Right And Wrong
So, a lot has happened, mostly trivial stuff, since I've written last. One thing that caught my attention and has me mulling over it was something my Grandmother said. I don't really get over there that much because one of her children still lives there. Not that that itself is a bad thing, but, well, you have to know this one particular child of hers. If you want to be in a foul mood, then I could introduce the two you. It's a sure bet. Generally, I don't much like foul moods so I try to stay clear as much as possible. If that makes me a bad grandson, so be it.
Anyway, my Grandfather died about two years ago. During my Christmas visit (which can't really be avoided) she was commenting about how all the decorations have to be put in the spare bedroom in the off season and how she use to be able to put them in the attic before Grandpa put his foot down and stated it law that no thing shall ever reside permanently or temporarily in the attic. In the spare bedroom gives a much stronger impression of less living space than the attic, she said.
Again, he's dead and has been so for at least two Loot Days. You probably can tell where I'm going. Yes. I immediately thought, what the hell is wrong with you woman? You are free from the oppression of the attic hoarding maniac! Understand, I liked my Grandfather, so I didn't say it, but I thought it. I then thought how terribly sad this was that someone was still being dominated by a ghost. I thought of that movie, Instinct, where the gorilla has been caged and broken. You could open the cage door, stand in front of it, and the gorilla would make no attempt to rush towards the wide open freedom. He's done. He thinks freedom is but a dream he had a long time ago.
But then, who am I to think bad about that? This is a man she was married to all but a small part of her life, and maybe this is a way she keeps something of him alive. I know that people have taken her to the grave site (she doesn't drive), and she's broken down into weeping. She tells him that she misses him.
So, I'm glad I kept my mouth shut. I'm beginning to think that if an idea pops in your head that someone is WRONG, it's best just to shut the hell up, think about it a week or so, and it may turn out that there is a side to it that makes it RIGHT. Maybe sweet. Maybe endearing.
But probably you'll just wind up not knowing what is RIGHT or WRONG anymore, and then you'll be in a heap of trouble because ... well... how will you know not to walk through a blizzard without pants on? Best to go spouting off what you don't know, yeah.
Anyway, my Grandfather died about two years ago. During my Christmas visit (which can't really be avoided) she was commenting about how all the decorations have to be put in the spare bedroom in the off season and how she use to be able to put them in the attic before Grandpa put his foot down and stated it law that no thing shall ever reside permanently or temporarily in the attic. In the spare bedroom gives a much stronger impression of less living space than the attic, she said.
Again, he's dead and has been so for at least two Loot Days. You probably can tell where I'm going. Yes. I immediately thought, what the hell is wrong with you woman? You are free from the oppression of the attic hoarding maniac! Understand, I liked my Grandfather, so I didn't say it, but I thought it. I then thought how terribly sad this was that someone was still being dominated by a ghost. I thought of that movie, Instinct, where the gorilla has been caged and broken. You could open the cage door, stand in front of it, and the gorilla would make no attempt to rush towards the wide open freedom. He's done. He thinks freedom is but a dream he had a long time ago.
But then, who am I to think bad about that? This is a man she was married to all but a small part of her life, and maybe this is a way she keeps something of him alive. I know that people have taken her to the grave site (she doesn't drive), and she's broken down into weeping. She tells him that she misses him.
So, I'm glad I kept my mouth shut. I'm beginning to think that if an idea pops in your head that someone is WRONG, it's best just to shut the hell up, think about it a week or so, and it may turn out that there is a side to it that makes it RIGHT. Maybe sweet. Maybe endearing.
But probably you'll just wind up not knowing what is RIGHT or WRONG anymore, and then you'll be in a heap of trouble because ... well... how will you know not to walk through a blizzard without pants on? Best to go spouting off what you don't know, yeah.