I was thinking about when David Lynch on his Youtube channel says, “I was thinking about…” and he tells us about a song that presumably is going through his head. Lynch doesn’t even say what exactly (or even vaguely) he was thinking about said song and musical artist, he’s just interrupting his Los Angeles area weather report. Now why I feel a need to watch an unscientific, rather subjective seeming weather report for a place I don’t live in is even harder for me to explain, but I think it’s about seeing a human being reaching out to connect through the simple matters of the day. My grandmother always peppered her letters with weather reports and I miss those. 

Another reason why I love David Lynch saying “I was thinking about.” It feels like someone sharing an inspiration point with me. It’s kind of like: “Here’s some music that fed my soul.” In an algorithmic world, do we take the time to share work that moves us, surprises us, finds us at the right time, confounds us with its mere existence, makes us reconsider everything we know about what we like, or don’t like.

I was thinking about Eartheater’s cover of “Chop Suey.”

I was also thinking about this issue’s micros – how each piece delivers the writer’s inspiration to us in only 100 words. Now playing: Donna Shanley’s cave inspirations, Karen Donavan’s rock inspirations, Thad DeVassie’s inspiration of a space and in space, Cole Beauchamp’s inspiration of birthdays and situationships, Andrea Lynn Koohi’s inspiration of what’s in the cupboard, Ken Poyner’s inspiration of a stamp collection.

Maybe this letter should be for my grandmother. I could tell her that she might not like my music choice, but also it’s like bathwater outside tonight and you can see the stars. I’ll try not to get bit by mosquitos. Tomorrow the sun is supposed to shine all along the way and I’ll make some damn fine coffee.

Sincerely,

JR Walsh
Online Editor
The Citron Review