IN A SIMPLER TIME, THERE WAS A SONG THAT SO SUMMED UP
RELATIONSHIPS, AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED, AND IT'S BEEN
RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD ALL EVENING. NAGGING AT ME.
...THE LITTLE ORDINARY THINGS THAT EVERYONE OUGHT TO DO......
THINGS, I SUPPOSE LIKE, WASH YOUR FACE, BRUSH YOUR HAIR, MAKE
YOUR BED. BUT, THAT WAS A MORE SIMPLE TIME. NOW, THE LITTLE
ORDINARY THINGS HAVE MUSHROOMED INTO A TRULY PONDEROUS
LIST. RETURN PHONE CALLS. GO TO THE BANK. PICK UP JOHNNY AND
JANIE FROM DAY CARE, AND TAKE THEM TO THE RESTAURANT TO
MEET THEIR DAD. PICK UP THE DRY CLEANING. TAKE DOWN THE TREE.
ADDED TO THE BED MAKING AND THE HAIR BRUSHING AND THE FACE
WASHING...OH, BUT NOW WE MUST MOISTURIZE AND TONE OUR FACE,
AND THEN PUT MAKE UP ON IT, AND DON'T FORGET THE SUNSCREEN!
WE MUST HAVE OUR DAILY BATH OR SHOWER,AND THEN MOISTURIZE
THE WHOLE BODY,AND PUT SUN SCREEN ON IT TOO. WE MUST PUT
LOTIONS AND POTIONS ON OUR FEET, AND CLIP THE NAILS, AND
SCRUTINIZE EVERY SINGLE MOLE, WART AND FRECKLE FOR CANCER,
SCRAPE OFF EVERY SINGLE HAIR, EXCEPT FOR THE EYEBROWS AND THE
TOP OF THE HEAD, AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE WANT TO KEEP IS
ABUNDANT AND NOT LIKELY TO BE SHED UNTIL WE ARE SENILE.
WE MUST HAVE OUR EYES CHECKED, OUR TEETH CHECKED AND
WEIGH OURSELVES JUDICIOUSLY,AND GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR
CHECK-UPS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. HE WILL HAVE YOUR BLOOD TAKEN
FOR MYRIAD TESTS TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE SOME DREAD
DISEASE,ASK ABOUT YOUR SLEEPING HABITS, EATING HABITS AND
WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH YOUR BATHROOM
HABITS. AND, AFTER ALL THAT, ALL YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IS GO
HOME AND FALL INTO AN EXHAUSTED HEAP, BUT YOU HAVE FOOD TO
BUY, SO YOU GO SHOPPING FOR THAT. AND YOU HAVE CLOTHES
YOU HAVE TO HAVE, SO YOU SHOP FOR THAT TOO. BUT THE ORDINARY
THINGS YOU MUST DO AREN'T OVER. IF THE DOCTOR DETECTS A
"CONDITION", YOU HAVE PILLS TO BUY, AND TAKE, AT REGULAR TIMES...
WITH OR WITHOUT FOOD, MAYBE WITH THIS KIND OF MEDICATION,
BUT NEVER, EVER WITH THAT KIND, AND LOOK OUT FOR THE SIDE-
EFFECTS. TAKE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, OR NOT. DO NOT TAKE WITH
ANTACIDS, OR WITH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE. IF YOU ARE SMART, YOU WILL
READ EVERY STINKING WORD THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS NEW
MEDICATION, JUST SO YOU DON'T GET DEAD BEFORE THE DOCTOR HAS
A CHANCE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. AND, DURING THIS SMALL THUMBNAIL
SKETCH OF WHAT LIFE MIGHT THROW YOUR WAY, OF THINGS YOU
OUGHT TO DO, CAN YOU SIGHT ONE SINGLE THING IT WOULD BE OKAY
TO ALLOW YOURSELF TO FORGET, BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT OF THE ONE
YOU LOVE, AND ALL OTHER THOUGHTS WENT AWAY?
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GODDESS OR GOD OF LOVE FOR THAT
PERSON AT ALL TIMES, AND BE READY AND IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
WHENEVER! A LITTLE WOOD SPRITE OR LEAPING GNOME WHO
GAMBOLS ABOUT, STREWING POSIES IN THEIR PATH AND THINKING
OF DELICIOUS THINGS TO DO TOGETHER! SITTIE DOWN PICNICS IN
REMOTE WOODED AREAS WITH ICED BOTTLES OF SPARKLING WINE AND
SILVER DISHES FULL OF DELICACIES THAT WILL BRING YOU BOTH TO
A CRESCENDO OF PASSION THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HEARTS BEAT
FASTER AND MAKE YOUR HEADS EXPLODE. AND LATER, AS YOU
LANGUISH IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS, YOU CAN'T VERY WELL SNEAK
A PILL OUT OF YOU POCKET AND POP IT IN YOUR MOUTH! WHAT A
WAY TO RUIN A MOOD!
SO, YOU HAVE THIS DICHOTOMY. ON THE ONE HAND, YOU MUST TAKE
CARE OF THE DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ON THE OTHER,
YOU MUST BE ROMANTIC, AND TEND YOUR LOVES NEEDS AND
DESIRES, FOR, AS THE SONG SAYS,
THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU, AND I FORGET TO DO, THE LITTLE
ORDINARY THINGS THAT EVERYONE OUGHT TO DO.
I SEE YOUR FACE IN EVERY FLOWER, YOUR EYES IN STARS ABOVE...
IT'S JUST THE THOUGHT OF YOU
THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU
MY LOVE....
HOW SWEET. YOU DON'T SUPPOSE THE AUTHOR HAD IT IN MIND
THAT WHILE HIS LOVE WAS DOING THE DUSTING OR RUNNING
THE CARPET SWEEPER, SHE WOULD SUDDENLY STOP AND THINK
ABOUT HIS EYES AND FLOWERS AND THINGS, DO YOU? OR, WHILE
WASHING THE BREAKFAST DISHES, SHE WOULD START TO GAZE OFF IN
SPACE, BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT OF HIM,AND END UP FLOODING THE
KITCHEN FLOOR?
IT'S A NICE SENTIMENT, BUT HARDLY PRACTICAL IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
IS IT ANY WONDER, THAT AS OUR LIVES BECOME MORE COMPLEX,
ROMANTIC LOVE IS SHOVED ASIDE?
TOO BAD.
SO SAD.
LOVE SONGS LIKE THAT ONE GO ON AND ON,
AND KEEP RUNNING AROUND IN MY HEAD, AS THOUGH SOMETHING
LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME, WHEN I KNOW, IT CAN'T LAST.
WE CAN HOPE FOR MOMENTS, ONLY.
AHH! BUT, FOR THOSE MOMENTS, ONE LIVES...
OUI?
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