"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Sextus Propertius, Roman Poet, (? - 15 BC)
"Not Always"
just bob, hopeless adult (1967 AD - ?)
I spent a lot of the last two years getting up weekdays at 6:00am. I did this to listen to the Howard Stern show on Sirius. The show was funny at times, amusing at times, and much more worthy than anything on regular radio at that hour of the morning. Anyway... the show took its two-week summer vacation the first part of July. While it was in reruns, I slept in a little later and generally found other diversions in the morning. When he returned, I was off on my week vacation followed by week away at a conference. Of course while I was jumping around the country for two weeks the last thing on my mind was a radio show. Then last week, once I was finally settled back at the Abode of Bobness, I turned on the radio to find the show in reruns for another week. That made five straight weeks without the show. So this morning, I flipped on the radio when I woke up (not at 6:00am) to listen live for the first time in over a month. I couldn't make it through 30 minutes. I had absolutely no interest at all. It wasn't informative, it wasn't entertaining, it had me scrambling to turn on CNN.
As I thought about it more, absence doesn't always make my heart grow fonder. As much as I like the city of Boston, I don't have a compelling urge to return anytime soon. Ditto for where I grew up in South Florida. The further removed I am from them, the less I want to go back. Even with all of the people I know in both places, I'm plenty content seeing them outside of going back. The same applies for such things as television shows I've given up, great restaurants that I've visited, and other people/places/things that once held an important role in my life but didn't grow fonder being away.
Now that's not to say things never grow fonder for me. There are places I've gone and people I've known that I'd very much like to see again. The distance in both miles and time away from them make me yearn to be reacquainted with them. They become dearer because I had so little time with them but made a true connection. But those things are the exception rather than the rule. Maybe it's my general outlook on life, maybe it's my loner nature, but it takes a lot to make my heart grow fonder. I don't know if that's good or bad. I do know I get to sleep later during the week, and that's good.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ponder Fonder
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10 comments:
No Bob no--
You listen to Stern???
I'm so sad. I always thought of you as far more evolved than Stern!!!
Karen
Hmmm...this is a very interesting post! Let me think...I think this might apply to me to a degree. I have had so many people who have come and touched my life in some way. And that being said...I have no desire to go back and revisit those moments with them. And true there are some places that hold no real feelings of 'rushing' back to visit them.
But I don't consider myself a loner, actually quite the oppisite. I love meeting people and I am always up in their grill to find out all the wonderful details of their stories!
As for Stern...oh that guy is a baffoon! Really I was quite surprised to hear that at one time you listened to him...that is like you telling me you listen to Rush Limball (sp?)...*rolling eyes*
Very glad to see you have out grown that stage in your life...LMAO!
Great post Bob! Very thought provoking friend!
One of the special ten!
Robyn
I agree that absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder - not always. I don't miss high school, I don't miss South Florida, I don't miss my children's father, I don't miss my dryer. I do miss my sister who lives far away, I do miss my dad, I do miss old friends, and I do miss a life where everything is taken care of and it’s worry-free for me.
And Bob....there really is nothing wrong with you not listening to Howard Stern anymore. No really, not a thing.
There are few places or things that I miss. Once I'm gone, I'm pretty much just gone.
yeah... amen to that... "dont be gone too long, i'll forget about you!"
Tangenting off this topic a bit but still kind of there -- I am constantly amazed by my sister-in-law who keeps track of seemingly every friend she had in high school, college, graduate school, and at work, and appears geniunely fond of each and every one of them.
I admire her for it, but it's beyond my comprehension. (Which of course does not mean that it's a bad thing!)
Interesting post Bob. Got me thinking (again, not always a bad thing).
I have a very short attention span...so I agree with you, totally. I forget about a lot of things if they aren't in my present state of mind.
Howard Stern is gross. But I'm not judging you by that fact. He's just disgusting.
....wait, what was I talking about?
Hey, I only disappointed half the women. That's above average for me. Usually I disappoint all of them.
No Bob,
You disappointed 4 out of 6 women. I took math, and anyone who took math knows that's not "half." You're obviously in denial. Bob, okay, here's the new one: 5 out of 7 women are disapponted. What's the percentage if 3 are eating pasta for lunch, 4 are eating fish, 5 are blonde, 2 are grey, 6 shop at Lowe's and 1 at Home Depot? Good luck with that sweetie!!!
Stern. Who? You?!!! Good Lord. Someone call an ambulance. No, not for him, FOR ME!!! Jeezzzzzzzz. Robyn, I need some CPR girlie or a Japanese fan!
Well, I know we'll forgive you because you're the best bartender in the world and a really, really sweet, honest guy. Women love that sort of thing. Us too. Cuz, well, we "are" women! Right girls?
And yes, I agree with everyone. This is a thought provoking post. All I can is this about that...if you ever decide to dump us all by the wayside I do believe you will hear a "knock, knock, knockin" upon your future Minnesota door. I suggest you wear some BVD's cuz the police will probably follow with the camera's from "COPS."
Do I hear an Amen from the congregation?
XO
Blottie
Whoops, forgot "say!"
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