Scott Stilson


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Step one in any anti-racist agenda: Refuse to speak in terms of race. Skin color? Pigment? Melanin? Yes. But “‘[r]ace’ itself is just a restatement and retrenchment of the problem” (Ta-Nehisi Coates).

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Air: the original social medium.

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Living unanxiously mindful of your own certain death is probably salutary. Living unanxiously mindful of the certain death of those you love might be even more so.

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A clean conscience goes a long way.

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“Orange Crush” (1988) sounds like R.E.M. had been listening to a lot of U2.

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While reading the Cheerios box, Sullivan stops and says, “Mom, what’s cancer?” Carla replies that it’s a sickness that kills a lot of people and that Cheerios is trying to raise money to help fund research to find a cure. In turn, Sullivan says, “Yeah, because pink doesn’t really work, right?” Confused, Carla asks, “What?” Sullivan replies slyly as if telling her something that only a few select people know, “Liiiike, people wear those pink shoes and gloves…but it doesn’t really cure their cancer.”

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Methinks 1 Corinthians 11:17 tempers a mindless application of Hebrews 10:25. is.gd/1cor1117heb1025

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Love itself is the prime spiritual discipline. All others, including Bible study and prayer, are good only insofar as they serve to empower, amplify, or inform love.

Pianists don’t cultivate their skill and musicianship by reading books on the history of piano music or by talking with composers, as enriching and obliquely helpful as that might be. They improve by playing piano.

Similarly, the way you get better and more consistent at loving is by trying to love.

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Carla: Except for Sully. He’s from Venus.
Sullivan: Are you saying beautiful and normally portrayed to non-school groups as naked?

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Speaking harshly was one of Jesus’ love languages.

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I do confess my having daydreamed today about fronting a U2 and Britpop cover band with college friends Aaron G., Jason, Aaron R., and Adam R., with Josh A. joining for acoustic numbers.

Ironically, and with apologies to Josh, it was late U2 (“Red Flag Day”) that first inspired the daydream. Also, friend of friend Chris F. was there, too, but I wasn’t sure how to fit in so many guitarists.

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For Christmas, can I have socks? Like, thirty socks. And wrap them all in cash.

— Sullivan

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Become love plankton.

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Lord, be more than a topic.

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I somehow sneezed up my shorts!

— Sullivan

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Oh, that’s just dirt from earlier.

— Éa, coughing

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Scott: What needs to happen for a bill to become law?
Éa: Oh, I know! The bill needs to sing a song! 🎵

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The nice thing about an airship is that you don’t need a garage.

— Sullivan

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I double down when I’m wrong? Wait. When am I ever wrong?

— Éa

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You know, whoever came up with the term ‘dad jokes’ has clearly never met my mother.

— Sullivan

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Éa: You’re very good at putting buns in. But you’re not very good at sleeping in them.
Carla: Build me up and tear me down! Build me up and tear me down!
Éa: At least you’re even!

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I have been undisciplined about having fun the past couple days.

— Scott, rubbing his eyes

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Any time I see people with AirPods in their ears, I can’t help but think they’re trying to save their half-eaten candy cigarettes for later.

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Man, that piccolo really makes your biceps pop!

— Sullivan

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You’re very American right now. I mean in a good way. Not in an overweight way.

— Éa, replying to Carla, who had just told Éa her outfit was very Swedish