Sunday, August 9, 2009

The madness and melancholy of moving

We're leaving our mountain mansion in Lake Tahoe and moving to Las Vegas. Lots of reasons: downsize, better for the arthritis, livlier, 300 miles closer to our daughter in LA. I didn't realize how monumental the packing would be: 20 boxes of books, LP's, CD's, even 78's and that doesn't include the "high value" art and ceramics. I've lived in three countries and 14 houses but this one seems overwhelming. As my dear wife Peggy pointed out, "We have an intact marriage of over 50 years, we've lived a long time in a lot of places and we're taking our past with us." Of course, but it still isn't easy. In the new film "Julie and Julia" Julia Child says of her expatriate life abroad, "Where is home?" and her husband says, "Wherever we are is home". Johnny Mercer wrote a song, "Anywhere I hang my hat is home". It's true but as John Updike says in one of his stories that packing up and leaving the home empty with all its memories is something you'll miss. But he adds that the house won't miss you for a day.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Wisdom can walk in any door.

Sometimes it's from the pulpit. Sometimes it's from the White House. Rarely is it from television unless it's the Simpsons or from Don Draper, the creative director character on "Mad Men" who said, "Advertising is based on one thing: happiness". Then there is faux philosophy. I have a flyer before me that says: "Treat others with courtesy, respect and dignity and try not to pass judgement, with this philosophy in mind, I think we do a pretty darn good job". This is a promo flyer from a casino in Nevada. I would place a sign over the entrance that says, "Abandon hope all ye who enter here". Actually, the truest place to look is the humble fortune cookie. Here is a sample: The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize..Every exit is an entrance to new experiences..A focused mind is one of the most powerful forces in the universe..and one I really like: Compliment three people every day. If you remember the film "My dinner with Andre" you'll remember Wally asking Andre if a fortune cookie knows who is going to get it. Of course it does. Why just last week mine said, 'Your candid approach is refreshing". In the Peanuts strip Charlie Brown's sister Sally has three philosphies: "Who cares? "Life goes on" and "How should I know?" And when Charlie says they are "maybe a little too profound" Sally answers wisely: Who cares? How should I know? Life goes on!