The Great Plotnik

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Two New Photos



Yesterday, Belly crossed fruit punch off her Life List. She went to Coney Island with PD and it was love at first sight for them both. Her dad is deciding whether or not to enter Belly in the hot dog eating contest this summer.

It was a relief to find these photos, especially since Plot had just watched Hotel Rwanda. It was a mistake to watch that movie again. So much cruelty, and above all so much stupidity.

It was probably not too smart either to have a discussion with Ducknik about where that line is between now and 'old.' When do you stop being you, the person you have always been, and become You 2.0, a worse update, with half the energy and twice the complaints?

Before he saw the Belly photos, Plotnik read an email from his partner D-Blue, who is having what seems (to Plotnik) to be a minor flareup of his prostate cancer problem, but is reacting in a frightening way. He is about to undergo an eight-week radiation therapy treatment, knowing full well all the side effects, temporary and lasting. Maybe if Blue's son Jasper hadn't died of cancer he wouldn't react like this, and maybe if Plottie hadn't been listening so intently to The Great Domin-Nik for the last several years, he could have more faith in Blue's course of treatment.

He wants to have faith in his friend's judgment, but he knows how random that judgment can be at times. Plotnik knows this is not his issue to offer uninformed advice about, but he is worried about it anyway.

After reading Blue's E-Mail, Plotnik turned to Facebook. There he found these beautiful photos of Isabella, the first one taken at the beach at Coney Island yesterday, the second from an unknown location.



He should have seen this coming. You did, probably. One look at those two photos and he was practically overcome with longing to see his kids, so far away and in some ways getting even further.

It's that last part, the inevitable part, that's the worst part. Plotnik has been there, he remembers being so busy it seemed like he had no life to share, let alone the time to share it.

He also knows this is life. And he is not only a dad, he's a son. So he called his Mom.

How's Mummy P? She's tired. Her head hurts. She's old.

9 Comments:

At 2:39 PM, Blogger notthatlucas said...

This is a pretty deep trip you are on considering you've got the Lakers toying with the Jazz, the Dodgers sweeping the Rockies, and a gorgeous Sunday.

D-Blue will be fine, Belly should avoid eating contests (unless they are with her dad or grandpa), and Old(s) is a car GM no longer makes. Go get some ice cream and see who has good fares to NY.

 
At 3:28 PM, Blogger mary ann said...

Sweet photo of your son and g.dot, concentrate on that...

 
At 3:44 PM, Blogger Karen said...

Ah, sorry you've got the blues. Time to pull out the guitar and put them to good use?

 
At 6:57 PM, Anonymous blogmaid said...

I was going to tell you that I am still thinking about tea bags, but that comment doesn't seem appropriate on this beautiful post. I love the Belly pictures, and I'm glad you called your mom.

 
At 5:43 AM, Anonymous Cousin Seattle said...

I am soooo empathetic right now. I can not wait to get back home to LA. My bed sounds AMAZING. I am looking forward to the time with Mom, Dad and Becca. They get here in 5 1/2 glorious days!
For some reason, my return ticket was booked 3 days after my fam. leaves, and we just paid the change fee so I can go back on the 4th--the same day as the family. It is totally worth it.

Thank God for family. Sometimes they make us want to pull our hair out, but most of the time, we wouldn't want to be without them.

Lots of love to you Uncle D--I'll be able to update the blog once I get to Beijing--hopefully the night of the 25th here!

 
At 7:58 AM, Anonymous jj-aka-pp said...

At least you have a mom to call!

FABULOUS pix of Belly. The location of the pix of the two of them is a "field of grass that was inviting enough to lie down on" That means no fire ant mounds, red clay dirt, bees in the grass....I don't like down on grass in Atlanta very often.

So, how are the fares to NYC? any that stop in the ATL?

 
At 3:12 PM, Blogger The Fevered Brain said...

This was a lovely, bittersweet post. Thanks.

 
At 7:58 AM, Anonymous Mistress Dominik said...

You're getting my response on this post, too! 2.0 upgrade....perfect Plotnik! And all the rest . . . sweet little Belly, distant children, oy. We should occasionally meet and go for a walk and talk, outside of TIAPOS. You know I have a TON of free time, right? That's me, Ms. LoungeNik.

 
At 11:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Remember the text when I was on Laurel Canyon and Ventura and you were in Trinidad? Once we got through that intersection we went to a park, laid down in the grass and 'snap!' That second photo is straight valley.

 

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