At this precise moment I am experiencing frustration – I am (im)patiently waiting for a technical support person to come on line. I know that not only am I not making connection at this particular moment but then I shall have to wait again. I talk to an ‘technical support agent’ who prepares a ‘ticket’ and then perhaps I shall speak to a technical support person. I am convinced that systems are designed in this manner so that the people who sign up will never use it. This system is from Staples. A robot says every few minutes:
Robot: Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line.
Me: It is not that *important.
It is permissible to swear at a robot. A robot is not a person, in case you are wondering. I decided to leave the phone on speaker and write this unnecessary blog. Unnecessary as one was posted yesterday. I am almost thoroughly packed for the trip, therefore have some time on my hands. I will stay at an Edmonton airport hotel over night, leaving for Montreal on Monday. Off I shall go to an unknown (to you) destination on December 1, 2022. I will let you know when I am on my way.
As a child I was a book worm: a person devoted to reading. These days I define myself as an avid reader. Avid is an adjective – having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something. Other words for avid: keen, eager, enthusiastic, ardent, passionate, devoted, dedicated, fervent, fervid, zealous, fanatical, voracious, insatiable; wholehearted, earnest; as keen as mustard. How fun! To label oneself as a keen as mustard, fervent, fervid, zealous and insatiable reader. I am neither an apathetic or halfhearted reader. There are many venues for readers these days – books, periodicals, emails, some instagram posts, and so much other material on the world wide web. My blog for instance. Hahaha.
My reading habits vary – I concentrate much better on the written word – books and periodicals. My New Yorker is such a delight and their staff writers are superb. Antony Lane reviews movies – who needs to see the movie after you have read his review as they are SO entertaining, seeing the movie would be a let down. The new Spielberg movie is discussed in the November 21, 2022 edition. “The Fabelmans you might say, is exploring and expanding on the double impulse that has tugged at Spielberg, the need for roots versus the risks and the rapturous promise of uprooting.” Totally amazed upon reading this realizing I have the same double impulse. I have the need for roots but crave the risks and rapturous promise of uprooting. When you see the synonyms for rapturous you will understand my dilemma; ecstatic, joyful, joyous, elated, euphoric, enraptured, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven, in raptures, beside oneself with joy/happiness, enchanted, enthusiastic, delighted, thrilled, overjoyed, blissful, over the moon, on top of the world.
Reading the sentence in this review allowed greater self knowledge, it was rather addictive. But we must return to the old me, the Alexis with roots. The promised book of days in Paris – my roots were in San Rafael, this was a vacation. I just reread the book for the first time in eons – it is a sheer delight. It is going to take you awhile but what else are you doing with your time?
Oh, by the way, I was able to finally reach a technical support person. It did not, in the long run work out, at all. But two amazing things happened during the course of our conversation. The first was that his name was Mohammed, lives now in Canada but hails from Saudi Arabia. He lived in a small town just thirty kilometers from Mecca. We were in my email during the technical support session when an one arrived from Uganda from Rashid (his Muslim name). Faithful readers will recall that he wrote my name in enormous letters on an Abu Dhabi beach. We had not conversed in months and months and months. I came to Canada, he returned home to Uganda. He said that he thought of me as he was watching the World Cup Canada playing Croatia. As they say: it’s a small world. If you Google, you will see it is a song that you can listen to, but here are the lyrics.
It’s a world of laughter
A world of tears
It’s a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world
There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to ev’ryone
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It is such an upbeat song. Listen to it and understand why I have followed my impulse to be uprooted. It leaves you feeling ecstatic, joyful, joyous, elated, euphoric, enraptured, on cloud nine, in seventh heaven, in raptures, beside oneself with joy/happiness, enchanted, enthusiastic, delighted, thrilled, overjoyed, blissful, over the moon, on top of the world.
The photo is of my Edmonton wall which contains photos of my name in the sand and a dress from my childhood. The name on the Abu Dhabi sand proved ephemeral as it had no roots. But so is life.
