journal features

"I don't need Grandma!"

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2010.03.06

The Boy wanted to talk to Grandma this morning. Until something even better came along.

When we first suggested to him that he could speak with Grandma, he leaped at the idea and started calling out his urgent need to see and speak to her (via Skype, as is our habit). But when 真理 tried contacting my mum (I was making breakfast) she couldn't get through. So 真理 instead played a video of one of The Boy's little kids' songs.

Naturally, my mum rang back and 真理 told Kenny, "It's Grandma."

The Boy, engrossed in his video, said, "いらない" (I don't need it). He .. didn't need Grandma! 8^(

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov