Quantum fluctuation. Inflation. Expansion. Strong nuclear interaction. Particle-antiparticle annihilation. Deuterium and helium production. Density perturbation. Recombination. Blackbody radiation. Local contraction. Cluster formation. Reionization? Violent relaxation. Virialization. Biased galaxy formation? Turbulent fragmentation. Contraction. Ionization. Compression. Opaque hydrogen. Massive star formation. Deuterium ignition. Hydrogen fusion. Hydrogen depletion. Core contraction. Envelope expansion. Helium fusion. Carbon, oxygen, and silicon fusion. Iron production. Implosion. Supernova explosion. Metals injection. Star formation. Supernova explosion. Star formation. Condensation. Planetesimal accretion. Planetary differentiation. Crust solidification. Volatile gas expulsion. Water condensation. Water dissociation. Ozone production. Ultraviolet absorption. Photosynthetic unicellular organism. Oxidation. Mutation. Natural selection and evolution. Respiration. Cell differentiation. Sexual reproduction. Fossilization. Land exploration. Dinosaur extinction. Mammal expansion. Glaciation. Homo sapiens manifestation. Animal domestication. Food surplus production. Civilization! Innovation. Exploration. Religion. Warring nations. Empire creation and destruction. Exploration. Colonization. Taxation without representation. Revolution. Constitution. Election. Expansion. Industrialization. Rebellion. Emancipation Proclamation. Invention. Mass production. Urbanization. Immigration. World conflagration. League of Nations. Suffrage extension. Depression. World conflagration. Fission explosion. United Nations. Space exploration. Assassination. Lunar excursion. Resignation. Computerization. World Trade Organization. Terrorism. Internet expansion. Reunification. Dissolution. World-Wide Web creation. Composition. Extrapolation?

Words copyright 1996-1997 by Eric Schulman.

Sometimes objects gather importance the way a diesel car gathers speed - slowly, but with inexorable progress.  Other time its a little faster.  But then maybe I'm on the wrong track here, maybe the gathering is more subjective, its nature more one of intent than of thing.  If that's the case then this picture is one of essence, an arrangement of pixels owing more to Plato's cave than the refracting and reflecting of light.

When I was first gifted with this writing desk by Jeannie and Krissy my reaction was immediate and emotional.  Tears that I hid, heartbeat that I quelled.  That first day I ran my fingertips over it in a light caress of greeting and absorption.  It is so perfect.  Perfect in its location, perfect in its size and shape, perfect in its nicks and scratches and watermarks.  Like the hoes and axes in Brin's novel, it has been practiced well but is always ready to resume the endless quest.  The question is, am I?  I hope so, in even the tiniest way.