Titles galore

It's been a quiet week both because of our self-imposed Internet ban (lifted tonight but possibly just for a short interval depending on how well we do at remembering where we really are) and because I've been pushing hard to finish another revision of the book.  And now the much vexed title question rears its head again.  For the longest time, the title had been fixed at "You Are Here."  This was a title that all of us had become quite attached to.  And then the bombshell that another book would release in the fall with the same title.  I think it's a better title for my book than his, but nevertheless....

So then, after much struggle, we arrive at a worthy alternate:  "Where am I?"  I grow to like this title so much that I'm ready to push the button on it when today, as I'm finishing off what I hope will be the last few notes, another option leaps into mind:  "Wish you were here."  I'm not sure about this one, but when I pitch it to my wife I see a visible 'pop' in her facial expression suggesting just the kind of grabbiness I'm looking for.  So there's a new contender.

And now, the coup de grace.  After a long and difficult few days at the office, an unusual amount of office politicking (even for a university) and a roller coaster ride that sees me perhaps lose one major battle and then win another, one of my neighbours rings the doorbell.  Chris is tall, gentle, friendly and a Tibetan Buddhist.  We'd had a conversation last summer about my own interests in Buddhism, and he'd suggested that I might like to visit with his group at some point.  We had a nice chat and then he passed me a brochure about a series of talks that he's involved in over the next few weeks.  The title of the series?  "Where we are."  Suddenly an embarrassment of riches.  It may be time for a vote. 

Comments

[Cory]

Ahh! A title debate...!

[colin]

Hi Cory,

Yes, a title debate would be better than a title fight. Those always seem to be in Manila.

[danny]

I like Where We Are best of all the mutations your title went through. But, Wish You Were Here will probably grab more attention just because it's Wish You Were Here. Then again, I'm not in marketing.

And, I really recommend watching Enlightenment Guaranteed. I don't want to mention anything else about it, except that your mention of the Tibetan Buddhist reminded me of it.

[colin]

Thanks Danny. "Where we are" has been the most popular choice so far. I adored Enlightenment Guaranteed. I remember watching it with a couple of family members who were more inclined to glossy Hollywood blockbusters. They guffawed at the obvious low budget production values near the beginning of the film, but were absolutely mesmerized by the end and wanted to watch it again right away. It hadn't really occurred to me to think back to it in the context of space, place, location, and being lost until you mentioned it though, so I'll be watching it again now. I haven't seen it yet, but the new documentary entitled "As Slow as Possible" featuring Ryan Knighton, author of "Cockeyed" may share some themes. You might want to check it out.

You might know that there are some interesting connections between areas of the brain that are affected in deep meditation and those which we think control our sense of knowing where we are. I'll have more to say about this in coming weeks.