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DEAR JOHN was a British sitcom (1986-1987) and American sitcom (1988-1992)—as well as many songs, most notably, by Hank Williams (1951). |
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Dear John by David Ivan Clark Perhaps because Wednesday and Thursday evenings last week—balmy evenings both—I found myself sitting in the dust for long periods of time surrounded by entire orchestras of crickets as I gazed raptly up at the waxing moon. What a sound! And what a sight! The luminous blue rectangle which sadly glows and drones in living rooms across America and around the world will never compete. If only people would stifle their urges to move, if they could become still, just for a moment, and look up, surely they’d never glance down again to cover themselves with the mire and dross which is itself covered daily in the ‘entertainment’ sections printed on the skin of uncountable trees. But I didn’t intend those experiences to turn my next missive to you—this—into a Walt Disney reminiscence, evoking both Mary Poppins and Pinocchio; nor did I intend it to be a paean to the stillness and beauty of the pre-technical world (which of course was a dirty, smelly, dangerous place). So much for intention then. Might as well throw it out the window to land in the fetid and feted heap which consists mostly of our hopes and the occasional internal organ accidentally excised without the aid of anesthesia as we navigate through life under the dual aegis of heart and mind—imposters both to the throne which belongs, in the end, to who knows what, if anything at all. What I did intend my next missive to you—this—to become, was a note of thanks and of apology. I wish you much success in your endeavor but regret to say that I am unable to act as associate editor. In truth, only someone with a full-time job would have sufficient time to devote, to dedicate, to a worthy cause such as this. If, in future I find myself employed, I will genuflect in your direction and beseech you to bestow upon me once again the blessings of editorship—anything to get me through the oppressive octagon of hours of which the day will then consist. David Ivan Clark, invited by this editor (whose name is not John) to be associate editor of this journal, replied with the letter above. © 2007 David Ivan Clark TITULAR JOURNAL |