Y'know those moments where something you thought was concrete suddenly shifted? It's a funny thing really. It can be triggered by a conversation, a smell, a noise, even an energy in the room. I know when it happens for three reasons:1) I have a really weird sensation go through my brain. The best way I can describe it is like having someone pour something cold on top of the inside of my head.
2) I can actually see a fuzz for a split second. Like the room just skipped rotation, or maybe changed directions.
3) The big "oh yeah" hits.
While these moments don't occur regularly, when they do, most of the time it's because I realize something I previously believed or took for face value is actually complete bullshit. While feeling like an idiot for not seeing what was clearly right in front of me the entire time, I tend to start smiling or laughing. If I happen to be around other people when I have these realizations, they tend to ask me why I'm laughing or smiling for no apparent reason. Sometimes this is fine because whatever I just realized doesn't pertain to them, and maybe they will actually find the entire scenario funny as well. However.. sometimes this happens in a completely inappropriate place, and at a time where I will probably offend the people I am with. Now, when I find myself in this place, I can usually make up some silly white lie, tell a joke, or slough it off on somebody else. Yesterday things were different.
Last night I was at a work anniversary party. The usual industry suspects were there, one of whom is this older gentleman who always looks mildly the same. You can pin point him from across the room because he has white, white hair, which is always tied back in a ponus (yes, a ponus), wearing a dark suit with the jacket resting on his shoulders like a cloak, and a brightly coloured scarf wrapped around his neck. I guess I should also mention that this attire does not change winter to summer.. apparently the man has no problem with humidity.
Anyway, I had always been under the impression this man had something to do with the establishment of the Design Exchange. I should clarify, I have always believed this because this is what he has always told me when speaking with him in the past. According to 'Jim' his family has always been deeply involved in the design community in Toronto and when the DX was established he negotiated the space as well as the government support to make it a NFP, registered charity. During these rants, I always thought Jim was kind of egocentric, but had no reason to doubt him. "Ok, sure, great.. yeap, that's fantastic". I just thought he was one of those people who needed other people to know their accomplishments.
However, last night, while listening to the third or forth variation of this story, something clicked and I realized this guy is actually completely nuts. Not only did he not have anything to do with the establishment of the DX, but I question whether he has anything to do with the design community at all. Certifiable. Naturally, I start to snicker during all of this while still trying to make it seem like I'm completely enthralled with his story. But after about 20 seconds of cold water running over my head, a fuzz in my eyes and one of the biggest "oh yeahs" I've had in a long time, it is becoming blatantly obvious to this guy that I'm laughing and that I'm probably laughing at him.
Luckily, at that exact moment my boss approached me, probably knowing how crazy this guy actually is, saving me from a potentially very awkward moment. One in which I doubt I could have put together a decent enough escape strategy, and all the while knowing that calling bullshit on someone who probably believes every convoluted word they utter will not end amicably. I don't know what happened to Jim because I didn't see him for the rest of the night, but I do know that even truth is in the eye of the beholder.
