NOT THE TYPE

There are some people whose attendance I relish, and I like seeing them. One of them is a medical specialist in a field not relevant to my health with whom I enjoy talking, who has diagnosed the repulsive old crotchets in the back room as irredeemable fascist, damned well crypto-nazis, and does not talk with them if he can help it. It's a completely reality-based assessment. If I didn't have to deal with them I would do likewise. He's a broad-minded man with a sense of humour and extensive non-medical data sets in his head.

Another one is a Central Asian Muslim who has extreme tolerance for blistering idiots. Which I admire. No, I could not emulate that if I tried. He patiently puts up with them.

Some others drop by and spend as litte time as possible before escaping.


Largely it is not an environment for rationality or sane and balanced conversation, though, unless you can waffle on incessantly about sports, which is something that despite being back in the United States for decades I cannot manage. Only one of the old blisters back there exercises his brain, and regularly reads books -- the others probably haven't done that since junior college and their driving tests -- but given his political affiliations that may be a somewhat pointless exercise. No hurdles that are jumped, no mental sweat broken.

Quite naturally I enjoy my work environment mostly when it is quiet and there are few people about. And the television, so necessary as cushioning for dingbats, is not on, no talking heads or ball sports related garbage in the background.

The medical specialist will be off in one corner of the building zoomconferencing, occasional snippits of which will be audible (and fascinating, as I would like to ask questions, but usually I just file them in my head to look up later at home), and once in a while a serious pipe smoker drops by. With a bit of luck I can make it smoothly to quitting time.
Without being revolted by fragments of MAGAite idiocy.

I am, altogether, pleased that I do not have to encounter most of those folks outside of work. And glad that there is no reason whatsoever to go to Marin other than the hours I am required to be there, for which I am paid.


I am an intolerant man.



==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================