This August I’ll be just five years younger than my father was when he died. They say a lifetime of smoking and vodka by the gallon did him in, but I think those were just the tools at hand.
This afternoon my wife came home after spending hours in her studio. I was relaxing by the fire, reading a catalog. She started chattering the way she does — I mean no disrespect, just don’t know what to call it — and I thought I was doing fine, attention-wise, when all of a sudden, boom!
“JOHN! You’re READING! I’d appreciate some attention!!!”
Now, this may seem mundane to some of you. Others may have reactions similar to what I would have felt perhaps as recently as a month ago. A few years ago, I would have felt I was in chains. I know for sure that in my parents’ case, there’d soon have been metaphorical blood on the floor. But what I did this time surprised me, though I didn’t show it: I put the catalog aside, reached over to her on the sofa, and held her hand — whereupon she looked me in the eye and proceeded to tell me of her day.
That’s it. That’s the whole thing. If you’re wondering why I bothered to write this, I can’t help you, but this is way bigger than you think. It’s like California falling into the ocean, or the parting of the Red Sea. It’s almost like the Second Coming, or maybe the first. Even MORE remarkable is that she said it… Get it? Good.
Something very weird is happening.
Chatter on, canary-woman. Roar on, lioness.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
John,
I read the other day that Andre Waters had committed suicide. He was a lineman in the NFL who was affected by his ramming other 400 pounders at 20 miles an hour for 15 years. No surprise there. Sad, but what could have been expected? They get paid good money to die young.
What did bother me was that the medical examiner stated: “His brain was severely degenerated. He had the brain of a 75 year old.”
I am a few years from that milestone, and have taken offense. When I shake my head, it doesn’t seem to rattle inside.It looks like you are joining the club of we head-shakers.
I listen intently when she talks. I finally told her she can’t talk to me while I’m driving. Because I end up taking the wrong exit.
Best regards, Joseph
thank you john. we CAN make a difference!
guess I will have to call home soon…
)
btw. any idea what webcam i should get to do what you are doing? money is -howdoyousay- sparse?
paz
Herr Paz:
I’m using the iSight camera built into the lid of my MacBook screen. I believe you have a Windows PC, so I can’t recommend any particular gear, but I’ve seen a number of PC webcams for very low prices. Less than 50 bucks, anyway.