Metaphor Country

Roundup

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Metaphor Country...

A quick take on the Sopranos.

A thought or two about scholarship, intellect and jihad.

And finally, with apologies to Jon Stewart, a moment of Zen.

Enjoy.

An Alzheimer's Saturday

Or maybe it's just a dementia Saturday, since we're still short of a formal diagnosis.

At any rate -- I visited as usual and talked to my father about asset transfer and he was agreeable.  Then he choked on his panini and I had to Heimlich him.  It wasn't the first time.  He drank a little coffee and I made a mental note to scratch the panini (the melted cheese is a problem) and we went on talking about asset transfer.

At a point later on, when we were watching the Mets, he asked out of the blue what the provisions for the assets would be if something happened to both me and my wife.  Good question -- something that I'll have to take up with the lawyers.  He seems to pull himself fully together at times, particularly when survival issues are at stake. 

At a point still later, I gave him a check to sign (it was filled out, but I like to keep him involved) and he asked me how to spell his name.

Again -- things are what they are.

It was nice of Newsweek to give us all a cover story this week.  Truly comforting.  I mean that without irony.  It helps to know you're part of a trend.

Speaking of which -- I hadn't really meant to make this an Alzheimer's blog and still don't intend to.  But sometimes you go looking for themes, and sometimes they just find you.

Elderlaw

Complicated, this elderlaw business.  Am fresh (if that's the word... no, it probably isn't) from yesterday's consult.  Lots of new options to consider and a big new project to manage.  Which, of course, comes as no surprise.  Except that it does.  It's easy to anticipate abstractions ("things will be complex") and always stunning when reality shows up ("the complexities are here and there are dozens of them and every one of them has 15 documents attached...")  Ach.  But then, it's life.  So will manage it.

Details, some of them at least, to follow.

Meanwhile. a muscial note, here.

Futzing

Am reading the VNS write-up about my father (oriented as to person and place but not time, ah, check) -- seems well thought-out.  Off to the elderlawyers tomorrow.

Meanwhile, trying to come up to speed on the faith-off, and am coming to terms with my failure to come to terms with my photography.

Whatever we lack for, it isn't excitement.

Who Says You Can't Take 'Em With You?

This morning on the PATH platform they were making their usual round of Blade Runner-style PA announcements ("The PATH Police are working to keep you safe...  A new life can be yours, a chance to begin again in the off-world colonies...") 

I could have sworn I heard the announcer say, "...and please remember to take your personal tragedies with you when leaving the train."

Now, that's really wonderful advice.  I mean, don't leave them lying around where they'll only create suspicion and alarm, and have to be removed by robotic devices, and generally create delays.

On reflection, I'm forced to admit that the voice was probably talking about personal packages, not personal tragedies.

Nevertheless -- the alternate reading stays in my head, and leaves me somewhat hopeful.

I'll take my encouragement where I find it, thanks.

NYC Economy -- Going South?

A week from Monday Mrs. Deconstruction (spouse) starts a new job at a law firm in Philadelphia.  She's moving there on the merits -- but also reports that the New York litigation market is soft, very soft.

The New York communications market is soft, very soft as well.

All this being the case, we've got to make the geography work somehow.  Not sure what the solution will be -- an exercise with a map and some string suggested Princeton, but downtown Philadelphia is a possibility as well.

One of the complicating factors -- how to work with our friend Judith, who's been helping us keep on top of apartment entropy (translation: she cleans) since a couple of apartments ago.

This morning Judith calls out of the blue, all hesitant, to tell us that we're now the only people in New York employing her -- her agency isn't booking any jobs at all -- so much as she regrets it, she's about to take off for Florida, where she has family and where there seems to be demand.

There are several lessons from this -- not least of which is that if you're not to quick to jump in and take action and intervene (as in, breaking the news to Judith), the universe seems to take care of itself (as in, Judith breaking the news to us).  Buddhist-influenced observations about this will follow at some point.

But the more obvious and useful observation is that, if you're willing to draw conclusions from direct experience (which at the end of the day I have a certain amount of faith in), it seems like the New York economy is going south in all kinds of ways -- including literally.  Is anyone commenting about that?  I know there are more learned and sophisticated ways to look at it but when the housecleaning agencies are hurting for demand, that tells you something, doesn't it?

I'll be keeping an eye out for more microeconomic signs like that.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal writes today about the growing demand for $70,000-a-year butlers.  It seems there's a severe shortage.

Can you say "income disparity," boys and girls?

Or maybe, "new career opportunity"?

Things are most definitely funky out here in timespace -- at this particular time, in this particular location.

Updates to follow as we see where it goes.  And where we go.