As introduced here, these Warm Recollections are random cullings from thirty years of notes files…
Idea: if you very carefully excavate a mirror found in an archeological site, sometimes they still have a reflection of the last person to look in it.
“I am a 21 year old bisexual. I’m an atheist. I’m a Marxist. No apologies.” Nobody cares. And what you are is someone who doesn’t really know what they are, and is covering themselves with labels to make up for that fact.
That point during the flight when — no matter how diligent the man or woman involved is — they gradually segue from rewriting the treatment or improving the Powerpoint presentation or endlessly refining the five-year-strategic plan… to vaguely dicking around with the application’s preferences instead.
Unless you’re famous, to your grand-children (however affable your relationship with them) you might as well be a stranger, of actually another species. The gulf is just too wide. They may love you for being what you are — old, kind, cute, frail, present, an occasional ally in the battle with the parents — but they’ll never actually understand, never mind believe, that you were once a real human being.
I tend to speak rather as my father drives: quickly, with occasional abrupt stops at junctions for a thoughtful hesitation, before veering off at warp speed again.
As always, if you can think of anyone who might enjoy this Substack, please spread the word.
Damn, but I enjoy your writing.
Is the mirror thing a riddle, coz the last person to look in it would be the person who excavated it.......
Ooooooooohhhhh...
Labels in this day and age, rather than presenting truth and understanding, seem to manifest tribalism and polemical rhetoric.
I have no idea what the PowerPoint reference means!😋
The grandparent thing is spot on. I don't mind that I am an alien amongst my grandchildren, as long as it's an alien who represents safety, security, wisdom and giving them stuff when mum says no.
When I was acting, I used to get bollocked constantly for speaking to fast. I also had a director tell me that I sounded like I was dead. I maintain I have a deep, basso profundo voice which is so relaxing in its melliflousnous that people switch off when I'm talking to them...
I also use waaaaaaaaaay to many film quotes and references in everyday conversation. My wife says I'm a pretentious etc...
My wife has just started Time Out, which I got from Subterranean Press. After several years of owning signed first editions of The Straw Men trilogy, I finished the Straw Men last week and am halfway through The Lonely Dead. As a fanboy twat, sometimes I hate the way you make me feel😁