I want to pay more attention to the incidental remarks people make since many times it’s where the literary fruit is…for instance.
My friends Ed and Evelyn were down south for her sister’s wedding. In an email I asked how things were going? Ed’s reply:
Great rehearsal and dinner afterwards. First one up this morning and found a mountain of cat poop in the foyer. Cat looks guilty as hell. Trying not to view this as an omen. Need caffeine and hand sanitizer.
I was exiting my building welcomed by a 2 year-old screaming at the top of his lungs. The mother, calm as can be said, “He’s just expressing himself.” On cue, the kid took his bottle and hurled it at her. “He’s got a great arm,” I said trying (unsuccessfully) not to laugh.
Two men were seated on the bench at the cafe below my house. One says to the other in a voice as if his balls were being squeezed, “Look at the cheeks on him.” (I also looked and they were indeed per-rit-tee nice).
I will say, sometimes there’s more poignancy than humor in a quick exchange, like when I overheard a woman at the library tell another member of the death of someone they both knew, and he said…
“You know what the poet Alan Ginsberg said when someone passes…light a candle, and keep on dancin.”
Gonna remember that one.
SB
That last quip is a great one, Susannah. So hard to do some times, but good to remember.
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I think we witness people exiting to remind us life is indeed short.
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I’m going to remember that one too. 😉 you were all ears Susannah. I must get out more to hear some good lines. Staying in so much makes me stale. ~Elle
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I guess it’s from traveling alone so much, I overhear things one would normally miss.
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Well, I love to people watch and listening in is just one step better!
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For someone who can’t hear very well, I hear a lot. LOL
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Lol! H always hears me when I mumble under my breath things I don’t want him to hear, but nothing when I’m sitting next to him. His is selective hearing though. Haha
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Yes…selective hearing is quite the rage 🙂
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“Light a candle & keep on dancing”. Love it!
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It makes you think.
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I loved “literary fruit.” I write my best stuff when I’m around people. I don’t know how Thoreau wrote so isolated. I’d be pretty boring probably resorting to cat talk. Of course, you have all of NYC to harvest.
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Yes, New York, the all time zoo.
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I love it! Have missed you once more… life has gotten in the way of my wonderful pleasure of reading and writing blogs. I am a terrible eavesdropper when I am out, I just never remember to write about it. I love that you remember and entertain us so much with your word pictures. Hope you are well…
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Thanks DAF…good to hear from you, and the great thing about blogging is, you can pick up the thread anytime you like 🙂
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very true!
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I couldn’t agree more. I always seem to capture quick exchanges that crack me up. In Target over the weekend I overheard 2 women discussing a co-worker. “Oh, she looks just like a bat … with better teeth” I damn near peed my pants!
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OMG…meow meow.
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