Mother of Disaster Comedies
Mother of Disaster Comedies Linh Dinh [Belgrade, 8/3/20] In Tokyo, I was told by a Hong Kong immigrant that many Japanese are so punctual, they don’t just board the same train to work each day, but stand in the same spot in the same car. He had to be more or less the same, though, to notice such habitual exactitude, as he stood at his same spot each morning. Drunk after work, they can board whatever train they want. Me, I improvise. When hungry, I eat, and when tired, I sleep. Not having a 9 to 5 allows that, but I do work, even at 4 in the morning, when I get up. In Vung Tau, church bells ring at 4:30AM, and in Bengaluru, even earlier, though indistinct, as if echoed from the beyond or in a dream. I like to write outside. This is simply not possible in many countries, not if the streets are dark or snow is falling. In Southeast Asia, folks get up before dawn. I’ve been at this sidewalk café since 5:15AM. On the same block are open eateries serving rice with pork chop or rice noo...