So I've decided this is for me, and anyone who is interested is welcome to take a look in. But I've been told that no one is interested in how often I [fill in your expression of useless information], so I'm letting people stumble upon this as they will.
I was thrown this morning by that conversation actually. You see it came on the heels of someone asking me what's up with me. I told him “I've been sharing that. Have you looked?” And in my most recent mail, I said I was considering writing a book as a lead magnet on my relationship work, and I was told “Don't tell me what you plan. Tell me what you did.” So I don't know what the F++ I'm supposed to say.
I wanted to give a sense of the flavor of our lives. I get that I might have given too fine a grain.
I also wanted to answer the complaint of someone else who seems to take offense that Sharleen does not reach out as much as she “should.” E-mail is not her thing. And I like to write more than she does. So I thought I'd take it on. But apparently my reporting on our lives is not acceptable in that quarter either.
So I'm left talking to myself, which I suppose has always been my best audience.
So I made burgers and eggs for Manu and went off to synagogue. He arrived for the Rabbi's lesson as we were wrapping up. The Rabbi has taken it upon himself to teach the kids after every morning Minyan.
And in answer to my exhortation that he spend less time on the computer, Manu spent the next two hours reading. He got into a comic book called Fables, and just didn't notice the time pass. In the meantime, I read and wrote a few Quora comments and played Piano.
The boys have taken to chess recently, and Manu and I had a game. What I love about him is he takes the coaching. After the game, we chose to see if it's possible to check mate a person with two horses only. So far we haven't been able to, and now that I've thought about it again, I think we could probably prove to ourselves that it isn't.
And I spoke to my best friend and coach Sharleen, and hadn't given up the upset, and we were reminded of Tony's exhortation not to give up your happiness so cheaply. So I'm reminding myself “what I've done.” We have raised four amazing children. I've answered a thousand questions about relationships for people this year (21 today, enough to assemble a book from anyway). I've made thousands of people's lives better. I've spent hours and hours on the phone with people I love. I make people smile. I've gotten out of my own head and invented possibilities instead. And those are each and every one a big deal.
So I was a big F++ You about this to certain people, but as I told a kid a few hours ago, the only person whose respect you need is your own, and that's a big enough ask. And I suppose I can find enough reason to respect myself. So instead I say “Thank you for sharing, but I don't really care any more. I really do wish you a wonderful life.”
And I came to the office and chose to be in the beautiful space again. I met M's wife M, another one of my lawyer neighbors, and A, my tech transfer guy. I called my friend Ron, and actually let him in.
I arranged another mock Tuesday, coming ahead of assisting agreements. And two amazing people out of my recent past, Guy and Ori, just stepped up for me. Thank you also to Netta and Carmit and Doron for giving me this opportunity. I am really touched.
And then I realized I hadn't spoken to the Andersen people and it was after 5:00, but Karni was still there, and she is great, and we arranged for another item for our Tuesday, already jam packed.
KA calls to Ken and Jim and Jon, and now it's pretty much time to go.