Conversations with Raymond

Curator’s Note

Randy’s “Conversations with Raymond” are a delightful series of Socratic dialogs between smart and likeable individuals exploring a small variety of subjects including love, beauty, life, and consciousness.

The conversations between Raymond, Christy and Regi illustrate a playfulness and curiosity that all civilised individuals should want to have in their own relationships.

I don’t know if the Raymond, Christy and their conversations with Regi/Randy were real, but I certainly hope they were.

• Never Has, Never Will

A friend of mine pointed out, “You might be interested in this.” It was a URL. I looked at it. You can too, here: http://www.wendymcelroy.com/news.html?extend.4666 “Oh,” I said. “Another save the world scheme, and you can be part of it–for just $120 a year.” “It’s not a, ‘save the world scheme,’ my friend said somewhat indignantly.” “Then what does this mean? ‘We are going to change history with this Club. It’s a new world …,‘” I emphasized, reading from the article at the link.

• A Queer Kind of Liberty

Raymond LePage is a libertarian, “small ‘L,’” he always emphasizes, and an Objectivist, but, “not a Randite,” he always insists. He believes he is a fighter for individual freedom and belongs to several freedom-oriented organizations and supports various freedom movements, though the organizations and movements seem to change fairly often. Ray often accuses me of what seems like a contradiction to me. On the one hand, he accuses me of having no interest in freedom, but on the other, he accuses me of being so self-centered and narcissistic I have no interest in others or what happens to them.

• Who Ray Is

I’ve written about some of these conversations before and you can find them listed under, “The First Conversations,” in the index to all these stories. Those early conversations did not explain much about Raymond or my relationship with him. Since I intend to record more of our conversations I thought it best to explain a little more about how they came about. Some years ago I managed a large publication department in a major telecommunications company.

• Love and Atheism

Raymond knows I work during the week, and unless I’ve invited him, he seldom shows up on his own except on weekends. I knew something must be up when he came around early Wednesday morning. I was still having breakfast and asked him if he’d like some. When he said no, I knew it was serious. “Well sit down then while I finish mine,” I said. “Tell me what’s on your mind.

• Be Prepared

Ray called earlier in the week and asked if he could bring Christy with him for our Sunday lunch which we had previously scheduled. They arrived about eleven thirty. I was on the terrace with a newspaper in my lap, but I was not reading; I was thinking which always transports me to my own world and, for a moment, did not notice that they had strolled out to the terrace.

• Beauty

Ray and Christy arrived a little earlier than I expected, because Ray has a tendency to just barely meet schedules. It was Christy who had made sure they were on time. “Hope we’re not too early,” Ray said as they strolled out to the terrace. “More like on time, for a change,” I said. “Delighted to see you Christy,” I said as I stood. Christy did not say a word, but came to me directly and volunteered a hug.

• Beauty Again

Julie brought me the phone and said it was Mr. LePage, whom you know as Raymond, or Ray. “Hi Ray. What’s up?” Raymond almost never calls me unless he wants something. “Sorry to bother you, Regi. I promised Christy I’d find out when we can have another talk. I was wondering ….” I didn’t give him time to finish. “All you had to say was that Christy wanted to see me, Ray.

• Art

Our discussion had been a continuation of our discussion of beauty which turned to the subject of art. It was Christy who had brought it up actually. It was at that time that we adjourned from the kitchen to the dining room where Julie had set the table for lunch. I had prearranged the seating so that Ray and Christy would be seated next to each other with Christy next to the corner at the head of the table where I sat.

• What's Important

The last time Ray and Christy came for lunch, we had been discussing art. I had asked Christy if she thought art was important which she declined to answer because she thought the real question was, “what is important?” We had agreed to continue our discussion the next saturday, but I knew the following Wednesday was a holiday, so I invited them both for breakfast. They arrived at 9:00. Julie had ushered them into the kitchen where I was having a smoke and a cup of coffee.

• Art and Culture

I thought I heard a motorcycle and it sounded like it stopped just outside. In a few minutes Julie ushered Christy into the kitchen. She was beaming as usual. “Ray’s running a little late,” she said while removing her leather jacket and draping on the back of one of the chairs. “He said to apologize for him, but I won’t,” she laughed while giving me her customary hug. “Love your leather,” I said.

• Conflicts

I called Raymond on Monday to ask if he and Christy could come to lunch the following Saturday. When he answered the phone he sounded like he expected bad news. “Oh, hi Regi,” he said when he found out it was me. “Sorry to sound so gloomy.” “Why, whatever is the matter, Ray. Didn’t have an argument with Christy, I hope.” “Oh no. Nothing like that. In fact if it weren’t for her I probably wouldn’t have a job.

• Irony

They Could Be Christy and Raymond It had been a couple of months since Raymond and Christy had last visited. I was delighted when Julie announced I had a call from Mr. LePage. “Hi Regi. Just wanted you to know we are back, and Christy is dying to see you.” “Well I’m dying to see her too, Ray. By the way, thanks for the card, I know Christy picked it out.

• The Taste of Cinnamon

It had been almost a month since I last saw or even heard from the LePages, so was pleased when Julie brought the phone and announced, as she handed it to me, “it’s Mr. LePage.” “How’s the old married man?” I asked a soon as I had the phone. “Hi Regi. Just wonderful, thank you.” “And Mrs. LePage?” “Christy’s wonderful too. She’s actually the reason I’m calling. We were talking about you and she reminded me that we haven’t seen or spoken to you for some time, so I want to apologize for that.

• Nature of Consciousness

I never did learn how Julie managed to be at Ray and Christy’s yesterday. She didn’t drive herself, because she accepted a ride home with me. It was on the way home that she asked, “Mr. Firehammer, couldn’t we make our visit with the LaPages for lunch?” “That would be alright with me, Julie. I know how much you worked today and just didn’t want to burden you with lunch tomorrow,” I said.

• The Stuff of Life

Ray and Christy showed up just before eleven Friday morning. After my hug and kiss, Christy went to join Julie in the kitchen. Ray and I went out to the patio. Ray began telling me about a new writer he had hired that he was very much impressed by. She was apparently very bright and worked with almost no instruction and seemed to have an almost uncanny understanding of what needed to be done and did it.