Well, you have got to be here to appreciate this but if all of the readers were here, it would be very crowded because I am in bed writing because today is pajama day. The telephone rings and I answer it.
Me: Hello
He: This is Sam at Staples
Me: Are you calling to tell me that my blog cards are there? That already they are completed?
Yes: Yes, I am
Me: Oh you make me so happy! I will come and get them a little later. Today is pajama day and I do not get dressed. I just write.
He: Oh really?
Me: Yes! But I will get dressed at some point and come and pick them up. I could come in my nightgown but that probably would not be a good idea.
He: No probably not. I will see you later.
I have been EXTREMELY productive and it is still morning. The end of the book will be a Denouement which I have previously defined in this blog. I will tie all of the loose ends together and will compare and contrast the personality, habits and writing of Dave Dryburgh and Alexis McBride. It is a researched piece with help from the Vancouver Public Library. But, in one section, I compare our personalities, this done without the benefit of research. It will require some editing but here it is.
Personality development.
“I do think I win in that category as well. i have recently come to appreciate that Uncle Dave was a very one dimensional man. This was done through a comparison of two men in my life – the first resembles in many, many ways Uncle Dave. The second the antithesis of Uncle Dave – as in black versus white. (This is a joke because the second man is black). Uncle Dave did not have the ambition of the second man – he became the editor of the Regina Leader-Post but instead went back to being the sports editor. He may have begun to acquire bigger ambitions – he did write a piece about Regina for a magazine some months before his death. But it does not appear that he was very ambitious in conventional terms – he lived quite humbly in a rather small house, for example and did not appear to be particularly motivated by money. A more extensive reading of his work may be required but there does not appear to be any literary references in his reports. I once did an analysis of his work as editor and ascribed the content to him but in retrospect I do think I was mistaken. I wanted him to be more at the time. I wrote the piece when I was in Dublin, Ireland. I do hope I can find it, it is on this computer somewhere. . It was a painful time, that trip to Dublin. I was with a limited man – one with more dimensions and knowledge than Uncle Dave but with limitations which were crippling to me. Uncle Dave does encourage me and continues to do so. I do not think he jealous that I can occasionally out rank him, I do think he is proud. One can not imagine the gobs of gratitude I feel toward him for that aspect of his wonderful personality. .My personality is more nuanced . Nuanced is an adjective meaning: characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression: Lowe’s work has gradually grown more nuanced | the nuanced tone of the performances. My uncle had integrity, he was loyal, he saw the bigger picture, he was a good man. But I am a great deal more complicated. I do, did not, nor ever will, loose my integrity but I can loose my loyalty when i see that someone is not loyal to me. I do also see the big picture – but my picture is bigger and three-dimensional. I am good but I can be bad. When she was good, she was very, very good but when she was bad she was….My goodness, it is a poem
There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid
My goodness gracious, that is me. But if it were not for Uncle Dave, I would never know that, find the poem and realize that is so true. I am horrid, horribly vengeful with the ability to shun. Boy can I shun! The definition of shun does not match the power of its synonyms. avoid, evade, eschew, steer clear of, shy away from, fight shy of, keep one’s distance from, give a wide berth to, have nothing to do with; snub, give someone the cold shoulder, cold-shoulder, ignore, look right through; reject, rebuff, spurn, ostracize; informal give someone the brush-off, freeze out, give someone the bum’s rush, give someone the brush off. ANTONYMS welcome.
One can see that shun is powerful and can I ever do it. I am the champion of shun. It takes a lot to make me shut someone and I am capable of accepting people back in my life. But the chances of re-entry are mighty slim, mighty slim.
I do not think that Uncle Dave had that ability, the shunning ability. He could walk away and ignore and did so. He walked away, down Montague Street – from his mother, from his father and from his brothers. But I do not think he could shun. Nor am I convinced that it is a positive attribute, by the way. I suddenly did remember something he said to me which supports my theory that he is proud of me. I was bemoaning the injustices heaped upon me and he said soothingly:
He: Alexis, it happened to you because you were strong and could overcome it.
I would offhand say that is admiration and at this moment I cry. But, my dear uncle, I promise you that I will remain strong – for me, for you and for others. But select others, not all others.”
Men constantly let me down. JRM was a great tester and then he disappeared – he became a worse tester than Hottie even. But then he did text and he had a horrible migraine and I did some research. The poor guy! I feel so sorry for him and did ask him if I induced it. He has not responded but that is understandable.
I do think that Sir Richard does deserve some form of commendation for his faithful service. I am going to make him a lord – he shall be Richard, Lord of Wiltshire. That does sound most important and should get us a seat at the Lord and Lady’s table at the Rex Whistler.
The picture is me as a baby. I wonder if I was strong back then. I do not look it but I fear I was, I had to be.
