For Your Consideration 2

Consider this:"An average American English speaker engaged in a friendly conversation speaks at a rate of approximately 110–150 wpm. The following are approximations of conversations between my friend and me (Feel free to check the math): A minimum of 1200 Sundays in 25 years x 20%= 240 Sundays(Approximate # of Sundays we actually spoke to each other x 3 minutes=720(# of minutes we spoke to each other) x 150(average words spoken per minute)=108,000 words spoken= A good size book. Who knew? My friend passed on a couple of weeks ago. Geopolitics, sports, and weather were among subjects that we clearly talked about for some twenty-five years. When you add it all up, I'd say that our years of 'broken up small talk' marooned into big talk. Call it small talk, casual light talk, or chit-chat if you will, but when I took a closer look at my particular case, I discovered more than trivial chatter. I call him a friend not because we did things together like going to a game or playing golf, visiting each others' home for dinner, or walking in the park. I recall only one short conversation that we had over the telephone. I know, for many, that does not qualify as friendship, but I beg to differ. When I received word that he was dying and only a miracle would spare him from a soon coming demise, not only was I emotionally moved, but I was deeply motivated to hasten to his bedside in his last hours. O yes, small talk, chit chat, or trivial chatter. Call it what you will. I say, he was my friend. 07162018cjPS(Inspired by the life of Pat Cary)