h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

i was wondering what it is that ages us humans ....

is it just that our moving parts wear out? ... or that the ebb and flow of life just washes away our vitality? .... or that the planet needs to create space for new joiners and so we are genetically programmed to step out of the limelight...take leave of centre stage?.... and if so, is it the leave taking that undoes us? ... or was it being centre stage that wore us out?

i met an old friend yesterday on a train.... in the three years since I saw him he's aged so much

i don't think he's an accountant any more.... or if he is i don't think he has any clients.... he's worn out... aged aged aged..... old at fifty... knocking back red wines in the sleazy train bar like there was no tomorrow....and maybe there's not.....

he gave me a manuscript to read... what his life's all about now he says.... 5000 words i guess.... maybe 7500..... some of them the most beautiful and moving juxtapositions of words i have read in years..... most of them enigmatic.....groping to fall in a meaningful order on the page

it seems he had sat all day.... clutching his manuscript .... gazing at caravagio....weeping the tears of the truly bereft....

there was a time when dublin world have welcomed him into its bosom ... coccooned him from his fall from corporate meaning.... whispered in his ear that 7500 words was worthwhile as a lifetime's contribution .... but that was before the celtic tiger.... now the young dudes would have ignored him ... pitied him maybe.... certainly accused him of bottling out...

and when i picked out the line of his book that touched me the most he kissed my hand....my skin washed by his tears ... and then i noticed that acros the front page he had written in a desperate longhand....

"Publish this....please.....in case I don't get the chance"





there's been a long empty space of time since i wrote that last line......maybe 20 minutes.....



He asked me a question as i was leaving the train....and i have no idea if he believed my answer..... but i'm putting it here.... and if he's meant to find it i'm sure he will.....


Yes it's worthy PK .... it's worthy.... it's more than worthy..... finish it... publish it....find a way ....even if the angst of it costs you all you had...

your friend

ian

Hwllo Ian, I'm just lurking in your journal

Nice story........I wonder why some people grow grumpier with age ? Naturally, not me