“We die only once, and for such a long time.” Moliere
I know that sounds a little morbid, but to me it’s a simple reminder that our days are numbered. Like an advent calendar, except we don’t know when December 24th is. We don’t know when we will open that final flap or what we’ll find behind it.
I drove to work in the rain today. Lately, small things have been triggering memories of my Oldman. This morning, it was the way the raindrops streamed down the car windows. It took me back to a Saturday morning years ago...
...me stretched across the backseat while my dad drove, his railroad buddy riding shotgun. They both were smoking cigarettes with the news humming from the radio.
Back then, the radio would announce the network and play a little jingle before the top-of-the-hour news. You never hear those anymore. I remembered watching the rain race across the window, picking which drop would win. We were off for coffee, chocolate milk, donuts, and inspecting rusty old railcars. It always seemed to rain on those trips.
I thought of all that as I drove to the trading floor today.
The vocab word in today's grabber section is Talisman (noun) an object, typically a ring or token, thought to bring good luck or protection.
I’ve got talismans scattered around my home—things that carry a little weight, a little memory. My crucifix chain and my rising phoenix ring, both gifts from my dad. I put them on every morning in a little ritual that will get me through the day.
Both lucky in their own way.
It’s going to be a gray, rainy day in Chicagoland. It feels like the perfect kind of afternoon to finish the Hemingway book I’ve been working on. Any suggestions for what classic should come next? I'm going to try and read ten classics this summer. Chalkheads tend to be a well-read bunch.
Have a glorious Tuesday. Maybe you’ll catch a good two-for-Tuesday set from your favorite musician. Here’s hoping one of them hits you like an old memory on a rainy ride.
