Blessed/Lucky

[carlmaloschneider]

Blessed. Lucky. Whatever term you’d like to use.

Arrived home tonight to find two letters and one parcel. The parcel contained a lovely Bengall wedge; it’s as heavy as anything. I did have a W&B wedge ages ago, for a few days, until I swapped it for a W&B 5/8, which I love. I never really got to KNOW that wedge, and I sort of miss him still. Anyway, I mentioned something about something the other day in a thread here and what that resulted in is a very good friend of mine, who I have never met, sending me this razor all the way from Sweden. I mean, how nice is that! Is it possible to count a person you have never met as a true friend? Yes, it is. This razor will be covered in nice blue scales from the Revisor site, I think.

Also with the razor were two letters from guys here. When is the last time you actually received a letter lately? Some of you are raising your hands to indicate you have. Now, how many of you have received a letter written in a DIP pen lately? The hands are lowered. As I sat at the dining room table reading my correspondence and ogling my new razor I said to my fifteen year old son “it’s nice to get letters, isn’t it?” “I don’t know” he replied “I’ve never got one”. No, of course he hasn’t. How lucky am I get to real correspondence? The answer, for those scratching their heads and looking out the window, is 'very'....

Also, to add to the glory of the day, I spent the drive to work listening to a free audio book of Plato’s Republic. Not extraordinary by any means. Yet free audio books that are well read are quite rare, and if one forgives the slightly nasal tone of the what-I-judge-to-be-young-Canadian-fellow reading the story one can say this is a very well read audio book. The Republic is so funny; it’s almost a comedy as far as I can tell.

AND, to add to ALL of this, I was able to download a free copy of One Hundred Years Of Solitude, a book mentioned in my Great Opening Sentences thread. I’ve really enjoyed reading what guys have posted on that thread. A lot of what has been posted I know, but also a lot I don’t. I feel a library visit coming up, and also audio book searches.

Anyway, what I really want to say is I’m blessed/lucky (I normally refrain from using the word ‘blessed’ as it’s way overused) to be in such good company.

Thank you, my true and honest friends, for bringing such diversity and culture and niceness (I hesitate to use the word love, but that is what I mean) into my life. It is truly a pleasure that you allow me to be here among you.

Carl