No time for love

s GZO Jones enters his third year of gracing our pages, it's probably wise to note that he still considers himself the missing link between the 1950s and 2003. That he's added a hit-counter to his Brazilian Web site (GZO Jones Town) must mean he still plans to do something someday soon. As we wait, why not ask a question? It's not a bad bet that at least he'll have something unusual to say.

Dear Dr. Jones,

I made the mistake of trying to meet up with a mate at the blues fest on the Thursday night before the 4th of July. In retrospect, our meeting plan was specious at best – the riverfront was ridiculously crowded and we never did find each other. Here's my question: When you're trying to find someone in a massive crowd, is it better for both people to keep moving, or for one to stay put?

Signed,
Walking Blues

Dear Walker,

To make things simple – keeping it real, if you're stuck in the parlance of five years ago – I say park your ass and stay.

See, some people can't sit still. A famous writer-type I once knew – let's call him "Joaquin Kerouaco" – used to use every excuse to go "on the road," as it were. Someone needed a pack of cigarettes, maybe, and it was ... "Bye Alan, bye Lawrence. Where's my rucksack? I'll go."

To me, this is something we should have grown out of by age six. If you're lost in the department store, stay put. Mommy will find you.

Somewhere between the two extremes lies the answer to this common problem, and a good life's lesson. While it's fine to have some flexibility in where you're heading, there's nothing wrong with having the right size anchor. Stand your ground, let the blues play on, and somewhere in the tide of you humanity you'll succeed in your search for a hell of a time.

Working up a sweat in such situations is a complete waste of time.

– Jones