If I sit still and cease this tapping of the keyboard my mind is filled with ticks. I have three clocks in the shop. Two in my office and a third on the main floor. One is located directly behind my head upon a low shelf. Its an old Westclock of cream with a gold band around its face, a Big Ben model of unknown vintage. I give her a twist twice a day, gently. She's load.
Between me and the main floor, just above and in front of my desk hangs another large faced clock, a gift from a now deceased friend. I don't like it, yet there it hangs with its moment by moment indications of time. Its face has birds instead of numerals. A House Wren is forever preached at 1600. I'm locked between the Audubon monstrosity and the grace of the classic Westclock.
So here I sit between the tick, tick, tick. If I listen carefully the lone timepiece from the shop's floor intrudes too. Its white dial is fed daily by signals far away. It keeps perfect time. She keeps a steady beat, the drummer to a band of three, as each marks the moment to the end of my life.
Stephen
Counting flowers on the wall,
ReplyDeleteThat don't bother me at all.
Playing Solitaire till dawn,
With a deck of fifty-one.
I find that sometimes thinking to much is a dangerous thing.....
It is indeed, my friend. Take care.
DeleteIf it wasn't for the time display on my computer, I'd rarely know the time -or even the date.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had such luxury. My life is marked in seconds. Thanks, my friend.
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ReplyDeleteOne problem with retirement is that a person can lose track of what day of the week it is, especially in the winter when we are not as active. It sucks when I sit down to watch something on TV that I have been wanting to see and discover that it was last night!!! I have something friend sent me about time and our lives. I will post it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteHopefully I too shall experience retirement. But, I doubt it. When you are self-employed you're married to your business. Thanks, my good friend.
DeleteBoth are daughters are grown & working, but I'm rarely home alone to hear a clock ticking. There's one in my office, but it's hard to hear over the constant blowing of the HVAC. Silence happens all too rarely, these days, and I envy you the time to just sit & listen.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that old line...silence is golden. When the opportunity presents itself I jump in feet first. Here's wishing you a silent day. Take care my friend.
DeleteMy favorite clock is the one my Father build for me many, many years ago. He loved making them. His favorite was just made of wooden gears, thin chains and weights - I wish I had that one, too. If you worry about the seconds ticking away Stephen, you can't enjoy the minutes.......
ReplyDeletePhyllis (N/W Jersey)
Very true, Dearest Phyllis, but those seconds sure build at a rapid rate...take care, and thanks.
DeleteLove me some vintage clocks. The inexpensive but high quality ones are my favorites. Westclocks are wonderful. Ingrahams are great. Telechrons are awesome if you absolutely have to go electric.....
ReplyDeleteYeah... I've got multiples of all these scattered around the house. Mrs. Paladin finally had to ask me to knock it off with the clocks :) I know exactly what Bird clock you're talking about, too. I respect your honoring the memory of your friend by keeping it around.
Bubba, I've a Telechrons gathering dust on my desk back at the house...has been for twenty years. One of these days...
DeleteThanks, my friend.
Sometimes the quiet is worth it's weight in gold... Just sayin....
ReplyDeleteAh, great minds indeed think alike. Take care and thank you, my friend.
DeleteEnjoy your moments of silence. Discoveries and inventions can come from these precious times. I cherish all the quiet in this life.
ReplyDelete