0709 hours. The cats got us up with food and habit
on their minds. I am too spooked to re-read Dead 15 since it may be a mess. I
remember a sense of seeing the event with my fingers; something relative new in
my experimentation with the art of letters. I think a hot bath before breakfast
might be better today. I forgot about my tooth but I have to see Dr. Erbeck at
ten o'clock. I remember focusing on the two photographs -- the flames by Blake
and the photo below -- I was struck by the humanity in the Lady of the Lake's
hand -- it was in wont of nothing. Then the fingers began their report. (0720)
Time to move on, orndorff. Re-read at a
later time. The bath will be good for your bones, those aches don't like being
misplaced in favor of fingers and tranced memory. Here and now, that's what
aches are about. Don't let them settle in. Later, dude. Post. - Amorella
Dr.
Eurbeck said to come in Tuesday afternoon and that you will be okay for your
trip. He will try to cap the tooth but if that won't work out it will come. You
are fine either way though Carol thinks it would be better to cap it. You had a
nap. You are having Smashburgers for lunch sometime in the next hour. You have
1077 words in Brothers 15 and 2958 words in Grandma 15 so we will cut them down
a bit. - Amorella
I copied them from Braided Dreams but really didn't look at
them carefully. Actually I hope we go to lunch soon then we can work in the car
afterwards. Of course Carol will be reading. It is a pleasant enough day and we
are supposed to get snow sometime tomorrow, three to six inches worth is the
forecast.
1430 hours. We are at Kroger on Tylersville after lunch (packed
house) at Smashburgers. I am feeling better. Kroger's is packed. Even the
concept of snow in Cincinnati draws the pragmatic and hoarders out.
You dropped off the groceries and are now at
the far north lot at Pine Hill Lakes Park. Carol brought her book, Baldacci's The
Innocent (she is on page 147) but has elected for a walk in the woods to
begin. You are ready to begin also. - Amorella
1522 hours. I have spent some time deleting almost the whole
Brothers segment. Richard spent most of his time riding around the nearby
remaining farmland in Connie's old Jaguar while Robert drove. He dwelled on memories
of his literary and writing curriculum -- evidently he was missing teaching.
But there wasn't much sense. Brothers 14 mentioned gambling and they played
cards.
Go to old Brothers 16 and see what we have. You
glanced at a gambling reference. We can work that in here. - Amorella
1616 hours. No more words. I gleaned some ideas from Brothers 16; I
don't want to get into God's Promise to Abraham. That's what's coming up. It
sounds like preaching. I liked the idea originally because it was the only
positive thing I could come up to meet such modern and realistic glumness. That
part has changed since the writing of the first published trilogy. People
forget that World War II was a nuclear war. We already had one and no one in
herorhis right mind wants another. I cannot imagine a real plague that would
kill off eight billion people. Some would survive. The species is scattered
around the world and unless we had a dirty nuclear war some would probably
survive that too. (1623)
What do you want them to talk about once
home and with Connie and Cyndi? - Amorella
I don't know. What would be a positive conversation?
How about one fixing up the world, making it
better? - Amorella
I can't imagine it. The best scenario is the one Robert gave
"muddling through the next few centuries". Luck, really, just plain
dumb luck. And, try as we might to screw up whatever luck would befall us, we
muddle through anyway. That's the best I can come up with. Case in point, an
event many of us witnessed, the Cuban Missile Crisis. As Kennedy was said to
remark, "Somebody didn't get the word." But even if they didn't (on
either side) we all muddled through, no nuclear war, at least not then. If
anyone has read any history at all you can see there has been dumb luck along
the way now and then. We, as a species, thrust ourselves up flaming with
assorted passions and we rise like Merlyn's witnessing Excalibur rising.
But it was a fair feminine human hand that
raised the flaming sword. - Amorella
Now, therein lies a debate. If women ruled the world politics would
be better off. (1638)
Take a break. When you come back to it,
let's run through it. Connie and Cyndi deserve a chance to have their say. -
Amorella
Wouldn't you know, Carol is just finishing Chapter 38. Good timing,
Amorella. (1640)
You are home and have been cleaning the
garage floor of salt residue. Drop in what you have. Post. - Amorella
***
The Brothers 15 © beginning draft
Robert and Richard walked out
of the hardware store at the south end of town and took a late morning drive
following road with lots of woods and farms interspersed with new crops of
housing divisions interspersed among old farms and cow pastures. Interrupting
the silence Robert asked, “What were we talking about yesterday?” asked Robert.
“I don’t know. You mean when
we were playing cards?”
“Yeah.”
“I have no idea.”
Robert continued, “I think it
was about the end of the world as we know it.”
“Maybe that was after dinner.”
“Could be.” Robert paused.
“What do you think? What about today? If it’s not a plague it is a nuclear
accident in my book.”
"I think we could stop a
plague and I can't imagine it would take more than fifty nuclear weapons to
wipe out almost eight billion people. It might even take fewer.”
"What about global warming?"
commented Robert. "You used to think that was the most likely scenario to
do us in."
“Or crazed aliens,” smirked
Richard.
"Well's War of the Worlds and Carson's Silent Spring; it's been said long ago,
Dickie. Let's pull in here at the reservoir and watch the water." In a
moment they had stopped the car and were observing the relatively quiet of
nearby natural world in the park.
"I don't like to think on
negative outcomes." He paused, "I mean it doesn't take much thought
to come up with a whole series of natural or alien disasters."
"So, our species will
continue as we have, muddling through the centuries and millenniums," snickered
Robert.
Richard shrugged his shoulders
while looking at the seagulls and deadpanned "most likely outcome; unless
of course we are struck by a meteorite or comet."
"Yeah, like the one in
Russia. I think they call them 'city killers'."
"The chances of one
hitting a city of any size is pretty slim."
Rob responded, "Somebody
is probably writing for money for a government project." Both sniggered so
sincerely depression hovered in and sat between them in the sports car.
After a few somber wordless
minutes Robert grumbled, "Time to head back." And in their quietest
twin natures they drove Connie's classic Jaguar home. 363 words
***
You found about 2400 recent words in three articles online
supporting either men or women as the best political leaders. Read them all
equally measured and I'll decide what arguments to best use in context with
characters' opinions. - Amorella
Fine with me, Amorella. Thank you. (1802) This will make the
Brothers 15 more up to date, but leaves little for the original Brothers 16 for
use next time.
Got it covered, orndorff. - Amorella
Thank you, Amorella.
Post. - Amorella
2141
hours. Turkey soup for supper we watched DVRed "ABC News",
"Revenge" and "Red Widow". Also, I have working on
gathering small but essential material for our trip.
We have worked the major aspects of this
argument on who makes the better political leaders. First, we need a setting. -
Amorella
2309
hours. I finished a draft. I don't know how good it is but it will have to do
for tonight. I'm ready for bed. It is supposed to snow tomorrow.
I don't know what the weather has to do with
it, but Brothers 15 is acceptable for now. Drop in and post. - Amorella
***
The Brothers 15 © 2001-2013, rho, draft
Robert and Richard walked out
of the hardware store at the south end of town and took a late morning drive
following road with lots of woods and farms interspersed with new crops of
housing divisions interspersed among old farms and cow pastures. Interrupting
the silence Robert asked, “What were we talking about yesterday?” asked Robert.
“I don’t know. You mean when
we were playing cards?”
“Yeah.”
“I have no idea.”
Robert continued, “I think it
was about the end of the world as we know it.”
“Maybe that was after dinner.”
“Could be.” Robert paused.
“What do you think? What about today? If it’s not a plague it is a nuclear
accident in my book.”
"I think we could stop a
plague and I can't imagine it would take more than fifty nuclear weapons to
wipe out almost eight billion people. It might even take fewer.”
"What about global warming?"
commented Robert. "You used to think that was the most likely scenario to
do us in."
“Or crazed aliens,” smirked
Richard.
"Well's War of the Worlds and Carson's Silent Spring; it's been said long ago,
Dickie. Let's pull in here at the reservoir and watch the water." In a
moment they had stopped the car and were observing the relatively quiet of
nearby natural world in the park.
"I don't like to think on
negative outcomes." He paused, "I mean it doesn't take much thought
to come up with a whole series of natural or alien disasters."
"So, our species will
continue as we have, muddling through the centuries and millenniums," snickered
Robert.
Richard shrugged his shoulders
while looking at the seagulls and deadpanned "most likely outcome; unless
of course we are struck by a meteorite or comet."
"Yeah, like the one in
Russia. I think they call them 'city killers'."
"The chances of one
hitting a city of any size is pretty slim."
Rob responded, "Somebody
is probably writing for money for a government project." Both sniggered so
sincerely depression hovered in and sat between them in the sports car.
After a few somber wordless
minutes Robert grumbled, "Time to head back." And in their quietest
twin natures they drove Connie's classic Jaguar home.
Once home Connie, Cyndi,
Robert and Richard were sitting at the kitchen table drinking bottled and
flavored diet ice tea and munching from a medium sized common stainless steel
mixing bowl more than half full of assorted finger sized carrot and celery
sticks with a few ice cubes thrown in for residual crispness.
Robert began, "Richie and
I were discussing how the world will better survive this next century and the
question came up, 'Are women naturally better leaders for these days and times
than men?'
Cyndi's eyes narrowed
slightly, "So, Richard, what did you say to Robbie's question?"
Richard shrugged his shoulders
half in resignation, "I said it would be better if we brought this up with
you two."
Connie quickly responded,
"First, we get along with each other better."
"You two maybe, but I've
seen a couple of down and out cat fights in my time," declared Richard.
"Leaders are strong
decisive individuals though, in the operating room . . ."
"We are talking about
political leaders, Rob, where people have to work together more socially."
"Like Congress and the
White House," added Connie. "You know, with the majorities of men in
both camps.
"Men run empires. Look at
history. Where are all the women emperors . . . ?"
"All this
bickering," declared Robert softly. "Of the four of us who are the
more reasonable day in and day out?"
Connie snapped her reply,
"Cyndi and I. What a stupid question, Robert. Who runs the houses, who
does the chores, which of us are more mature and responsible in our day to day
living?"
"Which two of us have
always been more responsible on the home front, day in and day out?"
Quiet reigned.
Robert was about to say,
"What are we having for lunch?" He didn't, but a sheepish smile
perked slightly in a larger thought on the argument.
"Why don't we go out to
lunch?" suggested Cyndi politely.
"Good idea. Where do you
want to go?"
"I don't know. Where do
you want to go?"
"Somehow this all sounds
very familiar," commented the other.
"Let's sit silently until
we can all come to an agreement."
And, so they did.
723 words
***
No comments:
Post a Comment