More Delights and Disdains . . .

of a diminutive nature of late . . . Number 4

Disdains:

Learning the purchase price of a new Ford F150. Sure, it has been 13 years since I bought one, but a 60% increase?

Listening to the transcript of Donald Trump’s recorded conversations included with his document indictment. I promised myself not to post political remarks in these posts but Trump goes beyond politics. His “look what I have that you can’t see” attitude reminds me of a schoolboy who has stolen the answers to a test that he shouldn’t have and then tempts (or taunts) his fellow classmates. Petty manipulation is inherent to his nature.

Delights:

Watching the odometer on my 2010 Ford F150 truck register 350,000 miles. A testament to proper maintenance. I even stopped on the roadside to snap a photo of it . . . such a redneck move.

Driving my son’s 1995 Ford F150 truck that I had bought used in 1997. I had it reconditioned for him to drive to school. He can now add driving a stick-shift every day for two years to his list of accomplishments. And since he was on vacation, I wanted to see how my clutch leg was working.

Viewing the 2022 documentary Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb. The film features the 50 year relationship between writer and editor. My oldest brother lent me a copy of Caro’s The Path to Power when I was in college. This was his first book in his series about the ascent of Lyndon Johnson who knew something about wielding political power. I subscribed to The New Yorker when I got out of college just after Gottlieb was named editor. I know that it sounds boring but it connects two of my favorite subjects: literature and politics.

Talking with my son about setting up a checking account for him then realizing that he probably won’t ever write a check. Then launching into a discussion about how trust is the foundation of our banking system. How people initially trusted each other to take cash rather than gold. Then we trusted each other to take a number from screen instead of cash. An incredible amount of societal trust taken for granted, etc. He stuck with me for the most part. He had to since he wanted his graduation checks cashed.

Reading Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, presented to me by my son upon his return from 10 days in Key West. Visiting writer’s homes has always been a habit in my vacations. I am glad he is continuing the tradition.