With Obit

It is not true that I have become a shut-in, although for somebody whose slumped shape can be identified most days from any King Street bus, I have been a litte off-the-air. As for Megawati Man being shot out of a cannon, I can only say that while it may remain only a dream, I have not completely given up on the plan yet. Finding suitable cannon-constructors is currently the biggest hurdle; unfortunately I have few friends of a suitably engineering mind-set.

I have been thinking a lot. The flight of Megawati Man seems a long time ago. That was the culmination of a phase: I was bored, then; now I’m overcharged. I have to make a large decision about what to do with the shop, for one thing. My next year was so neatly planned, and I won’t go into all the details but it looks like we may have to move to a different shop, or else go internet only in February. One option is easy and provides me with money and time to write – but I’m stuck at home, all day, every day. Or if I want to have a shop, I may not have time to write, may have to work more days for little extra financial reward. But I get to have a bookshop, and something of a life, which is not something one should dispense with lightly.

I do feel creative, though it’s produced more in the way of fleeting, dazzling insights than anything tangible.

Obituary: The Panasonic RX-DS650 died recently, after a short illness. It began to skip in an odd fashion during a CD. I stopped it, and removed the CD; I was surprised, as it was a recent purchase, and should not have been scratched. I blew on the laser, re-inserted the CD, and tried again. It gave a short, sick whir, and refused to play.

I didn’t panic at this stage, as the Panasonic RX-DS650 has survived many such incidents in the past. I ran through the list of things that got-it-to-work. I adjusted its seating. I closed the case gently. I turned it off, and on again. I left it for a while, and then came back.

Nothing. And I began to feel it was truly gone.

“Come on, old friend,” I said (I really did.) “One more…”

I went through my CD collection and found the first CD I ever owned, Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme, by Simon and Garfunkel. The CD is just as old as the Panasonic RX-DS650, and while it hasn’t always been high rotation, I doubt a year has passed without it being listened to at least a few times. The CD was scratched, but the RX-DS650 had always been fond of it.

The RX-DS650 was unwilling, but I coaxed it. Finally, it caught on track four. It played through five, then died halfway through track six, and I knew it would never play again.

RIP Panasonic RX-DS650, 1989-2005.

PS: I also have a cold. If anybody is in the mood to comment and can think of nothing better to write, any sympathy showered upon my aching bones would be appreciated.

posted by Nicholas @ 11:23 PM