didn't

I must confess it's hard for me to avoid writing "Thanx, Barb," since Barb is how I address my daughter, whose name is (obviously) Barbara. Yours, Chuck

I suspected you wanted to be addressed as Barbara. A beautiful name. In fact, I'm the one suggested it for my then as-yet-unborn daughter. The evolution to "Barb" came naturally to me. And since "my" Barbara likes my shortening of her name in this instance, as well as the affectionate tone that comes right along with it, she and I're just fine with its use, at least by me. I'll take care not to use it when addressing you. And no problem. Thanx for your comment(s). Appreciate 'em. Yours, Chuck, aka barbsdad PS: Incidentally, Barb's in her 40s now. Don't think she'll regret my calling her Barb when she's "older," whenever that may be.

intended re tolerance in my piece. I adopted a position of feeling totally powerless to change anything, one of a state of depression, of apathy, of being unable to assert or stand up for myself. Of what's the use. And although I'm not currently subjected to such, I've had many years previously where depression was something I had to tolerate too much of the time, if I may use that term tolerate (to mirror your "tolerant"). Or somehow live through at one step per time. I suspect that people who have/have had a problem with depressive episodes will understand this write only too well. In plain words, I had a choice (in my representation piece here) to do other than what I didn't, a choice not made: Could have told the JW to get out (as Candlewitch did) when that's what I wanted. Could have responded with heat to the view of the get-out-of-business notice (such notice being a vivid sign/symbol, I might say, of our current economic circumstance). Could have seen the moon as something other than dull---a dullness that matched my own---a thing other than heavy, and instead taken a lighter, freer view (such as a light acknowledgment of "the sun's not here" ... and enjoyed the thought, and perhaps laughed right along with it). Could have taken a stronger stand re impossible gas prices ... and perhaps gotten aggressively creative in dealing personally with that particular problem. But of course, as the poem would express, I did/could not, given the woeful, feeling-trapped state of mind. Thanx, Chuck