A Million Little Things

   During the mid-term elections campaign this year, I received a great number of mailings asking for votes, many  of them duplicates or repeat mailings. I don't mind because campaigning is part of the democratic process, so I would look at them and discard them. But this campaign card is still  on my kitchen table. I put it there when I saw that Tistrya Houghtling was wearing a dress remarkably similar to one I wore in 1969. Now that's not an earthshaking announcement, but it just struck me. I remember that dress.
   The point is that if someone had been here, I would have said,"Look, Tistrya is wearing my old dress," And then thrown the card away. But having  no one to comment to, the card remains a stark reminder of the solitary life.
    Not that I ever read the newspaper to anyone in the house, but often there would be a comment or two, on a mutual basis. Same with television--watching TV shows alone is akin to doomsday, with no venue for incidental or frivolous remarks.  It is probable that any prospective listener would not be interested anyway, but when you live with someone, there is no choice, is there? Who would have guessed that a reluctant audience still served the purpose.
    Humans are social beings, and human interaction a necessity. That is why research is now showing that people can remain healthier if they avoid isolation. And not just through organized and scheduled visits by someone from the outside world. Recent studies showed that it is healthier, for those who are able, to live in a community where there are neighbors and regular occasions for even incidental contacts. Worth thinking about.