Parisian Phoenix Publishing

After two weeks of my daughter’s struggle with a double ear infection, vertigo and laryngitis— probably brought on by a mix of swinging weather between spring and deep winter & attending a late semester college frat party— I suddenly find myself drowning in phlegm with a cough.

The doctor sees nothing amiss so I guess I’m faring better than she did. But for several days I did the bare minimum in professional work and did an impressive amount of housework. But I also spent the weekend, as other people are making their last minute Christmas preparations, taking advantage of a tissue sale at CVS and enjoying the 2-part documentary on HBO Max, George Carlin’s American Dream. It’s about four hours.

It reminded me of all the wit, intelligence and word-craft I have always admired in Carlin. My mother had a record of his, which I discovered at a young age although I did not appreciate it until much older.

I took my mother to see George Carlin live when he performed nearby, and even though I sat behind a pole and couldn’t see much, he did not disappoint.

The documentary allowed me to rest a bit, but it sure made my wheels spin about what it means to be an artist, and what it means to grow throughout your lifetime, and how often we all “reinvent” ourselves.