Out With the Old, dot dot dot.
Roadblocks, Resistance, Imposter Syndrome and more.
Praha, 2024. I remember when that simple phrase would have evoked a science-fiction cool-factor akin to Blade Runner. Yes, the original. Add some blazing neon and a few flying Tesla’s to the above scene and you’ll get the picture. Cooooool.
Morally Complicated
Times are better. My wife told me so. And so it was written. We have air-conditioning, two bedrooms, space to live. We live in a very old part of the civilized world. There is a deep history here; Torpedo typewriters, ancient spa’s, a morally complicated relationship with nearby Russia.
Today I was told that as a foreigner it may be to my advantage to learn a few words in Czech. I only knew this because I had inadvertently kept my finger pressed on the microphone button using google translate while someone jabbered on in response to my request for directions. 11 million people speak Czech, and it is a difficult language to learn. I responded with my standard djeckui a hesky den. Perhaps a few English words (spoken by approximately 1.35 billion people) could have provided her some benefit. Of note, 11 million seconds is 18 weeks. 1.35 billion seconds is over 42 years. Respectfully, expect to be chirped when chirped.
The Child
He likes Czech beer, which I guess was to be expected. And like, my memory of drinking beer for the first time was unpleasant. What was yours? Declan’s reaction was simply, more?
It’s entirely possible that this was the result.
The Job
Amongst it all, there is the job. I feel as though this role gets lost in the mist, undefined beneath the turmoil of our actual lives. Rest assured those buttons still need pressing, and the two hundred lives in the seats behind us rely on our crew but in the end, there is only one captain.
Vader
This week we bid farewell to a legend, James Earl Jones. His voice will forever be etched into my memories, and I can only hope into the memories of my son. When I read The Very Brave Lion, the voice of the father can only be Jones’.
I have to go, my delayed flight (as a passenger) is finally leaving. My fate, as always lies in the hands of the captain.