In this episode, I explore Norman Rush’s Mating, focusing on the chapter “Guilty Repose” and the section “Weep for Me.” Through the narrator’s encounter with the waterfall, I unpack themes of noise, solitude, mediocrity, and companionship — connecting her revelations to my own experiences with silence, striving, and the human need for connection. Discussion Highlights:How “the roar penetrates you” mirrors our craving for sensory overwhelm — music, crowds, even chaos — to quiet the mind’s constant chatter.The painful beauty of solitude eroding, and what it means to reconnect with ourselves after long avoidance.The “Weep for Me” moment as an honest confrontation with buried sadness, surfacing only when the world finally goes quiet.The narrator’s fear of mediocrity and how society equates “average” with “unacceptable,” fueling endless striving.The final revelation — “If you had a companion you would stay where you are” — as a call to seek steadiness, humility, and shared presence over transcendence.