Passion, Watchful Observer, and Parrot Disease

What age does one have to be to form a passion that will endure a life time?

During the primeval darkness of puberty I began an ebullient love affair with reading, music, humour, television, and discovering erogenous zones (not necessarily in that order, or frequency) - mainly, drama, film, and anything involving an armpit. Language and music seemed to delve deep into my soul; fire my emotions. Though still childish for my age, and with a restricted ability to understand the rules of grammar, and vocabulary, I soldiered on. Then I discovered melody, harmony, rhythm, phrasing, imagination - not only in music -but in folk tales, novels, poetry, and arm-wrestling. I read voraciously, but the story was overly optimistic, so I opted for "Anne of Green Gables". The one thing in life I've never regretted.

In this new era of my life, I have morphed into a watchful observer. When I'm not at home - shopping, or visiting someone I've never met before in hospital - I hold a wood effect country birch venetian blind in front of my face. I've been arrested five times as a "Peeping Tom". Am I to be pilloried the rest of my life for boring a hole in my shutters, just because Lady Godiva's hair was cut too short, prior to riding into town on her horse? I demand justice! I demand brown sauce on my burger! Do I sound irrational; erratic; crazed? If not, you're on the same medication as me. Try meditation, or standing naked among cattle lying in the meadow in winter. However, watch out for the swishing of tails.

I took my dog, Tanya, to the vet today. The vet's diagnosis was worrying. She said Tanya had Parrot Disease, aka Parrot Fever, Pigeon Fancier's Lung! When I said I couldn't understand how a dog could catch this disease my dog said, "Who's a pretty boy then? Who's a pretty boy? Go on ... tell me. Who's a pretty boy, then?" I cracked, and was in such a state, I drove home without a car. It was a mistake to buy Tanya her own tape recorder, and let her sleep in the kitchen. There's no food left in the fridge, and she has left the iron on again.

This afternoon I sat down, and wrote an email to one of my friends in Oxford, England.

I've fallen in love again. This time with a human being! She's beauty personified, wealthy, and fluent in German. I know what you're thinking? I can't speak German. But I'm besotted! I know! I know! Even when the sun shines at its brightest, the rain runs down her face, and her voice is sometimes lofty. I've made an appointment with a doctor to diagnose her condition. However, believe me, she is like no other. She's learning me how to "Goose-Step" to "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus.

I know this may sound simply-minded, however, every time I mention Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, she gets hot under the collar. Any ideas?

Reflections: The time will come when everything one does will be just a memory, including one's notion of paradise.