ADVICE

Despite having lived in rural Northern California for a number of years, Roman still refuses to change dentists. So twice a year he takes off to San Francisco for a few days to hang with friends, visit art museums and get his teeth cleaned. I get to stay home with the chickens.

When Roman leaves home all our friends are quite certain that I will starve so I end up getting wonderful dinner invitations. The first one came from our only nearby same-gender couple, Louise and Susan. They had retired here a few years ago. Lou had been an architect in Marin County and was determined to build something startling out here where building permits are practically unheard of. The house wasn’t exactly ugly, it just seemed uncomfortable on the small vineyard they had purchased.

Lou and Susan had embarked on the hobby of making wine so it was always a delight to see what they had concocted. I sometimes thought critiquing their wine was the main reason to have Roman and I visit.

But the reason this time was different. Their college age son, Todd, was home for the summer. He was studying music and had a long list of questions prepared for me. Lord only knows what Lou and Susan had said about me but they obviously overlooked that I am uncomfortable with that kind of attention.

I told him the truth, that if he loved music, he should consider some other career for income. Nothing destroys love faster than making your love also your work. It is the basic problem with prostitution. I only survived with music as my profession because I didn’t particularly care for it. Now I raise unpleasant chickens instead, allowing me to finally enjoy music.
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