Get Out the Violins

A predictably fine last two classes on Friday, our traditional staff dinner out in Monterey and determination to see a movie, even if 9 out of 10 offered were the same old tired formula of superheros and psychopaths and guns and explosions and villains aiming to rule the world and wham! bam! nonsense that is so damn tiresome and pointless. Doesn’t even come close to the status of film as an art form but also pretty bad as entertainment. Just gratuitous schlock.

 

Half of us chose The Fantastic Four and the other half (my group) Superman because I heard it had some tender humanity and social justice sub-themes. Well, not really. Just more of the same-old-same-old, so driving back when someone asked what my favorite part of the movie was, I replied without hesitation, “The end.”

 

So now it’s the weekend frivolity and many chose whale watching at $75 per head, so I initially declined. Then felt like I wanted to be with this group of teachers who I admire and adore, but by that time, tickets were sold out. Two who didn’t go whale-watching wanted to go to Carmel, but somehow they stopped looking at WhatsApp when I tried to connect with them. So there I was, all by my lonesome and feeling a bit left out. Did anyone notice? Did anyone care? That old adolescent voice that still lives in our head and wants to fit in was whining a bit. 

 

But I’m well-practiced in my own company and chose to play Bach and then jazz on one of the nice pianos and two hours later, thought maybe I should look for some lunch. Then maybe swim in the pool, practice some cornhole, do a Crostic, listen to the next chapter of my Audible story. Plenty to do and I’m happy doing it, but still that little whiney voice is playing its sad violin tune. Faint, but still audible. 

 

My friends, we never outgrow our lifelong issues. Yes, we can grow larger and diminish their power, but they never go away. Hopefully will re-bond with my comrades tomorrow when we do laundry and have breakfast at Jeffrey’s. For now, it’s the pool!