“Ya’ll listen to this… You remember that little boy whose folks used to come and visit all the time and his daddy died a few weeks back.”
“No, I can’t quite…”
“His mamma brought that picture of him in. It was on wood. Like a memorial plaque or something. It was real big.”
“Oh yeah, I remember her. That was just last Tuesday wasn’t it? That plaque was beautiful.”
“Yep, Tuesday. Would you believe she died yesterday.”
“No.”
“Swear. She got killed riding a go-cart up at Beech Bend.”
“My. That can’t be. We just talked to her Tuesday.”
“It’s all over the news.”
“My stars.”
“Mmm Hmm. That boy’s lost both his parents while he was in here.”
“Poor dear.”
“Is he going to be able attend her funeral?”
“He made it to his daddies.”
“I’m sure they can work something out.”
“I hope so.”
“Beech Bend. That place has gotten expensive. Hasn’t it? I took Marshal up there not to long ago. Tickets were nearly fifteen dollars. Can you believe that?”
“It’s awful.”
“I remember when you could get in for a quarter.”
“And Krystals too, I remember when you could get a Krystals for a dime. I went in yesterday and got a burger, coke and fries and it cost me over four dollars.”
“We’re just getting old.”
“Oh stop, you two aren’t getting old. Hey, listen to this…”
... and life goes on as if you never existed.... people eating their supper... brushing their teeth.. buying groceries.. etc.
ReplyDelete..
You know, I remember the day that I realized that.. made me stop in my tracks.
Gwen,
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought I was the only one... Thanks for 'seeing'.
This was as close to the actual conversation as I could remember. I did not make this up. It's amazing: people go from "Oh my god that's horrible news" to, "Let's get something to eat," in the same sentence, as if they are impervious to anything remotely death related, like it's happening on TV, or somewhere else.
This is the way life is... humans are. Still, it leaves me dumbfounded and on the verge of tears each time I witness it firsthand.
Steven, It's as if most people do not connect the dots...... ... ... . . . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. ... . . .
ReplyDelete... as if everything that happens in the world is expressly for their entertainment..