Welcome to the last Saturday in February. I’ll give you a minute for that to sink in. It’s true. As far as Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompts go, the next time Linda G. Hill gives us one, it will be March 2024. I know David is upset by that, but time marches on. We’re going to discuss that and a few other things while we enjoy a bright sunny winter’s day. PS, there’s a little something for Star Trek fans at the end.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “rhymes with ale.” Find a word that rhymes with ale, regardless of the spelling, and use it in your post. Enjoy!
Linda G. Hill — SoCS
If we were having a beer, you’d be wondering where the time went.
“The last Saturday in February. Dan, and we haven’t had a visitor yet this year.”
”We have one coming next week.”
”Who?”
”Marian Allen.”
“Marian? That’s great news. But it doesn’t change the fact that it will be March. I swear time is moving faster.”
“It is, for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Whoa, speaking of time, before you guys start quoting Hawking and Einstein, let’s get some drinks poured.”
“Are you joining us, Cheryl?”
“I can’t today, but selling this stuff is how I make my living. You two old hens will start yammering and before you know it, it will be time to go home.”
“We do get carried away at times, David.”
“We do, Dan. Especially when—as I fear will soon happen—you start with a scientific explanation.”
“Okay. One John Howell’s Bourbon Special. One ice cold Modelo Especial and you might as well put in an order of Teagan’s mushrooms, while I bring the passage of time into scale for David.”
“In other words, a tale told by an idiot.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Dan, despite the details you’re about to share, we all know time moves at the same pace for everyone.”
“Yes, but time is an artificial construct, and we perceive it, and the rate it passes, differently.”
“Here you go guys, one beer, one bourbon, some seltzer, a glass of ice and a couple cherries. Nothing quick about the time it takes to prepare your drink, David.”
“Thank you, Cheryl. Perfection doesn’t occur quickly. It’s taken me almost eighty years.”
“Yes. And since Dan is about to explain that I think I’ll go check on the people in the lounge.”
“Cheers, Dan. Now why is time moving faster for me?”
“Because you’re old.”
“Now I beg your pardon. Old?”
“Well, only about fifteen percent older than me, but you’re almost four times as old as Skippy.”
“Please don’t relate me to Skippy.”
“But it’s a great comparison. At the end of February, we will have counted off sixty days in twenty-twenty-four.”
“So.”
“So, at twenty-one years of age, sixty days is zero point seven eight percent (0.78%) of Skippy’s life, Given all he’s been going through, I’d guess those sixty days are memorable.”
“And for me?”
“Zero point zero two percent (0.02%). And with nothing to do beyond watching your people clear your driveway, a few football games and a couple dozen basketball games, I’m guessing those days have been meaningless.”
“So, they seem to go by faster. I get it.”
“And think of a child. For a two-year-old, sixty days is over eight percent of his or her life—most of which they don’t’ remember.”
“Well, if you factor in the portions of my life I don’t remember, I think the math changes.”
“Ha! I’m sure that’s true.”
“Where did you find this out, Dan. I’m assuming you’re not dabbling in temporal mechanics in your spare time.”
“A newspaper I subscribe to. Here, I’ll show you.”
“Wait, what’s that?”
“What?”
“That boat on your phone. Are you buying a boat?”
“Heavens no. That’s the Christopher-P.”
“You always revert to your consulting days, don’t you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dan, your answer is as useless as it is accurate. Why do you have a picture of the Christopher-P on your phone.”
“It’s the header of a friend’s blog. He and his wife are getting ready to sail the great loop.”
“Circumnavigating the Eastern U S?”
“Yes. Bill, that’s my friend, is also a technical advisor for my work-in-progress.”
“Is your young reporter going sailing?”
“No, she’s unraveling a mystery.”
“I see. But a boat is involved, and I know you like to get your details correct.”
“Speaking of details, here are two orders of Teagan’s mushrooms. Do you time-travelers want another round.”
“We do, Cheryl. Before another zero point zero zero three percent (0.003%) of my life passes me by.”
“What do we call that, David, an ‘old man minute’?”
“Actually, that’s a day. An ‘old man minute’ has four more zeroes to the right of the decimal point. (0.0000003%)”
“I’ll be quick about it.”
The following comparison photo is for fans of Star Trek Next Generation. Without going into unnecessary detail, the photo on the right is a reflection from some plumbing fixtures. The one on the left is a screen shot of Nagilum, the evil entity in Where Silence Has Lease.
All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.
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