GEORGE W. F. HEGEL: 
The life of God — the life which the mind apprehends and enjoys
as it rises to the absolute unity of all things —
may be described as a play of love with itself;
but this idea sinks to an edifying truism, or even to a platitude, when it does not embrace in it the earnestness, the pain, the patience, and labor,
involved in the negative aspect of things.
........................................................................
My friend George moved out of our rooming house Saturday morning, and I miss him.
His sister and nephew came to collect him off to Rhode Island , where he will enjoy his final years on this planet (he is 68) in the care & company of his two older sisters, and that damn nephew, a weaselly character indeed. 50ish gray-haired kid living with Mom. And what a Mom, George’s sister. A small round turtle like woman: small head, big middle, short gams. Treated George like a kid as he got his shit in her car, with nephew’s help.
………………………………………………………………
George Carlin
Doin' It Again / Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics (1990)
§ Some people don't want you to mention certain things. Some people don't want you to say this, some people don't want you to say that. Some people think if you say some things they might happen. Some people are real fuckin' stupid. You ever notice that, how many stupid people you run into? Goddamn there's some stupid bastards out there.
………………………………………………………………………..
Earlier: Sarge, my other rooming house-mate, and George said goodbye.
George, in mock plea: “Aintcha got nuthin to say, me goin?”
Sarge: “yeah, wished it hadn’t taken so long, you son of a bitch.” Was he serious? I have no idea. This old Vietnam vet can hate.
George: “ah fuck you too.”
I intervened wit a witty: “Oh, what a good bye scene, fellows. A real Hallmark moment.”
Sarge: “Yeah, and that’s all he’s gonna get out of me!”
George shuffled off in pseudo-hurt feelings…
To his sister, who squawed, “if ya gotta smoke, do it now,” sternly. I tried to schmooze her, to no avail .
I had an idea. “George, get a cell phone of your own! So you can call all your friends back over here!”
“Nah, never a cellphone,” he said.
“Yahhh! He aint allowed a cellphone! Some things he aint gonna be allowed!” said the weasel.
George picked up his cable box, which he had to return, and ambled to the car.
After a handshake from me & “take care , buddy.”
“Be good! “ I said.
He turned around, and was gonna say something; perhaps the last words I’d hear from my pal.
“Those electrical strips in the room I left! Make sure ya get em to the cleaning lady! I promised her them.”
I gave him my own promise.
Then he was gone.
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George Bernard Shaw:
The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity.
§ The Devil's Disciple, Act II (1901)
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The name “George” is from the Greek name Γεωργιος (Georgios) which was derived from the Greek word γεωργος (georgos) meaning "farmer, earthworker", itself derived from the elements γη (ge) "earth" and εργον (ergon) "work".
…………………………………………………………
By some act of odd synchronicity, George called as I was writing. Just got off the phone with him.
We bullshitted for 10 minutes.
“Ya got a room there, all settled in?”
“It’s a house!”
“Yeah? They allow you free rein?”
“what?”
“they allow you to walk around as you please?”
“Yah, sure. Hey, I got my hair cut. Three quarters of an inch.They thought it would be good..”
“Yeah, your sister looked like a tough lady.”
“Yeaahhhhhhh. They sat on me til I said ok.”
“Well good, new start, new hair!”
“Yeah, tomorrow maybe nother half inch.”
“Who may I ask is doing this haircutting?”
“My nephew, yeahh…”
Etc. Sounds like he is ensconced there. Hope they appreciate him.
“Betcha surprised to hear from me, huh?”
“You don’t know how much, buddy.”
“Yeahh. Ok, take care, kid.”
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So I am Georgeless again. Lost George my Dad six years ago, October 5th. Same day they yanked my teeth…
Only George left I suppose is Georgie the Uber-Puppy, who is a one man destruction crew at this moment (only 14 weeks old) in Sister L’s house. Pulling things out of hiding , like shoes and dresses from her wardrobe closet, and chewing just about anything, not to mention eating anything that fits in his mouth. But a gentle worker of the earth. Definitely a digger. In the dirt.
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George Orwell:
Keep the Aspidistra Flying (1936), opening lines
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not money, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not money, I am nothing.
………………………………………………………………
George Joseph Emmerling, my dad, may 16 1922-october 8, 2005
“Nuff said!”
GEORGE HEGEL AGAIN:
Not curiosity, not vanity, not the consideration of expediency, not duty and conscientiousness, but an unquenchable, unhappy thirst that brooks no compromise leads us to truth
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Comments
in a sentimental girly-girl man
kinda post?
however, the fact he called me back today is promising.
CHUCK: mY memories used to mollify. Now they sear with lost
opportunity & lost love. I am a canditate for ECT. Daily.
""time feeds loneliness until it is hungry for more"
more than loneliness, i hope u mean, not
more damn loneliness..
Farewell to your dear friend! You now have a treasure trove of memories to remember him by... not everyone is so lucky to have such strong bonds with people. Consider yourself lucky James, just as George is lucky. And re: Carlin, haha, he was a bitter crank, but often spoke the truth, indeed.
But being stupid is far less stress than being curious about your surroundings, questioning things and seeking further knowledge. Some people feel more comfortable taking the easy way out. EXAMPLE: We have several search engines that give us every detail on everything, right?
Yet you still find people online asking, "Huh, what's that mean?" All it would take are a few simple clicks to become informed... no cigar.
Rated
If it's there in the tomes somewhere I'd like to read about it.
He calls you a day after he moves out ~ nice to be missed, not so nice when you're the one doing the missing.
We will all miss him if we hear non of his wise words
It sounds like he has a bunch of bullies ordering him around
Especially that nephew
the next thing he will be shaved in his sleep
Oh, I am so worried about him
with this family you describe
He is such a lovely man
I will miss him
rated with love
CHARLIE:
Turtle sis ok, but weasel nephew disturbs me. Stupidity is ok, if that is one’s choice, but to institutionalize it and place our Laws at its hands is …criminal.
PHYLLIS:
He has charm to spare. And innocence. He will be ok.\\
MICAL: he earned this tribute.
KIM: good points. Attempted murder and alcoholism and…well, letchery…got him here. All that is gone. He is ok to talk to anytimes.
Don’t worry too much over him. He will rise from the frequent naps he takes refreshed and fulla rhode island toughness.
Jack: bad weekend all around. Ah well, the breach sounds like a challenge for our fortitude.
"George" by Hillaire Belloc
Who played with a Dangerous Toy, and suffered a Catastrophe of considerable Dimensions
When George's Grandmamma was told
That George had been as good as gold,
She promised in the afternoon
To buy him an Immense BALLOON.
And so she did; but when it came,
It got into the candle flame,
And being of a dangerous sort
Exploded with a loud report!
The lights went out! The windows broke!
The room was filled with reeking smoke.
And in the darkness shrieks and yells
Were mingled with electric bells,
And falling masonry and groans,
And crunching, as of broken bones,
And dreadful shrieks, when, worst of all,
The house itself began to fall!
It tottered, shuddering to and fro,
Then crashed into the street below-
Which happened to be Savile Row.
When help arrived, among the dead
Were Cousin Mary, Little Fred,
The Footmen (both of them), the Groom,
The man that cleaned the Billiard-Room,
The Chaplain, and the Still-Room Maid.
And I am dreadfully afraid
That Monsieur Champignon, the Chef,
Will now be permanently deaf-
And both his aides are much the same;
While George, who was in part to blame,
Received, you will regret to hear,
A nasty lump behind the ear.
And a song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDF4_5RhMY8
I'm not sure which is scarier, turtle women or weasel men. Hope George does well in his new home. Take care and be gentle with yourself.
RATED!
This is a nice farewell to your friend.
I’m with you the description of the nephew leaves much to be desired.
Can’t say I put much faith in men or women who look like turtles either.
I wish George the best.
I much prefer your Hallmark moment much more real and earthy.
~R~