Real cynics aren't born, they're stewed.

[spatch]

This one's really dark, folks.

When you're in a growl and the whole state of affairs sucks golf balls through garden hoses and you're still mad at Zipcar for those insulting "sex vs parking" ads, your favorite entertainment is gonna be thinking ill of other people. IN YOUR HEAD.

Sitting on the T, then, pondering the fates of the happy couples around us. 6 months, tops. He's cheating on her. She's just not into him. Loveless trophy marriage. Ugh, fratboy love.

Then we spot the elderly couple. Together so long they feel comfortable in each other's presence, no matter where they are. Silver-haired, inwardly beaming. Her arm rests over his.

And we stop cold and reflect for just a moment. How can we possibly laugh off all relationships when it's clear just from looking at these two that yes, two people can make it together for so long? And we feel like heels for what we've been doing. And pause to make amends.

Heart attack. In his sleep. It's peaceful. And she goes on.

Comments

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

What the hell else is she gonna do? Throw herself on the pyre?

[spatch]

I actually knew a couple who died of natural causes within hours of each other. What I think Vonnegut called a duprass.

[saint-buddha.livejournal.com]

Great response. Ha ha ha ha ha!

[dcart.livejournal.com]

I don't think of surviving and going on as being the same thing at all. But it's pretty common for those long time couples to die within a year of each other, often with the latter of the two being kind of broken after the first one dies.

So, "and she goes on" is kind of ouch-y in that context.

[spatch]

I actually meant it as going on gracefully. It was the best I could do for her in the hypothetical construct.

My grandmother and grandfather celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in early 2000. My grandmother died in August 2000. My grandfather has gone on. He neither drowned in his grief nor forgot all about her. (He did plunge headlong into several Habitat projects, but he's always been rather tireless when it comes to that.) He's just continued to live his life, and he misses her, but he's still got living to do.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

Ah, given the darkness warning on this, I took it exactly the opposite way.

[spatch]

You're welcome to take it however you like, really.

[dcart.livejournal.com]

I like the way you meant it much better than the way I took it.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

me too.