Jim, You Used to Call Me Jim?

Dear Juliet

I think the 'flu's sweating itself out, thank God I washed the bedclothes last night. Even darned the socks the other day, looked at your pictures and felt a bit happier than I had for the last two years. Also sat up watching Star Trek IV for fun after that fal-tor-pan (so to speak) last week.

Darn, it's a good movie. They just don't make them like they used to...

But I was struck by the way Kirk didn't quite know how to relate to the reconstituted Spock, who kept calling him Admiral. Kirk remembered how they'd painstakingly built up a friendship of mutual regard and respect (despite the occasional slip) years before and he wasn't quite sure how to handle this new and somewhat transformed version.

It's a bit like this today.

I used to call you dear Miss Landau, then it was Juliet. Occasionally Rose if I felt deeply emotional about something. Myself, I have always been a James, never a Jim, and no one's ever attempted Anthony although it has deep philosophical connotations.

I'm not too worried. I guess we'll work it out.

You know, just for the record, and I don't think I did ever tell you this, Juliet's a lovely name. I always particularly liked it. I didn't like people calling you JL and it seemed an unnecessary abbreviation of a beautiful name.

In fact, I find myself relatively content with the current situation, which is a relief because I'd probably get caught by ICE at a U.S. airport and the new biometric scanners at European airports are the usual non-operational nightmare...

And the current situation feels like this old picture:

As you know, it depicts Steinbeck crossing America. He was a bit younger than I am now when he did it, and we both had plenty of time to think about things out there in the hinterland with that strange violent city on the edge of forever still far and away over the horizon. It is said it is better to travel than to arrive. I don't necessarily agree entirely with that, but there is a part of me that will always be out there. It is or was natural for me, and I actually met a Vietnam veteran at the war memorials in Washington once. I was able to use my father's World War Two experiences to talk his language and he, too, said that part of him was still back in the green.

I got this photograph of the Vietnam memorial:

If I remember correctly, the three statues mean one killed, one missing in action, one came home.

So maybe I'm still out in the green. Or off in a metaphorical Needles where the desert is clean. But I'm quite content travelling with Charley even if it seems I'm back on the scene.

That's enough heavy stuff for today. I listened to your podcast while I was doing the laundry last night. Nice blue backdrop, crisp interviewing, clear diction and I liked your use of the word "elucidate."

I even liked this version of Dru although I keep seeing her as a slightly scatty teenager complete with cut-off jeans and a ponytail. Don't blame me, that's just the image my subconscious serves up.

Okay, I think I have to do a scathing diatribe about the national health service (NHS) later today, the camellias and cherry blossom are blooming, and I'll finally have a chance to see what's happening in the community over the weekend as I probably won't be able to work.

Unless they get desperate. Which they probably will.

"O tempora, o mores!"

Have a good day, gorgeous.