Process of Elimination (continued)

Some things we no longer do. Smoking cigarettes. Eating licorice. Swimming in the ocean. One day you wonder what happened to yourself.

Logged-In Public: You don’t just stop smoking cigarettes. It’s a great dramatic process many of us have gone through and have related the ordeal to relatives and friends.

The Sardine just stopped one day.

L-I P: The doctors ordered you to stop.

I don’t listen to doctors. I regret giving up cigarettes. Despite their many pleasures, they left a bad taste in the Sardine’s mouth the next day. Not to mention some wheezing, which has dissipated since I’ve stopped.

L-I P: Why’d you stop?

None of the cigarette’s pleasures needed much effort to forego. Wish the same could be said for a dozen other things that cling to the Sardine’s life.

L-I P: We have that problem with playing Spider Solitaire. Especially the one suit kind. Ninety-six percent winning percentage.

Like the Manhattans I drink every night. At least two. 

L-I P: You’re alcoholic.

The hell I am. The Sardine doesn’t play the Addiction Game. But I can’t help indulging in meaningless experiences. Guilt creeps in. The Sardine hates himself every other day.

L-I P: You’re a sad miserable creature.

The more attention one pays to ridding a vice, the less successful the procedure.

L-I P: What about your Disdain List? You want to get those things out of your life. Stand-up comedy.  Talking about food.

That’s easier than ridding oneself of a vice. The items I disdain are usually things imposed by the culture and society. They tend to be ubiquitous and pounce upon you without notice. Most recently, the movie review has annoyed the Sardine.

L-I P: You disagreed with the reviewer’s opinion. It’s natural. You’re like the rest of us.

Actually, the review praised a Sardine favorite. But it got the movie all wrong. The reviewer talked about the director, writers, and actors as celebrities and potential award winners. Little was said about the meaning or nature of the movie.

L-I P: This isn’t the same movie that Joe T. liked?

No. But, like Joe, the reviewer freely recommended it to the readers.

L-I P: We need reviews to know what we like and dislike.

Put all movie AND book reviews in the category of being eliminated from the Sardine’s life.

God-Fearing Public: Wait, don’t you write movie reviews? Aren’t you being hypocritical?

If the Sardine writes about films, he explores the content for meaning and tries to understand the film’s intent. Rarely, do I write about films I dislike. There’s no question about recommending the film or not.

G-F P: You want to get rid of movie reviews? Deprive of us of their wisdom and guidance?

The Sardine’s depriving himself of their bullying opinions.

L-I P: How do you feel about sports?

As the Sardine gets older, the less his favorite sports teams matter. The process of their elimination from his life started with his not watching the games and only seeing the results. Now it doesn’t matter whether his teams make it to the World Series or Super Bowl.

L-I P: You must be bored.

Bored people are the ones following the results, living and dying over the hiring of batting instructors and defensive coordinators.

G-F P: You can’t isolate yourself from the world like this.

The Sardine doesn’t feel isolated. Quite the opposite. His mind is getting more clear regarding what’s really important for him.

L-I P: Like we said. You sad miserable pathetic creature.

Clarity of mind is worth living for. It’s invigorating to figure out what you can do without.