Transition of thought up Mt. Vesuvius

In a town near Mt. Vesuvius, I know a man named Gio who will, for a small fee, drive you up to the top of the volcano and then drive you down. He speaks English well, curses gypsies and has soft eyes. You’ll notice them when you speak to him, and you’ll think of what I am telling you now. You’ll say that I was dead on.

On the way up to the top, Gio will probably play music you had never heard before. Bobbing your head in tune, you’ll catch eyes with him in the rear-view mirror. He’ll be squinting into the mirror to see if there are any other cars near your vehicle. You don’t have to dart away when you two lock eyes – remember, his are soft.

I know you’ll think of me for too many seconds on your way up. Instead of basking in the glory you should be attaining from riding into an active volcano, you’ll be wondering what I am doing. It’s okay. It’s not your fault. It’s human nature. Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Freud. That’s all.

Then suddenly something will happen. You’ll feel empathy for those who lost their lives in the great eruption of 79. You’ll violently shake your head and throw your shoulders into the air after a chill grabs you and wakes you up, as if it had been trying to for hours. The chill almost had to resort to cold water.

Gio will look back at you, and for a second you’ll swear that he was a mummified corpse. Gio will still be alive; his soft eyes will prove it.

At this point in your journey to the top, two bubbles will form in your mind, floating and gently nudging each other like bumper cars. One of the bubbles will represent the You that is aware and caring that you’re riding up Mt. Vesuvius. The other bubble will represent the You that is thinking of me, and the advice I gave you about Gio and his soft eyes. I love you for thinking of me, but now’s not the time. The rest of your mind, the background of the two bubbles, is You, bare, without any influence from me, Mt. Vesuvius or Gio. You’ll think of Keats and Negative Capability and Shakespeare. You’ll smirk and cock your head to the side. It will be a fun ride.