fiction
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The gods are remarkably obedient
Conversations with Virgin Mary “I forgot to mention last time that I applied for a government grant,” I told Jorge. “I’m proposing a project based on an adaptation of The Art of War, paired with drawings made on my own rejection letters—from e-flux, Tate Modern, and other institutions.” Jorge looked at me for a moment…
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Forget about spoons, socks, or ketchup. I want a coffee
Conversations with Virgin Mary This afternoon I arrived at Jorge’s house with my homework done, that was the feeling I had, accomplishing on avoiding one of my many cases of procrastination, finally I completed and submitted an application for a grant in the Canada Council for the Arts, I have been tracing a plan about…
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Let your kid skateboarding
Conversations with Virgin Mary For seven days, I have been silent, something inside is taking my speech power from me. It’s not that I can’t talk, but each time I open my mouth an invisible creature inside my right back molar is punishing me. There’s a solution for this, a place just a few steps…
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Please Be Seated
The narrative revolves around a person dealing with their mother’s declining health and family dynamics while juggling art submissions. They contemplate hiring help or considering a nursing home as their mother is increasingly dependent on a wheelchair. Amidst these challenges, they receive recognition for their artwork at an upcoming event, prompting reflections on meaning and…
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Under Pressure
The author reflects on a recent experience involving a flower arrangement inspired by lessons from Virgin Mary. Despite waiting for a meaningful message, the author feels frustrated and finds no enlightenment. Conversations with Jorge reveal that performing tasks without expecting rewards fosters personal growth. They discuss the importance of managing pressure, comparing it to a…
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Form Follows Function
Conversations with Virgin Mary I returned home from Milwaukee. I had time to visit the House and Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, and Taliesin, his cottage in Wisconsin where he lived for 50 years. It was an interesting visit, almost like archaeology—uncovering the past, even if it is a relatively recent past. I…
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NowHere
The author reflects on personal struggles while in Milwaukee testing a new cashbox for buses. Despite facing multiple rejections in their artistic endeavors, they express resilience in continuing to experiment. The narrative intertwines themes of family challenges, particularly concerning the author’s mother with Parkinson’s, and philosophical musings on waiting and existence at a bus stop,…
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The Bulb in the Fridge
Conversations with Virgin Mary I took my car to the body shop to repair the antenna and the hole in the roof. I don’t need a radio in my car. I can live without it, but the hole in the roof is keeping me awake at night. There are features you take for granted until…
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Here Comes the Rain Again
The narrative revolves around the protagonist’s struggles with various personal challenges, including a damaged car, a sick mother, and a complicated family dynamic. He seeks wisdom from a friend, Jorge, who channels messages from the Virgin Mary, emphasizing life’s cyclical nature. The story highlights themes of care, communication, and the interconnectedness of struggles.
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Clean Up Your Windows
Conversations with Virgin Mary I saw a chicken trying to cross the road, just like in the videogame. There were no cars, only mine, slowing down. I think it was a chicken, the window was so dirty from the melted snow on the roads. What was a chicken doing there? I live on the rural…
