Hemingway summed up the human existence in three words
Went to the doctor’s again this weekend. Not for me but it was just as stressful.
The thing with life is that you expect everything to happen to someone else. Injuries, disease, general misfortune, etc., these are things that happen to other people and not you.
And when it actually does happen to you, you think, What the … ?
Ernest Hemingway had a character in The Sun Also Rises that was asked how he became bankrupt.
“Gradually, then suddenly,” he replied.
And that’s why Hemingway was a brilliant writer. Because in three words, he summed up the totality of human existence.
You live your quiet, banal, little life when suddenly:
- you get robbed
- you get into a car accident spend all your saving on a car accident lawyer
- you get cheated on
- you get physically damaged
Or whatever personal little hell you have to deal with. And you have to drop everything to deal with it.
And there’s not much else to do but deal with it. Some days you deal with it better than others.
Him: How’re doing?
Me: Well, I broke down crying like a 10-year-old girl on the 7 train the other day; which I don’t recommend. Because of a whole other list of craziness, I haven’t had a drink for 45 days and won’t be able to until next week – when I’m gonna drink the CRAP outta my rum stash. And my insomnia is kicking up so I slept one hour last night. But besides that, not too bad. You?
However, there’s hope.
Because joy also inevitably comes.
And it comes just as unexpectedly and just as suddenly. And so I wait for it.
For the time being, without my rum, but still…
———-
Did get a tiny piece of good news last week, which is that a Facebook Fan site I created for A Great First Date hit over 1,000 likes in less than ten days.
Take a look and maybe hit that LIKE button yourself.
Location: an hour ago, in front of a large needle
Mood: anxious
Music: Someday all this mess will make me laugh, I can’t wait, I can’t wait, I can’t wait
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6 replies on “Gradually, then suddenly”
It’s upsetting to hear that you’re in the middle of rough times. I really think that all the bad stuff in life severely outweighs the good. Sigh. And what’s even more unfair is that all the ‘good’ people get the bulk of the calamities while the undeserving people just breeze through. I’m no optimist, more of a realist, but I send you good wishes and hope the best for you.
I appreciate the kind words and sentiment. I was actually thinking that I was (and am) one of the lucky ones. But a lot is going on all at once so it’s a little hard for me to regain my footing.
Hopefully soon.
So sorry you’re going through something awful. Beautiful post though. Hope you get through the other end of the tunnel soon.
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