Tales of Elevation

Introduction to Tales of Elevation: Ending and Beginning
Greetings reader!
This is Mitch, author of this piece of work. The idea for a mockery for a senior project finally develops into a reality. This is an autobiographal story of series of stories dealing with groups of people, beings, events, and places that occur in a specific kind of state. It is a book of observations from a humorous, analytical, curious, and (in most cases) nonjudgemental viewpoint. The collection here points out and remarks about some of the actions of myself and others I interacted with on a more personal level. At the same time, it takes a look at our larger whole as an agreeing and disagreeing subculture, culture, society, nation, and unified globe.
    At first, the observations are simple one liners of thoughts and actions. But as this story without a plot develops the passages are much more descriptive, detailed, and intricately developed. As a friend whom let me share sections of it on his radio show notes, “It’s kind of Gonzoish.” This is not to say this work is exactly like or as good as Hunter S. Thompson’s stories with the Hells Angels. It is similar in the sense that it takes a look into a subculture that many people know about and live in, and provides a scoop of a scene many may not know about. This journalistic work delves into the wonderous world of weed. Pages long accounts mix with joking and philosophical phrases to create an in depth view of individuals and groups who smoke(d) this marvelous plant. These tales are ridiculous and insightful pictures (including motion pictures) of those of us who ever took part in such herb related activities.

The original title for this book was “You Know You are Stoned When…” though I decided it would be too blunt with reference to an illegal (though non violent [in many cases quite the opposite]) activity. A second working title of “You Know You are Elevated When” got reworked as to not upset any avid mountaineers or aviators thinking this book is all about hiking, climbing, and flying; though there are those elements in here. As third time indeed is a charm, a friend wisely suggested “Tales of Elevation” and the title stuck. Keeping the original title in mind, all chronicles begin with “When…” in such a way to say “You Know You Are Stoned ‘When…’” This story of stories shows some of the ways we interact with eachother an elevated state, shedding light on the good, grandly, Godly, and goofy moments that consequently occur in a stoned state. As with anything, this story is best in moderation, reading small sections of this book rather than exhausting all one’s willpower to try to finish the whole thing in one or a few huge chunks.
I am not attempting to advocate smoking marijuana through this text. It is a sensational substance, and is arguably the safest drug out there. Regardless, it still is a drug and although it is in many cases more natural, healthy, and less dangerous and expensive than widely available prescription drugs, it still is illegal. A friend of mine once told me “Drugs are like training wheels. You may need them and use them for a while, but there will probably come a time where you grow out of them.” This statement resonated well with me and since completing this work, I have cut down my smoking habit immensely, including quitting cigarettes.
Though my research, recordings, and reflection, I believe marijuana to be a mind opening and stimulating drug that may also ease mental, physical, and emotional pain. However, when used in excess, its effects can be negative resulting in laziness, lack of motivation, inability to communicate or socialize well. There are highs and lows about it, and it is tough to describe the feeling of being stoned. This work provides some of the thoughts, behaviors, and sensations that occur when elevated, written during the crucial transformational time from high school into college. Those who have smoked marijuana before can easily relate to the states and stories in here, and hopefully those who have not can connect on some levels, or at least get a kick out of it.
Enjoy!

“My great joy is to give form to reality. Music is a great release, a great enjoyment to me. Eventually I’d like to write something of great importance. That’s my ambition—to write something worthwhile.” – Jim Morrison, in an interview with CBC radio.