Well, Will, as someone who has been around for a REALLY long time, I had a thought about your glasses. THEY may last forever, but your eyes.... your prescription. That will change. Mine has. Many times over the 78 years I've been alive. And here's the weird thing: when I got cataract surgery when I was 68, my dr. inserted a thing called a topic lens, which CORRECTED my visions. OS then my prescription got lighter instead of deeper. So things changed, but n a different direction. That's where my crazy brain is going on your subject of obsolescence. I enjoy reading your stuff.
A very thought provoking piece, even if it did lead me to thoughts of my own mortality. Yeah, there isn't a whole lot in my world that doesn't wear out, and usually faster than it should. My parents had a heavy rotary dial phone that, if I could find it and plug it in, would probably still work, and better than the piece of crap cordless phones we keep around in case of...I don't know, sunspots? I started thinking about what I own that will last beyond me and it's down to a couple of pieces of jewelry. My wedding ring, which has been on my finger or in my pocket (no, I wasn't playing around on your mother, I occasionally acted in shows where I wasn't supposed to be married) every day since June of 1980. The band is a little worn down, but it's in no danger of falling off my finger any time soon. Same with the earring I got about twenty years ago when I was going to meet with a comedian about working on a pilot together. His whole thing was "I still think of myself as a cool rock and roller but now I've got a daughter and when I take her to a Weezer concert I'm the weird older guy playing air guitar." So I got an earring before the meeting because when I walked in looking like the straight middle aged guy I had become, he would see the earring and think, "oh, this guy has some hidden hipness, too." The meeting got cancelled, we never met and now I've had the earring so long I couldn't get it out if I tried. They'll find it a thousand years from now next to the pile of dust that is me and they'll think, "oh, this guy had some hidden hipness." And then they'll see the ring and say, "and he was married, too."
I don’t know that I’ve actually used up a towel. I have ones that discolor or get frayed or holey (what’s the spelling for that? Holy? Mmm) then they go to the rag bin to become cleaning rags. I have some that are easily 30 years old. Does this mean my house is dirty?
Yes, I think that this is another of those cryptic discussions of our tenuous existence on this planet and universe. Elsewise there wouldn't be all of those soliloquies, proverbs and witty sayings where we kvetch: "...struts and frets our weary hour upon this earth...bearing fardels, falafels, blah, blah". Some old Jew advises us to lay ye not treasures upon this earth (or whatever) and they make a religion about him. After X years of existence, we've probably made our way through mountains of throw-aways, but there are always some things that stick with us because they conjure up some memories of time past that we feel are worth keeping. My Led Zeppelin I album is one example, although it has enough scratches to miss half the guitar solos. So, to get back to your point, (I think) life is short enough that we can afford to hang onto a few things that we haven't gotten tired of, or still provide some utility. If it ain't broken, why toss it?
I was especially intrigued by your essay because, like many during this exhaustingly long ‘stay put’ year, I purged — pots, pans, make/up, clothes, FB friends. I kept my mother’s rolling pin, however, despite the fact that I don’t bake. It has a specific, practical use, yet I would likely only use it as a weapon or paperweight. But it stays in the kitchen drawer as a gentle reminder of so much.
Glasses, on the other hand… I change. frames like hairstyle. It’s as simple as ‘what am I in the mood for today?’ I can’t look like a half-blind shopper in the wrong grocery aisle every day. Sometimes I want to look like Peter Sellers or or a spy. 😎
Well, Will, as someone who has been around for a REALLY long time, I had a thought about your glasses. THEY may last forever, but your eyes.... your prescription. That will change. Mine has. Many times over the 78 years I've been alive. And here's the weird thing: when I got cataract surgery when I was 68, my dr. inserted a thing called a topic lens, which CORRECTED my visions. OS then my prescription got lighter instead of deeper. So things changed, but n a different direction. That's where my crazy brain is going on your subject of obsolescence. I enjoy reading your stuff.
s
Thank you!
A very thought provoking piece, even if it did lead me to thoughts of my own mortality. Yeah, there isn't a whole lot in my world that doesn't wear out, and usually faster than it should. My parents had a heavy rotary dial phone that, if I could find it and plug it in, would probably still work, and better than the piece of crap cordless phones we keep around in case of...I don't know, sunspots? I started thinking about what I own that will last beyond me and it's down to a couple of pieces of jewelry. My wedding ring, which has been on my finger or in my pocket (no, I wasn't playing around on your mother, I occasionally acted in shows where I wasn't supposed to be married) every day since June of 1980. The band is a little worn down, but it's in no danger of falling off my finger any time soon. Same with the earring I got about twenty years ago when I was going to meet with a comedian about working on a pilot together. His whole thing was "I still think of myself as a cool rock and roller but now I've got a daughter and when I take her to a Weezer concert I'm the weird older guy playing air guitar." So I got an earring before the meeting because when I walked in looking like the straight middle aged guy I had become, he would see the earring and think, "oh, this guy has some hidden hipness, too." The meeting got cancelled, we never met and now I've had the earring so long I couldn't get it out if I tried. They'll find it a thousand years from now next to the pile of dust that is me and they'll think, "oh, this guy had some hidden hipness." And then they'll see the ring and say, "and he was married, too."
wow an essay in response to an essay! and one that made me laugh out loud
I have a basement full of golf clubs that prove your point. They're right next to my BetaMax video recorder and thigh master.
who knows when you might want to dip back into golf or Suzanne Somers work out tapes!
Still playing golf with a fantasy that the next club I buy will be magic. I am realistic enough however to know my thighs are a lost cause.
I lose most of my stuff at some time or another.
My mind automatically went to my books. Some I’ve had for over 15 years and still reread and hold dear.
I've had the same key chain for 42 years now and just change the keys when I move or get a new car.
Wow that's awesome! What kind of keychain is it?
It's a Tiffany gold link chain that has an inscription with my initials and my opening night date in EVITA. It was a gift from my producer. xo
I don’t know that I’ve actually used up a towel. I have ones that discolor or get frayed or holey (what’s the spelling for that? Holy? Mmm) then they go to the rag bin to become cleaning rags. I have some that are easily 30 years old. Does this mean my house is dirty?
hahah only you think your house is dirty, I think it's immaculate, besides the pet hair tumbleweeds
Hahaha. Unfortunately true. Now everybody knows!
Yes, I think that this is another of those cryptic discussions of our tenuous existence on this planet and universe. Elsewise there wouldn't be all of those soliloquies, proverbs and witty sayings where we kvetch: "...struts and frets our weary hour upon this earth...bearing fardels, falafels, blah, blah". Some old Jew advises us to lay ye not treasures upon this earth (or whatever) and they make a religion about him. After X years of existence, we've probably made our way through mountains of throw-aways, but there are always some things that stick with us because they conjure up some memories of time past that we feel are worth keeping. My Led Zeppelin I album is one example, although it has enough scratches to miss half the guitar solos. So, to get back to your point, (I think) life is short enough that we can afford to hang onto a few things that we haven't gotten tired of, or still provide some utility. If it ain't broken, why toss it?
I was especially intrigued by your essay because, like many during this exhaustingly long ‘stay put’ year, I purged — pots, pans, make/up, clothes, FB friends. I kept my mother’s rolling pin, however, despite the fact that I don’t bake. It has a specific, practical use, yet I would likely only use it as a weapon or paperweight. But it stays in the kitchen drawer as a gentle reminder of so much.
Glasses, on the other hand… I change. frames like hairstyle. It’s as simple as ‘what am I in the mood for today?’ I can’t look like a half-blind shopper in the wrong grocery aisle every day. Sometimes I want to look like Peter Sellers or or a spy. 😎
soap! as long as you never bathe!
Are we talking only about tangible things here? I hate to be sappy, but I hope I never use up my capacity for compassion.