To which I was glad to hear....
"Huh? What end?
...Is it over?"
"Apparently, and joyously, not", I replied. "It's just that I came to wish you good morning and found you inert."
"Geo. finding a squirrel unresponsive on a hot morning is like asking a horse, 'Why the long face?' -- it's an inconsiderate thing."
"I didn't realize. Of course you minimized exertion to avoid overheating. Hopefully that is our only violation of inter species correctness."
"Your violation, Geo.! Consider your specie's introduction of hyphens."
"Hyphens?"
"Yes, how were you taught to spell the status of someone who works with you?"
"Coworker?"
"Exactly, Geo., and it was an inter-species committee of humans and bovines who changed that spelling, added the hyphen, and 'Co-worker' obtained. Socio-political conservatives feared many cows would go unorked --until even they realized they had no idea what 'orking' is and the cows didn't either. The Supreme Court Decision had no impact on the cattle industry --because they never admitted to any cow orking anyway."
"Where are we going with this discussion, E(a)rnest?"
"Into what every morning brings, a whole new world. Follow me, Geo.!"
"Later E(a)rnest, I'm not quite so ert as you are!"
I am very glad that your intrusion causd E(a)nest to ertify himself (and if that isn't a word it should be). The world would be diminished without his particular flavour of wisdom. And that whole new world would lose some of its light.
ReplyDeleteThank you EC., I love the word "ertify". I try so hard to get down to the fundamental miracle of existence and other creatures are always happy to help --as you well know.
DeleteOk, I occasionally have dreams similar, but usually involving people from long ago, who are motioning me onward. But that doesn't seem to be the case here. I can understand how heat can affect people, I, nor my kids deal well with it. When someone, since Cary passed, says "Follow me", I usually have a question or two as to destination and reasons. But then, 50 years ago, I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteHope you're well, Geo. I snowed here off and on today, didn't stick, but was oppressive to watch come down.
Cheers, Pal.
Dear Mike, I have just encountered a traumatic experience and appreciate your strength. Not up to "cheer" yet, but hopefully will be in E(a)rnest's, Richard Harris's and your Bright Merry Morning.
DeleteE(ar)nest is an amazing little creature Geo....come to think of it, when we were on the farm I never did see a cow orking. If I was given the opportunity to follow E(ar)nest I would do it in a heart beat. The things I could learn. Sadly, I have never received the invitation.
ReplyDeleteDelores, I think that's why hyphens were invented --to keep cows from feeling occupationally inadequate. Best we can do is talk with wild things and get some approximation of reasonable explanation. Personally, I think they just make up stuff.
DeletePoor E(ar)est. He needs to become ert slowly.
ReplyDeleteAs do we all, Emma. I will try not to presume or panic around him again. He needs time to wake --like me.
DeleteThe main thing is to stay (in)ert.
ReplyDeleteDear Bruce, to that advice I shall stay (al)ert. Thanks!
DeleteI'm not at all surprised that E(a)rnest is inert in the California heat. I'm inert on cold days as well as hot ones...and it's gotten to the (frightening) point that I'm sometimes inert on mild, moderate days.
ReplyDeleteHyphens have always confused and confounded me, to the point where I've become super-hyper-sensitive when using them.
Dear Jon, last person I remember with a mastery of hyphens is Emily Dickinson. She could write a whole poem of hyphens and it would be memorable. As for inertia, we've had challenging and vigorous lives so far and are entitled to some inertia.
DeleteGood to know E(a)rnest is keeping cool and keeping you on your toes.
ReplyDeleteLove the business about the cows going uorked! Yea, he may right about the hyphen offenses.
Thanks Tom, E(a)rnest is generally right about everything, even when he isn't. I find squirrels prodigiously confident considering their size --even more-so than elephants, who never mastered jumping from tree to tree.
Delete"cow orking" - I love it, Geo.!! Now to see how I can work that into an office conversation with my cow orkers, lol . . .
ReplyDeleteO_Jenny, I advise against it. I shall be 70 this year and have never learned what orking is. I started writing memos to co-workers with hyphen many years ago in fear one might explain it to me.
DeleteMaybe it's not what you fear, lol
DeleteInertia....didn't she elope with Action to create the revolving door I got stuck in today? I fear E[a]rnest is way more connected than we know. You write very well Geo. Always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Osho, for your excellent compliment and question. So far as I know, from the late 1400s work of Pandolfo Collenuccio, the allegorical fiction, "Agenoria", begins with the betrothal of Inertia (Inactivity) to Labor, whose wedding gifts --farm animals and sweat-- result in a breakup. Labor then weds Agenoria (Activity) and things are just fine again. The pleasure is mine.
DeleteWhile I do have some squirrels scurrying around, I have more turkey vultures sitting in the trees outside my windows. I dare not stay inert.
ReplyDeleteTo hyphen or not to hyphen, that is the question. However, no cows should be hurt in the sentence.
Dear Arleen, I've never made friends with turkey vultures, but always admired their graceful flight. Seeing an animal that big take to the sky has always amazed me. Sometimes hawks will land low here too, sit on a fence and disapprove of me.
DeleteSo, did you follow E(a)rnest into his cool shade? He seems to have a lot of common sense.
ReplyDeleteDear Friko, I am certain he has scads of common sense but a very poor memory. He frequently forgets where he buried his nuts. He just starts all over again. When I suspect he needs more calories, I leave a little something out for him.
DeleteI so enjoyed this post, friend Geo … It would take much too long in order to explain why … so let's put it this way … Your words reminded me that I have wings … Anyway … I thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thank you, Cat. I cannot think of a higher compliment.
DeleteIt is rainy in Cornwall, the cows can ork without fear of over heating, even if they don't know what orking entails. Tails they understand. I love sticking words together, which might be Emily Dickinson's fault :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, I've heard Miss Dickinson would order hyphens by the bushel --which she would cord up and keep in the woodshed. She often went through 2 or 3 pecks a day for extra kennings. It's her fault alright.
Delete