The Organ Recital

At lunch, I watched the group of people at the next table. One woman fascinated me - she opened her purse and extracted a handful of pills from a small, clear plastic bag and laid them on the table, neatly lined up, a bit like soldiers on parade. Then, without missing a conversational beat, she chatted, placed a pill in her mouth, downed a gulp of water, chatted, placed a pill in her mouth and repeated... I had to turn way after the fourth cycle because my lunch friend poked me and hissed that I was being rude.

I don't know anyone like the woman who publicly popped pills. My friends have headed in the other direction. I have to beg them to get information about their health. Many were scarred by some aunt or grandparent talking endlessly about their digestive disorder (usually at the dinner table). They are so afraid of turning into the people we mocked (often our own parents), that they’ve gone the other way - never talk about illness, never indulge in the ‘organ recital’.

Maybe they want to appear young, well, younger than they are. Maybe they want to be seen as self-sufficient, or uncomplaining. Maybe, most likely, they don't want to burden their friends. I'm starting to think that we've gone too far. There are times when I'd like to discuss my acid reflux or hear about their hip replacements. My friends and I are at ages when bad things happen and we can only help each other if we know. How do I change this group habit? I don't know and I don't want to be first to share this new pain on my right side but, I do know that, like so many topics - after not talking for a long time, it's difficult to open that door again. I'm open to suggestions.

In March, 2025, Not The Trip We Planned was published by Koehler and it did NOT contain lengthy references to digestive disorders, arthritic conditions or food intolerances - but it could have. If you have read (or not) and enjoyed the book, please post a review on Amazon.com and Goodreads. It matters to Amazon, and especially it matters to Lauren S. Bezos who will personally set up a roadside stand to sell copies.

Happy 4th of July. Enjoy it; this might be the last Independence Day we have.