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Memoir: Therapy

Ask your shrink whether it's wise to bring "new life" to this planet. Global warming, coming apocalypse, dying polar bears, etc.

Your shrink will startle you. "I DO think we're headed toward an apocalypse," he says, "but I believe there will be a few scrappy people who will persist. Who will construct something new."

Really? And: wait a minute. Do you now--truly--possess an answer to your original question?

***

Consider venting about a recent tense dinner party. Or about a dream in which your dog was mildly ill.

Instead, your shrink has a new topic. He thinks we're all wandering around in a rage, with varying levels of consciousness. He thinks this is because, almost every second, another baby dies. And another! And another! Starvation! Your shrink thinks that American prisons should resemble Norwegian prisons; Norwegian prisons are about rehabilitation. American prisons are about vengeance and rage.

Scratch your head. Maybe save that dinner-party story for another time.

***

Your shrink: "I *do* tell my children about farting after death. I actually believe that I will be able to AMBULATE through the cosmos. And my jet fuel will be my farting. My power will be my farts."

Sigh, and consider how to respond. Maybe change the subject. Maybe it's time to talk about "Killing Eve," or "Fleabag."

And now your hour is up.
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  1. UnknownJune 12, 2019 at 10:17 AM

    LOL I think we are having a misunderstanding: I do not think that we are heading towards an apocalypse, though I do believe that, one way or another we will be forced to reckon with our lack of -- shall we say wisdom? -- and that the reckoning in question will make us wiser. In other words, I am an optimist :-)
    As to the farts... it's all true, I am afraid LOL

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