I’ve had a long meeting with myself just now, myself, who has been thinking for months that I ought to read Mann for you. After all, Mann is nothing if not the one empty corner in the squathouse of growing up, and although my romance with Mann ended years ago, I can still smell him at the thought… you know how it is. And so, month after month, I look at his stories, and I Just. Don’t. Know. But then I discovered that, ten years ago, give or take a day (give, actually, but who cares?) I wrote in a journal that I had read this story, not podcast-reading (because there was no such thing ten years ago) but physical lying-on-the-sofa-reading, probably the sofa, anyhow. Maybe in bed. Probably not at a table, because who reads at tables. And ten years ago, it affected me deeply– or else I lied to myself in the journal. Who knows?
And so I made this discovery just a few minutes ago, that I’d read the story exactly ten years ago, and I thought “well, isn’t that sort of neat! I’ll read it again, and see if the bildungsroman chapter of my life has at least turned a page or two in the past decade!”
The answer is to be written down in a journal somewhere to be discovered in ten years’ time. But the story, dear listener, is all yours.
It should also be noted that, given that this may or may not be a story that impacted me profoundly ten years ago, and hence a story in which I might get a little wound up and deeply ensconced while looking at again, it might be appropriate that I should be interrupted both by the ping of new email and the shrill ring of the telephone in the middle. Both of which I’ve left in the recording, of course, as a means of capturing a moment. And, of course, to fully document it, I now have to comment, because god knows if I’m going to have a clue what those noises are ten years from now, if I should be lucky enough to still have my hearing at that time. Golly.
Hello Mietta,
I’m sitting here quietly, after listening to this beautiful story. I’m feeling very thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to be exposed to such lovely choices as this. Also, I’m thinking, what a beautiful, sensitive person you must be, to make such delicate, wonderful choices, and reading them to us each evening. And also, how amazing and awe-striking it is that I, here in Israel, can listen to your soothing voice from so far away, and feel at one with you, human.
Thank you very much for your kind efforts – you’re bringing a lot of joy to this world,
Adi.
I’m sure that out of the hundreds that tune in, very few comment in comparison. I can at least take the time to say “thank you” as you have put so much time and emotion into each story. As cliché as this sounds – you are a good person.
Best Blog Comments Ever. Many sincere thanks to you both; this has made my day.
This is my first comment on a blog. Much like I have never gone to a bar to “pick up a chick.” I too love you Mietta. Take care and thanks for sharing your sexy voice and sexy wit.