Teetering, Tottering...

Dear Maria,

Good morning. Cool—sort of—and damp. Same air hangs over us like a wet towel around our necks. At some point….

You’ll laugh to hear that I trotted out that somewhat suspect teeter-totter analogy again this past weekend. A friend and I got into a discussion about expectations in a relationship—her emphasis was romantic—and I did a ten-minute monologue on how relationships were like riding a teeter-totter. She probably felt like I wasted half of her lunch hour.

I still think there is some merit to the notion that at any given moment balance is unlikely between friends, lovers, family members in the give and take, the ups and downs that occur between two individuals. Go ahead, groan. My friend cocked her head to the side and gave me the look for that one. So that’s been done.

Of course, I keep thinking about boyhood friends who would without warning slip off their seat and boom went my rear end. Funny—or not—I don’t remember a girl ever dropping me on my behind like that. Okay, maybe I don’t want to remember.

Listen, some folks are never going to keep the ride going, or at least not by much of their effort. Maybe it’s like swinging. Some folks never want to take their turns doing the pushing part. The work.

I know, I know. You’ve heard this line of yapping before. Just living for the dream, an easy rhythm that finds balance in the ups and downs of the ride.

Oh, about reading Living Buddha, Living Christ, I recommended not so much as a lesson in Buddhism—might read Watts for that. The sincerity of the book reminded me of Thomas Merton, and a connection does exist coincidentally.

Last week the heavy vine that is working its way up an oak out back showed a few yellow leaves. Now, a few have appeared in the elms out front, and the crape has three red leaves. Yes, I counted. Hope springs for fall to come calling.

And I am glad I read the latest from Murakami. Not recommending it exactly—that issue of tastes—but I found it more engaging than 1Q84.

Okay, enough. On balance, doing well.

Yours, srk

P.S. Tell me you didn’t think of someone who left you up in the air.