Unless there is animosity between them, coworkers who happen to see each other by chance at the store, on the street, or elsewhere other than their workplace, will be inclined to smile. I think there are two things happening. 1. Identifying a familiar face from among the faces of countless strangers who populate a person’s…
I can’t keep a secret from everyone. It eats me from the inside. If I couldn’t tell a person, I think I’d share it with another animal, or at least a tree. It can be very therapeutic to hear yourself say things out loud, I don’t know why. I think it’s even better to speak…
When I was much younger, I would often accompany a parent on errands. In particular, I remember my dad would ask “Do you want to go for a drive?” My mom probably asked something to the same effect, only in French. There usually wasn’t an obvious reason for them to make the offer. I don’t…
I’ve decided not to speak to my family for at least a year after I leave Fairbanks in May. I spoke of my intentions one night during dinner. My sister was not at the table, I think she’s still unaware. My mother’s forlornness was communicated to me by her silence and avoidance of eye contact….
Person M’s opinion of person N is influenced by the company person N keeps. This contributes to the notion that person N could be embarrassed as a consequence of what the person(s) in their company is/are doing, and hence phrases of the nature “Don’t embarrass me!” I don’t like this notion that part of how…
If I ever marry, it’ll be to a girl whose first language is English. Having grown up in a bilingual household, I’ve witnessed the severity of the disadvantage associated with trying to argue your case in a language you didn’t learn until your college years. Even people who, under normal conditions, have a good grip…
When the family dog is lying on his side in an effortless display of sublime relaxation, I can’t help but crouch down on my knees and pet him. If the sun is shining through the living room windows and onto portions of the floor, he’ll choose a spot where he can sunbathe. If you start…
Buttoned shirts. 2 things: -As I button and unbutton shirts, I wonder how much damage I would sustain, and whether I would survive, if a bullet went through my chest at the location of the button my fingers are working on. -One of the advantages buttoned shirts have over t-shirts is this: they can be…
Given the custom of sleeping in the same bed, couples must be more interested in resolving disputes before the evening than two friends might be. Who, but the strangest of persons, would enjoy being in an intimately close and vulnerable position with their partner when they hadn’t yet put an earlier argument to rest? Or,…
If I ever marry, it’ll be at 4AM. I want to be half asleep when I say ‘I do.’ At the same time, I like the idea of dating some girl seriously for years without ever asking her the big question. Eventually her parents will ask why I’m taking so long, given that we’ve been…