LAPSES IN COMMUNICATION (I.E. OUTER SPACE)

Some people I speak with a couple times a day - my disabled daughter in particular.

Others I chat with every day or so - my other daughter, my horses, my dogs, my older brother.

And then there are the people you see only on Sunday, or at the pharmacy, or when you go up to Tucson.

But I have two sisters whom I speak with, oh, about once a decade.


I've always been envious of families that are close.

Well, let me clarify.

I'm envious of families that are HAPPY and close. There are some that are weld very firmly, but only while in small claims court.

My oldest sister and I have 22 years age between us - neither of my sisters' husbands like me (to put it mildly) - we've just never been close.

My brother and I are only five years apart... and he's been living with us the past year, so....

Anyway, tonight I wrote my closest sister a fairly long letter, bringing her up to date on events in my life lately, especially concerning the aforementioned brother.

And wished that somehow a sheet of paper could do more to join us.

NOT HINDSIGHT, BUT SIDESIGHT

When do you realize you are monopolizing the conversation?

Usually quite a while after you actual ARE.

I fully realize that personality quirks that irritate us the most are the ones we often do not recognize in ourselves.

But my brother is driving me simply batty right now with his non-stop musical commentary and demonstrations to my poor dear neighbor who came over just to get help with tuning his mandolin tuning.

So I am certain that I must do the same time - probably when the conversation can be turned to horses or church or the BBC Sherlock series.

I'm going to have to watch that.

However it seems obvious that a 'real' conversation has give and take - sharing - taking polite turns at the podium - willing to actually listen to the other person(s) without just figuring out what you are going to say in rebuttal.


Right now I am not hearing that.

 And I need to be certain that it is not happening next time I get on a topic which I  have any expertise (imagined or otherwise) in.