sale!
It's mainly purple in fabrics, yarn etc. naturally occurring purple such as berries, not so much. Similarly browns.
DeleteI didn't know about synaesthesia but you explain it well. Does it affect your food choices too? Like do purple or brown food bother you? Interesting...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the car sale!
How great to have a signed copy of that book! We have it in our school library. I think I have very vague synesthesia -- colors associated with music, that kind of thing -- but nothing as powerful as what you report.
ReplyDeleteHe was nice to send me that. Gracious touch. I wonder if everyone has some degree of syn. without recognizing it.
DeleteI had never heard of synaesthesia. Sent me off to googling and reading. How wonderful! You are truly blessed with a world much larger and more layered than mine. I have always had a thing with clutter or things not being in place. Can have a lot of things around me but they have to be organized...what I call my OCD side. I discovered that living in the "chaos" of being half packed for three years and now the chaos of being half unpacked since the move...really affects me. Fogs my brain. Makes me all "off" inside. Stresses me in a constant undercurrent. Unsettles. I am ungrounded. Had periodic meltdowns of a total inner emotional collapse. You have taught me something new. Even though my reaction to having my little corner of the world organized is nothing like having synaesthesia, there are parts of it I can relate to. Wow! Thanks! So glad I have met you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's interesting. I really need clear or orderly counter tops that sort of thing, or I'm on edge.
DeleteTea and cake yes please. I would be very nervous taking care of the plant. I would worry I would kill it yikes.
ReplyDeleteCathy
I propagated this one for him so it's easy to take a slip and start a new one if necessary. He knows he takes his chances.
DeleteThe synesthesia is fascinating and I would be interested in reading Sachs' book. It's something of which I know little so thanks for the explanation and how it has affected you. That autographed book is truly a gift. I'm glad you came up with a good solution for the car. It sounds like a win-win for everyone.
ReplyDeleteSacks is a fascinating writer and person, and I can recommend any of his books. I'm hopeful about the car, though a bit daunted by Andrew's comments, to be honest.
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful visit with your neighbor. I haven't heard of synesthesia until now. It's difficult to understand living with this, but I guess like most things, if it's always been this way it is the way you have known.
ReplyDeleteIt's like living with hearing, or speech, or taste. It's normal. I can't imagine the thin grey life I'd have without it. But as you say, if that's your life, it's normal!
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