“He loves his old laughing lady because her taste is so sweet”*
Posted on August 18, 2008 - Filed Under And your point is?, Adult swim
*The Old Laughing Lady by Neil Young. This is a classic poetic Neil Young song, full of meaning and beautiful. The best version of it I have heard can be found on the incredible Unplugged: Neil Young.
Sometimes, we can expect no more from a man than what he has given; this amount is often directly connected to what he has come to expect of himself. One secret to getting along with folks is understanding that nothing more will come from this person, no matter how badly we think it should. Obviously, this may lead to great disappointment on our part, but that is only the proximate viewpoint. Ultimately, we begin to understand what it is that person is ‘good for’ in our lives. Some then choose to fill in the inevitable gaps with other relationships, seeking out people who provide something different than our other friend. Practical? Self-centered? Parasitic? Most certainly. But if we think we aren’t these things, we’re only deceiving ourselves. Why does unrequited love hurt so? Because we need, pure and simple. We use people to fulfill our needs. We make it acceptable by constructing a barter relationship with those who most effectively meet our needs; I can’t think of one right now but I am sure the great Johnny Cash sang a lyric stating this truth. The other part of the agreement is to never lay it out like this. To speak of it would make it feel dirty, business-like. I suspect people 100 years ago understood this when they took their marriage vows. Think back to the old western movies you’ve seen and references to ‘barren’ women–a man wants a woman, at the most base level, because she will give him children. A woman without that capacity ‘ain’t good for marryin’.’ The same rejection applied to a man who couldn’t or wouldn’t work; what’s he good for if he doesn’t have strong arms with which to labor?
Ask me what I am writing about, where this came from, why I am thinking about such things and I will tell you I surely don’t know. I suppose this is the kind of thing you get when you just sit down and start typing with no particular direction or purpose in mind.
Comments
2 Responses to ““He loves his old laughing lady because her taste is so sweet”*”
Leave a Reply
just waiting in ohio
Hey Guys!!
Just stopping by to catch up. Looks like you all have had a busy summer. Jerry asked me about you all yesterday. Read the piece about potty training. Jaiden has lost total interest in the potty and will will be 2.5 on the 9th so if you checked that off your list, you are doing great!! I DREAD the public potty thing as well so Jaiden might be in high school before it happens..
Love to you both..