I had dinner with my Dad on Friday. He was surprise in town for the weekend and so we went to his old haunt of 32 years ago - Taix. I'll dis on the Taix service in a moment, but for now, I want to reminiscence positive.
One of my Dad's biggest traits is his trickster, pranking nature. I hadn't realized this until Friday. My Dad was always joking around. To this day, he still calls me, disguising his voice. (Last time he called me, he was an Indian from a Dell call center.) This was a normal, everyday occurrence for me, and I braced myself every time he got started. My brother quickly picked up his skill and the two of them would tease me incessantly. Trying to see how far they could get me to believe them. I hated this, for several reasons. Of course I didn't like being teased, but even more than that, I was appalled that they would "lie" and then deny the lie b/c it was a story/prank/trick. What happened to the truth uber alles? It was more like trickster uber alles. I couldn't believe/trust anyone to tell the truth.
I always wondered why I didn't get the pranking skill. I am way too honest for my own good. Why couldn't I spin huge stories and trick my dad and brother? I thought, I'm just not a prankster. (Although I identify with many trickster archetypes.) Friday at dinner, I saw differently. Whereas my Dad and brother prank individuals, my pranks/tricks/mobius flips are on concepts, ideas. I like to prank societal norms. I prank to make people question, think - not to belittle or make fun of or take power from people. I stir the pot. My pranks don't leave pie on your face, but instead (I hope) twist from your brain, a small spark, that had been previously dark.
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