Soft In The Melon

I know, they are not melons. (photo by Phil Volker)

I had a friend from eastern Washington that used to use that phrase. He meant that as he grew older he was loosing brain power or as he grew older he was doing things that used to make no sense to him. The stuff in his head was getting mushy. I can totally relate.

Have to admit that there is, for me anyway, a connection between this phenomenon and walking the Camino. In other words after that point some stuff from before seemed ill fitted to me. Found myself doing things that in the past would have seemed so so dumb. And not just once in a while but repeatedly as in over and over. Seemed I was getting soft in the melon.

This was brought into focus this morning first thing. At the ranch house here there is always the bug of the year that we try to get under control. Seems that they rotate. Over the forty years here we have ants, earwigs, house flies, moths, caterpillars and maybe stuff I don’t know the names of. But you swat them and mush them and whatever not in a mean way but just in a survival way. So, yea and we always seem to stop short of insecticides, that’s important. Lately we got a new one that I don’t know the name of but it just started showing up. But anyway first thing this morning I run into the bathroom to use the facility and what, there is one of these new little guys doing the breaststroke in the toilet water. So, I feel obligated to rescue his little ass and release him outside. Under any other circumstance it is open season. I can’t stand to see things drown anymore no matter who they are or what they look like. Way soft in the melon.

There are plenty of other things to to go out of your way for what maybe you never would have thought of before. New sensibilities for us as we grow older. New ways to not make sense or new ways to at least waste one’s time on things that don’t really matter. You know what I mean?

walking later loves, Felipé.

2 thoughts on “Soft In The Melon”

  1. Phil, I sure wouldn’t call it “soft in the head,” but rather, in Dr. Irvin Yalom’s classic phrase, “a boundary experience.” Cancer is a boundary experience; the Camino is a boundary experience. After each, you adjust your priorities. Live, and let live–bugs and all. L’Chaim!
    Treasuring all life love,
    Henriette Anne

    1. Henriette ~ I knew this one would get a comment from you. Thanks. You will have to admit “soft in the melon” does have a nice ring to it. Hope to see you soon. Felipé.x

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