If I Only Had a Brain
HeresHome this week is under new (miss)management and this valley here ain't big enough for the three of us. Ann is taking a week off work while her sister from MO is visiting. The Estrogen Warning Level was reached by noon the first day, and I think I'll just find someplace to go.
Not really. Sis-in-law is an easy guest and even wifey is a teddy bear as the work toxins recede and the person down under all that stress and responsibility comes to the surface for a look around. The weather is supposed to be great for the next couple days. But I'm still leaving home.
Today I have to complete my CEU requirements to keep my PT license active. So: an all-day seminar breathing the recylced air of a Roanoke airport hotel conference room learning about "The Aging Brain" where I can feel it coming:
"Let's have a volunteer from the audience, shall we?" says lecturer and author, Dr. Cerebriac, as he looks out over a sea of downcast gazes as conference attendees slump in their naugahyde chairs.
"You there. With the silver excuse for a beard there in the back row. Will you step up to the front of the auditorium please."
The young people sitting around me nudge me awake. I startle, and without thinking, get up and totter off in the direction they are pointing. Somehow, I find myself standing at the microphone, blinking, disoriented and confused in front of one hundred relieved potential guinea pigs.
"Now then. Just briefly, sir: can you tell us what you do".
"I write. About mosses and liverworts and such. To people who aren't there. And I talk to the people who come to read about what I write. They're my friends" I say honestly.
"Just as I thought. This, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of what can happen in the Aging Brain. 'A mind is a terrible thing to lose'... to quote our ex president, Mr. Quayle. "You may go to your seat."
And, after the conference, if I can remember where I parked my car, I will drive up peaceful and uncrowded I-81 north, thence to the Charlottesville area to Chez Ripples to spend the evening and the night with host and hostess David and Mrs. Ripples. The next day, David and I will attend various offerings of the "Festival of the Book."
And the point of all this circumelocution is to say I will miss posting, most likely, until the weekend. So, all you people who aren't there, come back and see me for the debriefing from all my world travels. I anticipate there will be blog material aplenty in the next 48 hours. Should be fun.
Comments
Good god, you must be old. Look what time you get up in the morning to post!
Posted by: Marie Freeman | March 25, 2004 10:16 AM
I post at the same time, but it's because I'm still up. Us semi-retired folks tend to lose track of weekdays and what time it is. We keep doing things until they stop feeling good and then we take a break for sleep and start over.
The only bad thing about retirement is that you never get any days off!
Incidently, don't believe Fred when he says he will not be blogging until the weekend. I have an extra computer and a DSL connection waiting for him. We may even get a photo of Fred doing some open air blogging on our back deck.
Posted by: David | March 25, 2004 2:09 PM
Yes, please do let him blog while there. And, return him home safely. Just put his car on autopilot. Thanks!
Posted by: susan | March 25, 2004 2:25 PM
I can't count the number of giggles this post inspired. I think "Dr. Cerebriac" was my favorite. Ooooh, can *I* call myself "Dr. Cerebriac" when I finish this darn dissertation? Can I, can I? ;-)
Posted by: Lorianne | March 25, 2004 5:48 PM