Grosse Point Novak Remember in
October 24th, 2000
Grosse Point Novak
Remember in “Grosse Point Blank” when Minnie Driver tries explaining to John Cusack the concept of shakabuku, which she succinctly describes as “a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever?”
Well, I must say that while reality has not altered itself recently, my perceptions of certain facets of it definitely have. The other night I was trying to explain to Cyndi how one chance encounter the previous week with someone who might as well have been a stranger, one smiling, unexpected glance held longer than usual, had made me reconsider my attitude towards another, completely unrelated situation. I’d rather use another word than spiritual, but I was clocked by a swift boot to the head — a cosmic bitch slap, if you will.
Unfortunately, my explanation fell apart into nervous laughs, self-derisive snorts and muttered “like, ya knows” because I simply couldn’t find a proper way to explain the effect this chance encounter had on me. Cyndi, I assume, thought I was insane.
Popcorn!
Well, Cyn, just as we witness Cusack’s character Martin Blank being deeply effected by the affective gaze of a child (Blank’s own shakabuku if you will), I found myself unexpectedly caught in a look (and I think, reactively, reflexively, mirroring a smiling look of my own) that sort of shook me up (in a pleasant way). I was so hyperaware in those two seconds that I seemed to be witnessing the exchange at the same time I was experiencing it. Some things fell into place. Others seemed inconsequential. In retrospect, I suppose this was less of a boot to the head, and more of a gentle poke on the forehead or tap on the shoulder…
That’s as far as I’m taking you. Just remember: shakabuku.