Tuesday’s 200 Words: Finite
February 15, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Once you asked me, “Why 200 words?” The limited word count makes it a game, I said.
Excerpts from older posts are allowed. In 2008, I wrote:
————————-
This is what’s been bringing about my reoccurring melancholy for years now: everything is fleeting. Fleeting. There’s so much sweetness passing right before my eyes. There’s a constant powerlessness. A constant letting go. And it hurts.
My niece verbalized it best when she was 4. The day I showed up for my biannual visit with her family – our family, she started the ritual of asking, “How many more days will you be here?”
“9 more days.”
And the next day she remembered to ask, “How many more days will you be here?”
“8 more days.”
Later, “How many more days will you be here?”
“7 more days.”
Finally, on the last day, she said, “I wish this were the first day again.”
“Oh, me too. Me too.”
It’s too sweet. It goes by too quickly. There’s no pressing pause.
————————-
Given magical options of either reliving the happiest moments or restoring your health, I’d choose the latter.
Then I could say, “Look, 14 words left!” And you might tap the end of my nose. And we’d smile.
———————————–
