in his piece entitled Preface to a Life that people not yet forty and who have no accomplishments to point to, shouldn't write autobiographies. He also says that people who own a typewriter don't pay attention to this guidance. Probably because they could sit at their machine and type words on paper, whether the words had value or not.
What would he say about computer keyboards? blogging? No doubt he would heap plenty of well-chosen words of caution, even criticism at those of us free with our thoughts and commentary on anything and everything. Even though that is exactly what he practiced (I suppose with his typewriter).
At times, as I strike keys and produce language on my computer screen, I am reminded of an axiom my mother used, "Fools' names and fools' faces are often seen in public places." I think so-called reality TV demonstrates the wisdom of that phrase.
Yes, Mama was cautioning me to sit down and be quiet, something I wasn't very good at. She was right; it might not be good to draw attention to one's self. The silly child I was, though, didn't learn that lesson for some time.
Yet, here am I telling anyone who looks at the page what I think, how I feel, what I wish ..... and no one has to read or attend to any of it. That's always been true; no one has to listen to my opinion or idea and are free to say so.
Mandy told me Sunday when I offered up my notion on something she'd said that I could keep my analysis to myself. And so I could and she was free to disregard it. She and I trade barbs, laugh and seem to leave with no hard feelings. So may it always be. People we care about telling us truly what they think and our hearing it, whether we like it or not, and not taking umbrage.
I believe that may be the essence of friendship; we may disagree but we don't disengage. I wish all that blessing in life.
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