A Constant Effort

Bill Evans Trio - Beautiful Love /Jazz Piano Workshop Berlin 1965

drummer Alan Dawson born on this day in 1929.

Personnel: Bill Evans - piano, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - double bass, and Alan Dawson - drums.

by Robert Frost

by Emily Dickinson

I heard a Fly buzz — when I died — The Stillness in the Room Was like the Stillness in the Air — Between the Heaves of Storm —

The Eyes around — had wrung them dry — And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset — when the King Be witnessed — in the Room —

I willed my Keepsakes — signed away What portions of me be Assignable — and then it was There interposed a Fly —

as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.