We have been graciously granted enough longevity for us to write our own obituary.
We derived all the supreme benefits of human accomplishments in medicine, etc.
We were able to see species before we extincted them, and it seems we will be spared witnessing the full-blown Anthropocene Extinction. I, too, never thought I would outlive my knees. I thought other maladies might bring me down first. Got a Lucky Strike?
Hey, Houdek. Who would’ve thought? The species seems hellbent on extinction. Lots of cockroaches here that will still be around when I’m gone. Only Marlboro here in Indonesia. Still looking for another magic pack.
Hey Heather. I never thought of it as an obituary, but in my sometimes long-winded way, the collection of essays that I'm gathering could be thought of as an obituary.
Liminality. It was big to turn 60 and remember thinking when young that 60 meant near death, yet I felt great. Then 70…75…and now 77. I’m still going strong, but now physical work is limited to 4 hours, not 6-8 as only a few years ago. I can feel strength diminishing even if slowly. The threshold of 80 nears. Then I will be OLD, regardless how I feel. We are in the midst of our liminality toward death. The fates have graced us with years, but even their abilities run out. So far it’s been a wonderful time of just letting things be and cruising about looking at the wonder of it all. Singaraja in 2015 still dances about in my head. I can still hear your voice. And it comes thru in the words you write. We’re in end game liminality. Ain’t it great?!!
Hey George. Still trying to figure out how notifications work on Substack. I just finished tearing this laptop down, replacing some components and then checking on how the machine works, and surprise - I found comments about a post. Will technological wonders never end? I was thinking about the time you, me, Heather and Houdek were in Petaluma. I would never have thought then that we would all be around 37 years later. You know what the Dead say. 80 seems like a magic number. Not sure that I'll be around then, but in the meantime, I'm still amazed by what's going on.
Not sure how this platform (?) works, but in case you see this, When l was turning 30 Bruce sent a card advising me not to commit suicide. I took it as a joke, feeling that having reached that pinnacle of age and sophistication and finding it wasn't so bad l was set for life. And now at the pinnacle of 77... But at least l'm way smarter now. Well.
I’m sorry to hear about the pain when you walk. I’m experiencing the same thing as are two of my friends, all of us aged within too months of each other. Last week, we were discussing how when we go to a supermarket we’re always eager to push the shopping cart. Not quite ready for a walker but happy to have help on wheels. I’m sorry, too, about your friend.
Thanks, Conrad. Still trying to figure out how Substack notifications work, so I just read your comment. It's a shame that the legs go. I've always found the best way to get a glimpse of a city and culture is to just walk and walk. I like the shopping cart anecdote. Haven't tried that yet. I'm thinking of getting a motorized wheelchair to tool around Singaraja. That would definitely be a great source of amusement for my Indonesian friends who still remember me from the days when I used to push my granddaughter around the city in her stroller. Walking is not a favorite mode of locomotion here.
Thank you for putting these strange feelings into so thoughtful and fitting words.
Thanks, Juergen. I'm still figuring out how to use Substack and get notifications.
“ I came, I saw, I marveled.”
We have been graciously granted enough longevity for us to write our own obituary.
We derived all the supreme benefits of human accomplishments in medicine, etc.
We were able to see species before we extincted them, and it seems we will be spared witnessing the full-blown Anthropocene Extinction. I, too, never thought I would outlive my knees. I thought other maladies might bring me down first. Got a Lucky Strike?
Hey, Houdek. Who would’ve thought? The species seems hellbent on extinction. Lots of cockroaches here that will still be around when I’m gone. Only Marlboro here in Indonesia. Still looking for another magic pack.
I'm telling you, come see my knee doc. I worry you have an obituary fetish. But maybe l should get busy on mine.
Hey Heather. I never thought of it as an obituary, but in my sometimes long-winded way, the collection of essays that I'm gathering could be thought of as an obituary.
Liminality. It was big to turn 60 and remember thinking when young that 60 meant near death, yet I felt great. Then 70…75…and now 77. I’m still going strong, but now physical work is limited to 4 hours, not 6-8 as only a few years ago. I can feel strength diminishing even if slowly. The threshold of 80 nears. Then I will be OLD, regardless how I feel. We are in the midst of our liminality toward death. The fates have graced us with years, but even their abilities run out. So far it’s been a wonderful time of just letting things be and cruising about looking at the wonder of it all. Singaraja in 2015 still dances about in my head. I can still hear your voice. And it comes thru in the words you write. We’re in end game liminality. Ain’t it great?!!
Hey George. Still trying to figure out how notifications work on Substack. I just finished tearing this laptop down, replacing some components and then checking on how the machine works, and surprise - I found comments about a post. Will technological wonders never end? I was thinking about the time you, me, Heather and Houdek were in Petaluma. I would never have thought then that we would all be around 37 years later. You know what the Dead say. 80 seems like a magic number. Not sure that I'll be around then, but in the meantime, I'm still amazed by what's going on.
Not sure how this platform (?) works, but in case you see this, When l was turning 30 Bruce sent a card advising me not to commit suicide. I took it as a joke, feeling that having reached that pinnacle of age and sophistication and finding it wasn't so bad l was set for life. And now at the pinnacle of 77... But at least l'm way smarter now. Well.
God Heather. What a memory. Still waiting for your visit before we hit the next bend in the road.
And l can't help thinking, Hey, which friend... They are dropping off. This liminality thing- am very interested to see what you have to say next.
No Berwyn friend. An old comrade from SDS and the Paperhandler days. Indeed they are dropping off. I'll send you a longer email in the next few days.
I’m sorry to hear about the pain when you walk. I’m experiencing the same thing as are two of my friends, all of us aged within too months of each other. Last week, we were discussing how when we go to a supermarket we’re always eager to push the shopping cart. Not quite ready for a walker but happy to have help on wheels. I’m sorry, too, about your friend.
Thanks, Conrad. Still trying to figure out how Substack notifications work, so I just read your comment. It's a shame that the legs go. I've always found the best way to get a glimpse of a city and culture is to just walk and walk. I like the shopping cart anecdote. Haven't tried that yet. I'm thinking of getting a motorized wheelchair to tool around Singaraja. That would definitely be a great source of amusement for my Indonesian friends who still remember me from the days when I used to push my granddaughter around the city in her stroller. Walking is not a favorite mode of locomotion here.