• Robert: What happened? You’re almost never home from work before midnight.
  • Me: I just couldn’t stay there anymore. I hit a proverbial wall this evening. I know people mean well, but I can’t bear to hear about God closing doors and opening windows any more today. All I can think in response is that I’m way too old and round to start squeezing through Square window frames. How are you?
  • Robert: I was feeling the same way, so I decided to opt for a little escapist entertainment. (points toward television set )
  • Me: Escapist Entertainment?
  • Robert: Yes.
  • Me: It’s a Civil War documentary.
  • Robert: Yep.
  • Me: Interesting choice.
  • Robert: I figure there’s no better pick-me-up than a little death, destruction, and despair. It puts things in perspective, y’know? Makes your problems feel less weighty.
  • Me: Yes, I see what you mean. That guy getting his leg amputated with a hacksaw and no anesthesia certainly had a worse day than me.
  • Robert: Or you could put a poetic spin on it and view the whole thing as a metaphor for your own life.
  • Me: Thanks. You always know the perfect thing to say when I’m feeling low, honey.
  • Robert: Yeah. Can you imagine that doctor saying, “This is gonna smart like bloody hell, Buddy; but when God closes a door he opens a window. Good luck climbing through it with one less limb and a belly full of shrapnel, but I’m sure it’s all rainbows and lollipops on the other side.”
  • Me: I know one thing for sure: the world is a better place because you got a doctor of music degree rather than going into medicine… or counseling.