Of Tangents and Time

I start with an idea. For a time I let it mull in my mind, then I get hold of it and do something with it.

The process is very random, and likely to go off on a tangent at any point.

Take the above, for instance.

I didn’t have an idea, but I have to get something on the page, so I began with a bluff – I don’t want you all to know that I had no idea!

While I was playing for time and waiting for an idea to stroll past I wrote the next sentence. And lo and behold! An idea passed by on its way to oblivion!

I pounced, and just caught it by the tail. Which is handy, because it is the tail that I require. Now I have gone from no idea to a choice of ideas. I could write a learned thesis on Time itself, but somehow I don’t think I will, I don’t really understand Time on that level.

Or I could wax learned on the process by which we have 60 seconds in a minute and so forth, but that is likely to send you to sleep.

Mind you, maybe such an article would prove invaluable for anyone compiling a book entitled 100 Ways to Beat Insomnia.

Or I could go straight to my husband’s request for a new watch.

It happened thus: ‘Are you ready? We’re leaving at half past.’

‘I’ll be ready in a tic.’

‘How long is a tic?’

‘Shorter than a bit.’

Sigh. ‘So how much longer are you going to be?’

‘Not long. I’ll be with you in a jiffy.’

‘Is that more or less than a bit?’

‘I’m not going to be long, OK?’

‘Exactly how much not long are you going to be? A bit, a jiffy or a tic?’

‘I told you, soon.’

‘Is that soon before or after half past?’

‘Any minute now.’

‘Is that minute the one before or after half past?’

‘Any moment now.’

Another sigh. ‘I need a new watch.’

‘Why? What’s the matter with the one you’ve got?’

‘The one I’ve got shows hours, minutes and seconds. I need one that shows tics, jiffies, not long now, soon, in a minute, any moment now. Are you ready yet?’

I appear, made up, coiffured, handbagged and ready. ‘Told you I wasn’t going to be long.’

_{Lead image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay}

_{Inline image quick appempt by Rachel with Canva AI}