show time

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    I stood one brilliant autumn afternoon
    at Quincy Market and watched a man
    juggle a bowling ball, a tennis racquet,
    and a chainsaw with the same ease as
    those of us who watched drank our
    lattes and ate our cannolis; I wondered
    how he practiced – what was it like
    the first time he revved the engine
    and threw the saw into the air?

    If I could go back and find him, I would
    say, “I know now.” I know you don’t
    intend, you just juggle. When the
    phone rings and says, “You must come,”
    and the menus are due, and there are
    friends to call and prescriptions to fill,
    followed by the long plane ride home,
    you just keep juggling; it’s what life is –
    and everyday is show time.

    Peace,
    Milton

    2 COMMENTS

    1. This reminded me –

      “And if the people find you can fiddle, why, fiddle you must, all your life.” – from “Fiddler Jones” by Edgar Lee Masters.

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