The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all an icebox's contents. You live on a placid shore of ignorance beside moldy shelves of infinity, and it was not meant that you should voyage far. Our roommates, each searching in their own corners, have hitherto discovered little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of devoured plums, and my frightful complicity therein, that you shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly refrigerator-light into the peace and safety of an insincere apology.
I'm very happy for him, but I'm even happier that during an economic crisis Paul Krugman just got handed a enormous soapbox to talk from.
Best wishes and good thoughts.
From #57, Syd, fear of falling:
Many years ago I went rock climbing with a friend in the Cascades. It was an easy climb, and my friend was experienced, but I'd never done a real ascent. We went up as far as he thought I could handle, which turned out to be a bit farther than *I* thought I could handle, and despite all the blue sky and gnarled grey beauty lofting us into it, I was glad to turn back.
Many frightened minutes of descent later, things got less precipitous, and I thought, "Whew -- if I fall now, I'll only break a few bones."
I try to remember how that felt, now and then, how sweet it was to only worry about being maimed.
I had never heard about this before. It makes me suddenly feel like I'm living in some improbably happy alternate history. Which is quite a trick these days.
Richard S. Crawford @ #4: Yes, exactly. I'd like to think I'd have that kind of good judgment when the sky seemed to be falling and everyone was screaming at me, but I have to wonder.
May there be many, many more people with this man's cool head, in important places everywhere.
Thinking good thoughts at our hosts. Get well soon.
[delurk]
This morning I got to do preschool storytime at the library where I work. The kids seemed to have fun. This afternoon we're traveling to visit family, by plane.
Happy birthdays, and happy romances, whether beginning or enduring. And strength to all who mourn.
| Year | Number of comments posted |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 |
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