The future. Unless you have kids and are thinking of their future, the future must, inevitably, include you. And this makes it a very fragile thing that only exists in your own head.
For, if we are not in the future, then the future that you thought in your head doesn’t and will not exist.
To me, this is a little like ‘if no one hears the tree falling in the forest, does it actually make a sound?’
If the future doesn’t include you, does it really exist at all?
So, last night we had the meal, as I mentioned. I absolutely think it is the very best Chinese restaurant in Milan. The crispy duck in pancakes (Peking Duck on the menu) is, quite frankly, superb. And it was such a nice time that we had. N made a lot of comments about this blog because, she says, she doesn’t understand what’s going on and that I am being cryptic. S, on the other hand, thinks that I am spelling it all out far too much. And you, my lovely reader?
But we got to talking about the future, the quite near future. The reality of that future rests on everything being the same and, of course, this is unlikely. So, will that future ever exist at all? I must admit I was less involved in that particular conversation. After all the future is not orange but, at the moment a murky, non-visible colour.
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WARNING – IF YOU ARE AN ENGINEER YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO READ FURTHER – IT IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.
Spock must have been an engineer. He was boring (sorry to you guys who are engineers out there), had little sense of humour and was always concentrating on the job in hand.
A little like some clients we had last week. Whilst down on the shop floor we are looking at one of the components of the product we build for them. This component is quite large (about 12″ by 18″ and 6″ deep), has plugs and connectors on the outside, some cables coming from it, is an off-gold colour and is, in fact, a box, to all intents and purposes. IT HAS NO MOVING PARTS and looks exactly the same as all the others we have provided.
Our customer (comprising two people) stared at this box for at least 10 minutes. I nearly fell asleep. Nothing happened, nothing changed. The box remained on the bench in exactly the same condition for the full 10 minutes. No words were spoken. Each of us (well, except me) deep in thought. My thoughts were ‘What are we looking at? What do they think is going to happen? Are they going to ask me something or say something – anything?’
Perhaps they expected the box to speak? Perhaps, as this was just before lunch, they were thinking about lunch? Perhaps all engineers are crazy?
Hi Andy-
I get quite confused with the “past-present-future’ trilogy. For instance, in those “Back To The Future” movies I am always lost.
Anyway – I do believe our life does “go where we direct it”. Oh there are those annoying interferences and all those unexpected obstacles, and endless surprises, both tragic and joyous, blah, blah, blah……but all in all, we are our own directors.
As far as those customers? I laughed right out loud
!! LOL 
Oh Andy, I love your mind. And although I am not a fan of duck – your description left me drooling. mmmmmmmm.
Love from across the pond
Gail
Well, engineers ARE crazy. Who, in a state of sanity of mind, would choose to study something that will make him looked with disgust by women and with compassion by men? But.
We are not all equal. Some are worse. Like the two of last week. You know, like Dilbert and Wally. They are different!
The two interesting guys, in my opinion, were trying to remember what the object does and how it works. Each evening they do a complete reset of their brain…I spent four years to understand this. You will learn. Do not worry.
I agree, more or less, that we are our own directors – after all it’s our life (movie) and we are not only the director but also the leading man/woman!
Thanks for the comment, Gail.
Pietro, you know tyou shouldn’t have read that bit!
Thanks for the comment though. It made me laugh, especially them trying to remember what it does and how it works and the idea of the brain reset. Very funny.
I have met a few engineers…and I have to agree with you Andy! There were a group of them at our local a few months back and the group were hanging on each other’s every word, whilst I, ever the nosy person, listened in and almost drifted off.
As for the cryptic posts on the blog, I more or less guessed before Christmas from the recession post what was going on but didn’t want to say anything as…well…I am renowned for getting these things spectacularly wrong! Unfortunately not this time…
I thought you knew and you’re right that, unfortunately, this time you were right!