Progress Report

I've lived in this "new" apartment for three months. You'd think I'd have unpacked all my books, but there're still five BOXES left to OPEN! While dusting the joint in preparation for visitors, I keep finding all these great books I bought over the years but never had time to read. I especially love the one I found today: Roger Rosenblatt's Rules for Aging. Here are the first two rules:

Rule #1: It Doesn't Matter

Whatever you think matters--doesn't. Follow this rule, and it will add decades to your life. It does not matter if you are late, or early; if you are here, or if you are there; if you said it, or did not say it; if you were clever, or if you were stupid; if you are having a bad hair day, or a no hair day; if your boss looks at you cockeyed; if your girlfriend or boyfriend looks at you cockeyed; if you are cockeyed; if you don't get that promotion, or prize, or house, or if you do. It doesn't matter.

Rule #2: Nobody is thinking about you

Yes, I know, you are certain that your friends are becoming your enemies; that your grocer, garbageman, clergyman, sister-in-law, and your dog are all of the opnion that you have put on weight, that you have lost your touch, that you have lost your mind; furthermore, you are convinced that everyone spends two-thirds of every day commenting on your disintegration, denigrating your work, plotting your assassination. I promise you: Nobody is thinking about you. They are thinking about themselves--just like you.

And so forth....Soooo funny, sooo wise, sooo right.