Tales from the Towers: Keeping cool

Truth is I am too lazy to argue. At least not about things which seem of minor importance to me. However, from time to time an argument starts in the gym which concerns the TV channel which we all watch - whether we like it or not - and that's when I can't keep my mouth shut. Our Russian trainer usually switches on a Russian channel of light music, which is lively and happy, ideal for encouraging lazy walkers to pick up the speed. But then arrives a man who says he wants the channel changed to Mezzo, which offers classical music only.:

"No", I protest this time completely ready to argue, "classical music we listen to at home with closed eyes, while relaxing in a comfortable chair. Here we listen to THIS kind of music!"

"I don't agree! I won't listen to this shmaltz, this is not music!" He shouts.

"Well, it is to me", I shout back, "it's got pep and vitality and it keeps me walking at a nice pace! Go ahead, switch on Mezzo, I want to see you walk on the treadmill to the beat of a Bach Cantata!"

The lady next to me whispers:

"A Bach cantata is his natural pace! Don't you see? He does not walk on the treadmill, he crawls! That's why!"

Our trainer listens to the argument with great interest, after all this is a pleasant interruption of a dull day.

And then he says:

"OK, you work this out between yourselves. But soon - as soon as the Olympics start, it will be only sports and nothing else! Otherwise I quit my job here!"

When it will come to that, maybe some of us will prefer Mezzo

Last week I wrote about a woman named Lisa. All my friends keep on asking: Who is she, do we know her? One of my friends claims:

"Of course I know who she is, all you did is change her name! I played bridge with her last week!"

Please, please, kindly accept that Lisa does not exist! I know, I rarely write about things or people who do not exist, and sometimes, even when I talk about things which do exist, I am not believed! In the one and only book which I wrote I told the story about a great-aunt who ran away with the family coachman. One of my cousins was deeply offended and angry that I besmirched the family name! She immediately set down on the phone and called members of the family to ask if there is anything to that story, and how do I dare, even if the story is true, to go public with it?

Other members of my family never inquired how I knew all that , they just enjoyed the book and all the outrageous details I mentioned in there. I think they even loved the thought that we had a great-aunt who dared! Whether they believed or not,  did not matter to me nor to them, I'm sure! But then I do have to ask myself how the media gets away with the terrible stuff they publish; of course there is the occasional libel suit, but it's probably worth telling a good story and make people believe it.

Purim is over, we had three days of wonderful celebrations. One evening we had a young singer who sang Purim songs, told Purim stories and showed a Purim presentation on the screen.

"He is so talented!" I said to the elderly lady who sat next to me and sang along loudly all the well-known melodies..

"Of course", she agreed, "he got it all from me! I'm his mother!I watch him all the time so he better be good!"

It's hot outside. So keep your cool, literally and figuratively.

Lucca