I swear, I’m about ready to chuck everything, sell all of my possessions, and live out the rest of my life as an ascetic Buddhist monk.

Yesterday I wrote my third post in two months on the topic, somewhat, of impermanence (first two: 1, 2). I mentioned that it seemed I was getting awfully strong supernatural signals encouraging me to evaluate my current relationship with materialism and attachment, and, well, I received another message today.

There I was, innocently browsing the local newspaper, when I came across this:

Whatcom Museum art exhibit heading for the bay
ZOE FRALEY / THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

BELLINGHAM – One of the Whatcom Museum’s first exhibits in its new Lightcatcher building will come full circle Saturday, April 10, when it will be launched into Bellingham Bay.

The sculptural exhibit “Bloom: The Elephant Bed” by Seattle artist John Grade will be brought from the museum to the bay, where the biodegradable pieces will be launched into the water to dissolve, around 3:30 p.m…

“As with my work as a whole, I hope this procession might draw attention toward looking at what is compelling in a state of decay or destruction rather than holding so tightly to a desire for preservation and permanence,” Grade said in a statement.

"Bloom: The Elephant Bed" by John Grade

I wrote about the Lightcatcher Building and the John Grade exhibit back in November, knew the plans for the exhibit when I was there because this information was posted, and Grade’s concept wasn’t new to me, as I’ve been a fan of Andy Goldsworthy’s for years.

And yet, it’s one thing to read about or try to visualize the decay and destruction of something you appreciated, another thing entirely when it actually happens.

I could easily decide not to go witness the destruction of the “Bloom: The Elephant Bed” on Saturday, but something compels me to be there.

What really messes with my head is that if I attend the event, because I’m a writer, I just know I’m going to want to go home afterward and blog about it on my brand new netbook.