The Forces of Good vs The Armies of Evil
Apr. 1st, 2025 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mallorys_camera
I was 20 minutes late to TaxBwana yesterday—got stuck behind a tow truck that was chugging along hilly 44/55 at 20 miles an hour—and so missed Moira, the totally delightful 86-year-old whose taxes I did at Highland a couple of weeks back. She came in at 9 with an enormous box of treats! (TaxBwanas can't take money, but we can take treats!)
"Patrizia, Patrizia, Patrizia," Steve the site coordinator grinned. "That's all she kept saying. You have a fan."
This was particularly touching to me because I know exactly how much disposable income Moira has, and it's not much. The treats outlay was a significant expenditure for her.
Then later in the day, one of the TaxBwanas approached me: "They're my friends, so I really don't feel comfortable doing their taxes. Too much information, you know! But I really want to make sure they get someone good. Will you do them?"
So, you know: Ego validation!
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My mood turned to meh as the day wore on. The political news is really quite awful, and I find myself preoccupied by the question: Why exactly did you choose to be born in this time & this place?
Because I am quite convinced: Choose I did.
What am I supposed to do? Personally, I see the world in shades of grey, but the world defies me by shaping up into some kind of Manichean battle: Good Guys versus Bad Guys. Belinda, my Trump-voting pal, all but admitted to me when we went out for Himalayan food last week that she regrets her vote. (And, no, I didn't prod her. I deliberately steer away from political discussion when I am around Trump-voting pals.)
But how do I know that I'm not one of the Bad Guys?
Life! The ultimate role-playing game!
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The only real talent I have is writing.
But I'm not under the illusion that anybody reads much of what I write.
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Meanwhile, I am wayyyyy behind on my Remuneration goals & Adrienne's website is still not done.
Icky & his ill-mannered spawn have vamoosed for the next 10 days, leaving me in solitary possession of the casa. So, that's a good thing.
(Minor showdown with Icky last week. He complained the kitchen was dirty. I told him that I was perfectly willing to clean up after myself, but I'd be goddamned if I was gonna clean up after him & the Spawn. I did clean up after him & the Spawn a couple of times when I first moved in, in an effort to ingratiate myself, which doubtless gave him the wrong idea.
And I get the feeling you want me to move out, & I am looking for another place to live, I added.
I don't want you to move out, said Icky. And cleaned the kitchen.)
Black Chicken seems a bit more chipper. And tonight, I will be hanging with the Girl Squad at the Parkview, which should be fun.
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Date: 2025-04-01 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-01 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-01 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-01 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-04-01 04:25 pm (UTC)Ugh, that showdown. Nasty. He had better pull his head out.
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Date: 2025-04-01 05:00 pm (UTC)Re: Informed consent
Date: 2025-04-01 04:57 pm (UTC)My take on reincarnation is that lifetimes are like classes and that individuals... let's call them souls... have agency over what they learn. Or possibly there is only one soul weaving in & out of the lifetimes & consciousnesses of all living things.
You don't have to believe in reincarnation! I don't proselytize.
But neither should you. 😀
Re: Informed consent
Date: 2025-04-01 05:37 pm (UTC)Not at all. But our differing attitudes here are one of those Wants-to-Be-an-Irresistible-Force meeting Wants-To-Be-an-Immovable-Object dealies. I mean, it can be fun to talk about, sure. Sans emotion. But I'm sensing negative emotion here, and your friendship is too important for me to risk exacerbating that.