Chapter 3

                                

                                                           A DOOR OPENS

 

                                                   Written By: Ralph Hawk

 

 

            Time passes, and people, situations, structures, and even landscapes change. And I suppose

 

that’s not an extremely notable first sentence for a chapter, nevertheless, in the case of this particular

 

one, it may be outstandingly pertinent. But why? Because I fear too few earthlings realize how very

 

many members of mankind’s family either simply don’t believe time’s passage alters anything

 

substantially, or else do begrudgingly accept the veracity of this chapter’s opening sentence, but then

 

attempt to diminish all ramifications which the truth of that sentence may exert upon modern day life

 

on this planet.

 

            But gosh, how “alive” can life really be? The way it continues ever onward startles me!

 

            And I need some time now to organize or reorganize (depending upon one’s point of view)

 

my current way of life. All these years I’ve been so influenced by all that’s around me. Yet, all that’s

 

around me doesn’t necessarily help me live better. And I’ll wager that if I can’t live better personally,

 

I’ll not be able to help make the world better collectively.

 

But meanwhile, a door which had long been closed, has now been opened. And I guess it’s

 

that very door behind which certain students of the highway had been constrained. But now they’ve

 

been liberated! And now they’ll need to seek both temporal and eternal answers to all the temporal

 

and eternal questions they’ll surely encounter as they travel upon the figurative pathways of life. And

 

they’ll need to seek those answers because the time has come for them to either leave the

 

classification of humanity known as students of the highway behind, and join one of the other three  

 

(real artists, true artists, the “status-quo”), or else remain students of life’s highway for their entire

 

mortal existences.

 

Yes, it’s said mankind is divided into four basic genres. But truthfully, sometimes my belief in

 

those genres wanes. And then, at those times I find myself questioning if not the realness, then at least

 

the importance of divisions of humanity; and I experience such questioning then despite the fact that

 

I’ve had to appoint two of my “artistic enclave’s” members as co-chairmen of one of those divisions,

 

i.e. The Students Of The Highway.

 

Yet, whatever the truth of human classifications may be, mine are all the memories accrued

 

from moments spent “looking back.” And through remembrance I possess recollections of people

 

I’ve met, things I’ve done, and matters I’ve been involved in. And probably I’m someone who spends

 

too much time “living in the past” as the saying goes. But for me the past is so - so influential! Yes,

 

and many times in quiet reflections, fragments of bygone time frames overwhelm me!

 

And, from time to time when certain contemplations of all I’ve known and done, and not

 

known and not done, do dominate my mental focus – and no matter for how long – it’s then I often ask

 

this question of myself:  “Are our immortal preservers in the night, also our eternal proctors in the

 

light?” And I answer:  “Yes they are, but they’re often portrayed as shepherds guarding their sheep.

 

And though we may lessen the exertion those shepherds will need to expend on our behalf if we

 

adhere to someone’s apparently “advisable” course of action and/or lifestyle, does such adherence

 

really please those who function at once as both our guides and mentors? And does it even, in fact,

 

necessarily please the greatest of all shepherds who resides where light is timeless?”

 

A door opens, and from out behind it steps a realization. And it’s an acceptance of a

 

philosophical hypothesis which states that human life upon planet earth changes as certain time spans

 

known as eras come and go. And people who utilize common sense must surely know that eras pass.

 

Still, the “status-quo” attempts to deny their passage! And yet, should the changes wrought by the

 

passing of any recognized time span and the beginning of another become too great for even that

 

group of status to disavow, then that group will simply downplay any relevance those changes may

 

possibly effect upon society.

 

And people who try to visualize life as it really is certainly accept the fact that mankind’s

 

acquisition of knowledge continues unabated during the waning of eras. But how is the acquisition of

 

knowledge accomplished? I believe the best answer to that question is that simply all we currently

 

know has been learned by us either through our annexation of knowledge from other mortals, or else

 

through our own personal discovery. And I realize that at this time, so early on here, I’ve already

 

enunciated certain postulations with which not all readers may agree; yet, if nothing else, hopefully

 

those statements of supposed facts have stimulated thoughts in the minds of the readers, because,

 

after all, this is to be a book about thinking and learning.

 

            And today, as I’m writing what will be one of this book’s earliest chapters, I’m realizing how

 

thankful I should and must be for all I am, all I was, and all I may still become. And if that seems

 

either condescending or arrogant or both, I’m sorry, but I feel I need to state that fact now, early on

 

here, because whatever else it may be, it’s true.

 

            And it’s my constant temporal prayer, and will be my unending eternal quest, that all I now

 

possess, have possessed, or may yet someday possess, whether it is, was, or may be constituted of

 

physical materials or human capabilities, currently helps, has helped, and forever will help; and is,

 

was, and forever will be of righteous service to mankind. And I don’t know that I particularly agree

 

that to effectively aid one’s fellow humans one must be either exceedingly poor or abundantly

 

wealthy. Some say only those who’ve experienced poverty, or taken vows to live within it can truly

 

understand (and therefore appreciate) the plight of humans in need. But others believe that only the

 

very rich, through monetary gifts, can exercise the ability to meaningfully assist those who are

 

downtrodden and less fortunate.

 

            But I believe in the will of “common man” (a term which of course denotes both sexes).

 

And I believe each “common man” will make life better upon planet Earth if he or she wishes to.

 

Yet, today I can’t allow any beliefs I may hold, whether religious, political, economic, societal, etc.

 

to divert my purpose from the execution into literature of such a book as is entitled “The Students Of

 

The Highway.” And therefore I must ask the patience of those of you who’ll read it. Don’t give up

 

on it too quickly! Don’t say it’s just a random disclosure of a number of random occurrences which

 

befell myself and others who live in this city where literally anything can happen, be it humanly

 

believable or not.

 

            And this book, like Joseph Same’s “The Same Tapes,” is an example of the so-called

 

“move-novel.” It speaks of many topics and “ways of life,” and may tell a number of minor stories,

 

but is “underpinned” by one larger one. And thus it’s perhaps a product of disorganization. Yet,

 

probably how could one have anticipated a much different result for this written work, when all that

 

needs to be told within it must be told by various people with various points of view?

 

            So, I suppose some will say “proper literary techniques” weren’t used here. And of course

 

that’s true. Yet, despite all we’ll ever learn about such techniques, and regardless of all we’ll ever

 

hold as true concerning all scholarly subjects, there are two great temporal “realities’ which all of us

 

will have to acknowledge and confront here upon planet earth. And in my opinion they far outweigh

 

any “methods of proper writing,” or “amounts of knowledge” one may ever hopefully utilize or

 

possess. And they are that first, temporal time continues onward. We can’t stop it, though in certain

 

literary efforts some have said they have, or even that they’ve received temporary “dispensations”

 

from its passage. And the second is that we must prepare here in temporal time for the certainty that

 

eternal time will become a reality for us upon our earthly deaths. 

 

            And, as you may know depending upon your prior knowledge of me, I’m one of those very

 

few earthly mortals who’s living in suspended time. I came to this city over fifty years ago. And I

 

came here from a different reality of the Earth! And I’ll explain earthly realities later. But since I’ve

 

come here, all those years ago, I’ve not physically aged here! And the reality of that fact is, of course,  

 

unexplainable. It can only be believed via faith.

 

            And I don’t know how to properly communicate this, but those residents of this city who

 

know me personally, realize my appearance will never change for as long as I’m required to stay

 

here. But who has sent me here? The answer to that question is the “leaders” of my reality of Earth.

 

And why have I been sent here? The answer to that question is that I’m supposed to change the

 

“character” and “personality” of this city. And I’ll explain all those duties and phenomena in more

 

detail later, but for now, let me attempt to tell you what this book will hopefully be about.

 

            First, let’s acknowledge that this book will no doubt be a somewhat disorganized and

 

basically unstructured literary effort. And it will be the second book-length prose composition offered

 

for mankind’s perusal by the so-called “enclave of artists” who now reside along the north shore of

 

this city’s river. And it will also be basically a collection of philosophical statements made by various

 

members of that so-called enclave, as well as a disclosure of various truthful occurrences which,

 

depending upon one’s viewpoint, either through fate, chance, or predestination befell various

 

residents of this city where otherworldly, as well as other-reality events and “interventions” are

 

known to occur.

 

            My name is Ralph Hawk, and I’ve come to this “reality” of the earth from one of its

 

fifty-three other “parallel,” or perhaps one might term them “sibling” realities. And I’m here at the

 

behest of the Masters of Heaven, and have already been here for a long while. And I’m living here

 

in a city divided geographically and economically by a river; wealthier individuals live north of that

 

river, while those poorer live south of it.

 

            And, as I’ve said, I’ll explain parallel or “concurrent” earthly realities more elaborately later

 

in this chapter, although that’s already been thoroughly done by Joseph Same in his book “The

 

Same Tapes.” And I’m certain also that Rashon Leyf and F. John Surells will likewise attempt

 

explanations of parallel realities in some of their upcoming chapters. For now however, suffice it to

 

say that there are fifty-four distinct “tracts” or “channels” of existence functioning upon planet

 

Earth today! And most of you who’ll read this written work will no doubt be residents of the

 

certain one of those which all humans, within all realities consider to be the foremost, or at least

 

most influential. It’s termed “Earth One,” and it’s one of forty realities which contain human life.

 

            And, obviously the humans of my reality of origin do physically “look like” those of Earth

 

One. And that’s also the case with the mortal inhabitants of most of such earthly realities which do

 

feature what we know is human life. But, in some realities the “appearance” of mortals is quite

 

unlike that of those who inhabit Earth One. In fact, some realities have humans who approximate

 

the description of earthly robots, while still others have men and women whose physiognomy is

 

usually depicted by residents of Earth One as that of “life forms” from outer space.

 

            But personally, I was born, and lived for thirty some years in the earthy reality designated

 

Parallel Reflections. And if the truth be told, I believe my reality of origin is basically equal to Earth

 

One in regard to all aspects of human mortal life. Yet, there’s one substantial difference between the

 

two, i.e. while Parallel Reflections doesn’t possess all the computers and other various devices which

 

help the humans of Earth One contend with all the complexities of life prevalent in a complex reality,

 

my reality of origin has mastered the phenomena of “time-travel” and “reality crossover.” Thus, in

 

my mind, Parallel Reflections should really be considered technologically superior to Earth One.

 

            And because the humans of Parallel Reflections are capable of time travel and reality

 

crossover, they sometimes “intervene” in the affairs of other realities. And, for all it’s accomplished

 

in all aspects of human existence, Earth One still has not consummated performance of either time

 

travel or reality crossover.

 

            Thus, though Earth One is a virtual “powerhouse” of money-making possibilities, numerous

 

philosophies concerning all matters relevant to human life, transportation methods, food production

 

and distribution capabilities, generally accepted guidelines of law and morality (though of course

 

they’re often ignored or side stepped), and yes, armaments of destruction which its various nations

 

can use to “protect” themselves from one another; this reality in which I’ve now spent many years

 

is, in my opinion at least, in regard to my reality of origin, and I’m thinking to a number of others as

 

well, secondary in what is truly “substantive.” And as concerns all that’s also socially, and probably

 

one could say, “humanly” important, I think Earth One has definite strides to make. Yes, my reality

 

of origin surpasses it in those “fields” as well.

 

But yet, despite all I’ve just said, I like it here in Earth One! And I don’t know if I’ll be able to

 

convey the following thought to you via words as I “understand” it mentally. While vast

 

technological, and perhaps we might term them “societal” differences exist between Earth One and

 

Parallel Reflections, there’s also what I’ll designate a “fundamental” difference between them in their

 

“modes of lifestyle.” And again, not being a “good” writer, I’m struggling here to describe that

 

“difference.” But, in an attempt to portray it, let me use an analogy from Earth One’s sport of

 

baseball. To me, it seems that humans from Earth One are at all times either “at bat,” or “pitching” to

 

those at bat. There’s never time here to just sit back in the stands, or even in the “dug-out,” to simply

 

rest or watch, or perhaps reflect upon all that’s occurring, has occurred, or may yet occur out on the

 

playing field of life.

 

            In other words, all of life in Earth One seems forever enshrouded by what’s accepted, and

 

indeed deemed necessary. And that fact leads to continual hectic activity. And as far as I can tell,

 

there’s no “real time” here (or at least very little) to simply enjoy the passage of such very real time.

 

All is seemingly in constant motion here. And all mortals here are in constant conflict with each

 

other. And no, I don’t mean that crimes are being committed continually here, or that wars are

 

progressing incessantly. But there is a constant “all pervasive paranoia” present in Earth One

 

which, frankly, I can’t remember as having known in my reality of origin.

 

And it’s the answer I received from Joseph Same’s wife Sharon, when I asked her to assess

 

the differences between Earth One and Parallel Reflections (her and my reality of origin) that’s on my

 

mind just now. Sharon said she basically concurred with my assessment of those differences, and

 

went on to say that it seemed to her as though everyone in Earth One was living, as she termed it,

 

“consistently at that apex” which Joe referred to in his book when he stated that such was “ the point

 

at which the loneliness of fear, met the alienation of uncertainty.”

 

            And last year, during the occurrence of those virtually unbelievable events in the life of

 

Joseph Same (as documented in the book I referenced earlier in this chapter), I decided, with sanction

 

granted me by my superiors from Parallel Reflections, to undertake the establishment of what I term

 

an “artistic enclave” along the north bank of this city’s river. And since then many “artistic types,”

 

some actually from other parallel realities, have relocated here. But most of those who’ve resettled

 

here, as you might surmise, have been lifelong residents of Earth One. And of those who’ve come

 

here from areas of this reality, most have been Americans, but some have also come from nations

 

other than the U.S.A. And of all those mortals who’ve thus far resettled here, a small number,

 

including Joseph Same and Charles Platt, or Corzer as he’s called, have moved to the near north side

 

of this city from either other sections within this city, or areas near its boundaries. And whether right

 

or wrong, and perhaps unexpectedly, it’s such people as they who pique my interest most of all. And

 

I’ve become quite close to some of those people, especially Orlon Braem and Jane Doer. And both of

 

them were born into wealthy north side families years ago, but now both have sold expensive homes

 

on the far north side to be able to live with us here near the river.

 

            Bur all those “artists” who’ve recently relocated here, be they from differing areas of the

 

U.S.A., nations other than it, or even, as in a few instances, from other earthly realities, seem to

 

agree with my viewpoint concerning Earth One’s continual emphasis on immediate, non-ending

 

activity. And thus, maybe we who write this book should make that one of our priorities, i.e. let’s try

 

to slow down this fast paced reality! Let’s try to “see,” or at least attempt to learn if life can actually

 

be enjoyed here!

 

            And although the just mentioned goal should probably be looked upon as the primary effect,

 

or hopeful alteration of human conduct which this book might instill, nonetheless it’s also my hope

 

that all that’s written here will paint a figurative “mural” of at least some of the most consequential

 

elements of human temporal life. And, of course, whoever may wish to accept what’s said here as

 

true may do so freely and correctly; yet, conversely, whoever may wish to doubt the “sensibilities”

 

and/or disclosures found herein, won’t affect the veracity of those sensibilities, nor the actuality of

 

occurrence of all disclosures found herein. Yes, all that’s written in this book is true. I’ve no doubt

 

about that. But I’d better give you at least a small portion of background here.

 

In his book “The Same Tapes,” Joseph Same stated that mankind is indeed divided into

 

four all-inclusive groups, i.e. true artists, real artists, students of the highway, and the “status-quo.”

 

But, as I stated earlier in this chapter, I’m not completely convinced that a very rigid and iron-clad

 

classification system exists amongst mortals. Nonetheless, for the purpose of clarity amidst all that’s

 

written in this book, I’d ask those of you who read it to accept those divisions of mankind as being

 

real, at least during such time as you’re reading these pages. And my thanks in advance for that!

 

So, let’s now “deal with” the so-called “classifications of mankind.” In the event you’ve not

 

read “The Same Tapes,” or had those delineations of humanity previously explained to you, here’s a

 

basic description of them. True artists are the actual creators of art. Their contributions to mankind

 

show humanity what life is “really” like, and about. And, of course their art encompasses many

 

formats, i.e. painted art, music, performance art, literary works, and also “creations” realized through

 

the use of previously unaltered objects - and that refers to phenomena such as crafts, sculpture,

 

architecture, etc.

 

            Real artists are that very large segment of humankind which simply lives life correctly. Its

 

members are not creative per se, but are responsible to themselves and their societies. Thus, they

 

don’t become burdens to those societies.

 

            Students of the highway are also a vast portion of humanity. And that grouping of humankind

 

from which this book takes its name is comprised of such mortals as who are still, at whatever age in

 

their lives they may be, seeking their proper place among the four divisions of mankind. And, some

 

students of the highway will remain students of life all their lives. In other words, they’ll never

 

become artists either true or real; nor will they ever join that unfortunate fourth group of mankind, the

 

“status-quo.”

 

            And the “status-quo” is that genre of mortals which is ever engaged in an effort to promote

 

sameness and blandness. Thus it holds the past rather than the present or future to be the most

 

important saga of humanity. And here’s what Joseph Same said about the “status-quo” in his book:

 

“To them, all that ever was, is all that will ever be.”

 

            But there’s also an ancillary group of mortals whom Joseph Same has placed within the

 

student classification. And those who comprise that ancillary grouping of mankind carry with them

 

the unfortunate title “good times seekers,” or “pleasure seekers of today.” Yes, they’re the pleasure

 

seekers of the present. They’re living to experience “good times” while they still can. But as

 

Joseph Same told us in his book, sometimes “good times” are quickly ended.

 

            And, as is also referenced in “The Same Tapes,” our planet, Earth, has what are termed

 

“parallel realities.” They exist concurrent to one another, but remain unseen to each other. Yet, very

 

rarely, mortals from any one certain reality may be “called upon” by their Master in the skies to

 

“intervene” within the affairs of realities other than the one of their birth. And when that occurs,

 

those “other-reality travelers” usually attempt to solve certain problems or dilemmas which may

 

exist within the realities they’ve been dispatched to. But such intervention between realities is rare,

 

yet does occur from time to time at the behest of the Masters of heaven.

 

            And, for some reason, perhaps mostly because of its somewhat unnatural division of citizens

 

which I alluded to before, this particular city in which I now reside has had a disproportionate

 

amount of other-reality mortals living within it. In fact, both Joseph Same’s current and former

 

wives were not from this reality; nor am I who, as I mentioned earlier, am “looked upon” as the

 

leader of our enclave of artists. So, though it may be difficult to accept as factual, evidently there

 

have been numerous other-reality visitors and/or immigrants living in this city over the years.

 

            But all of us here today, who now live along this city’s northern river bank, have now,

 

regardless of from whence we’ve relocated here, dedicated our very lives to the furtherance of the

 

arts. Yet, what’s probably of more importance than even that, is that all of us here believe in the

 

ability of mankind to be basically moral and good, as well as accepting of its various races,

 

nationalities, and yes, realities.

 

            And, as an aside, one of our people recently informed me that he’d seen a mysterious woman  

 

driving around our city in a 1955 Chev. And he said he began to follow her, but she then led him out

 

to a deserted road outside the city. And he said he then decided he’d better not pursue her any further.

 

And if I hear any more about this, I’ll inform you later.