by J. S. Volpe
* * *
T-mail transmission:
From: Solace Tenant
To: Reynard Fuggs
June 30, 6692; 6:59 AM:
Good Morning Mr. Mayor,
I bet you made a decent mayor, even if it was for only two days. I would love to hear the more detailed version of the story of your mayorhood sometime.
And Altolinda, eh? It’s certainly something to consider. I should probably visit it first, though. Hmm…
Yes, I know it’s probably best to avoid relationships with mortals—trust me, I’ve told myself that about a billion times—but there are so few immortals in the world that it’s almost impossible. I’m not like you. I can’t keep myself “too busy” for things like that. To me, intimate relationships with others are one of the things that make life so rich and wonderful. And painful, too, yes; but the pain, I think, is worth it.
And don’t get me started on the subject of forgetfulness! My memory isn’t anywhere near as good as I made it sound. I’ve forgotten so much over the years. It gets to be quite depressing sometimes. I’m sure you understand. We live so very long, and we don’t have room in our heads for everything. Inevitably some things slip away, and all too often we don’t get to choose what those things are. What goes, goes. Once I nearly forgot my mother’s name. It took me ten minutes of steady thinking to remember it. I had the feeling that if I didn’t do it then, I’d never do it at all, and it would have been lost forever. Sometimes I don’t think people were meant to live this long. Our bodies and minds weren’t designed for it. But then I reflect that we are self-correcting organisms and can change the parameters of our lives if we’re determined enough. With intelligence and will, nothing is impossible. We must rely on optimism, yes?
Okay, here’s something about me you don’t know: I lived for a year on a nearly deserted island in the South Sea about three hundred years ago. It was very pleasant. I meditated a lot, learned how to fish (and how to gut and clean and cook the fish), and discovered a lot about myself. I stayed too long, though. By the time I left I was sick of the island and it took me a decade before I could bring myself to eat fish again.
Let’s try some more Q & A. It’s fun.
What is one thing you’ve never done but always wanted to?
Eagerly awaiting your response.
—solace