For a couple or three seasons, the General and I got hooked on watching Downton Abbey. We never watched it on PBS or whatever broadcast station it could be accessed through. We first learned of the series about the time the first year of showing was completed. Subsequently, the General ordered the DVDs for the entire series. There were Friday nights where we’d carve out the time to watch four or five episodes. Like I said, “We got hooked.” The General subsequently purchased all of the series.
Simply the memory of that experience brings the sound of the theme song and the chiming clock clearly on the horizon of my consciousness. The sound brought both intrigue and suspense. The musical impact was effective. It is an amazing musical score arranged by John Lunn. The composer said of the music: “I don't know what it is about classical music, but the composers are always seen as this kind of sort of god, you know, and the musicians are all kind of underneath you and have to bow to you. And it's quite a lonely place. Whereas in modern day now, you're very much part of a team. You know, I have my own team. I have, you know, an orchestrator. I have somebody who mixes the music for me. They're all very equal”. Interestingly, all of the music in "Downton Abbey" is produced by a 35-piece orchestra with Lunn playing the piano himself. It is truly amazing!
Maybe it is because I grew up poor and didn’t know it, but I can’t imagine living the life of an aristocratic socialite who has “wait service” at their beckoned call. Mostly, I wouldn’t want that. Let me modify my statement to say, I wouldn’t want that. On the other-hand, are there some things the General could do to simplify my life and eradicate my need to be in a constant decision making mode?
For example, the General has good taste. She could sort through my clothes closet after she’s methodically color-coded each section and pick out clothing for me to wear on the following day. Besides that, the General likes organizing things and she likes organizing people. She also likes telling me (excuse me, I mean suggesting to me) what to do. This assignment would be right down her alley.
The very thought puts a smile on my face and a spring in my step. However, I’ve heard the story about the husband who wanted to be revered as the man of the house. (BTW – Isn’t that universal thought of every man? - Some would call it magical thinking) At any rate, after reading the latest and greatest self help book, something closely akin to: “Making Testosterone Work For You”, the husband summons up his courage to confront his wife. He walks in and announces:
“Going forward, you need to know that I am the man of this house and what I say is non-negotiable. I am laying down the law! We are making some changes effective immediately. Going forward, I expect home cooked scrumptious meals and for you to lovingly be available at my beckoned call”. Actually by innuendo, he made several other suggestions about how things were going to be different going forward. He even suggested a foot and back massage. Bold man, don’t you think? After providing a litany of how things were going to play out for the rest of the day, he then asked: “Tomorrow, guess who is going to dress me and comb my hair?
Without even looking up from her morning paper, his wife answers: “The funeral director would be my best guess.” My sense is that the General would have a similar response if I suggested she outfit my clothing for the following day. Long story – short, it isn’t going to happen! To even consider that as a reality in my world would be an unfulfilled pipe-dream.
Yet, on the other hand, when it comes to the General, she could easily succumb to the availability of having a “wait person” on stand-by-status. In fact, she has pulled out all the stops to convert me to a “genie-in-a-bottle” like status. I may change my name to Carson. I am available at her beckoned call, or so it seems. Some of you are thinking, “That couldn’t be true.” Everyone who knows the General finds her nothing but gracious and kind. I’m not making an assertion that she is not gracious and kind. I’m simply saying that if her dog is barking and she’s doing needlepoint, guess who is going to let the dog out? Last night she came into my office to remind me that the grandfather clocks needed winding. Did I mention that winding the grandfather clocks has never been my job before?
I probably should say up front that the General and I might not be on the same page with this one. Of course, she could argue that my opinion is the minority opinion anyway. Apparently she made a decision without my input and so far it has worked out in my favor. We have moved beyond “beans and rice” when the General can’t think of what to cook for dinner. I’m not complaining. However, I happen to like beans and rice with cornbread. At this point I'm not sure it will ever be on the menu again.
I don’t know all of the particulars, but for the past couple of weeks, “Blue Apron” has been the food vendor of choice. It is not fast food and it does take time for preparation, but the dinner in a box comes with the instructions and the necessary ingredients. If there is a downside: “Assembly Is Required”. According to the General, no recipe is repeated twice in a twelve-month period. I guess that opens to door to culinary experimentation.
All My Best!
Don