Notes

[desperance]

According to Dr Johnson, notes are often necessary but they are necessary evils. As is often the case, I find myself standing half-and-half with the good doctor, one foot in his camp and one in t'other. I find notes are seldom necessary, but when they are, yes, always necessary evils.

I seldom take notes; and when I do, I seldom put them anywhere that I might find them again; and when I do, I seldom refer to them.

But "seldom" is not "never", in any circumstance. Notes exist in my life, and therefore sometimes I find them. Usually by happenstance, and out of context. As witness, I am picking things up off the floor of my study. "Things" are by definition mostly pieces of paper; one of them has turned out to be a string of notes. Thuswise:

"There are heroisms all around us."

"No man is a hero to his valet."

Frodo

Hard not to be ironic

Self-sacrificing, self-effacing: heroism is a denial of self

Jack Aubrey denies this

Hunh. At a guess, I was trying to prepare myself for a panel discussion. And gave up, most likely; I don't do preparation any better than I do notes.

The chairman returns discussion to the floor...