“When it is not necessary to make a decision, it is necessary not to make a decision.” — Lord Falkland

Lord Falkland’s quote was provided by Faith Thompson Snater, a local writer and a theatrical person. As for me I have treasured not making decisions these past few years. Faith’s father had been a crossing guard up the street with whom I often chatted. He later moved out west then came back to Austin and now has headed back out west.

Faith included another quote — one by Robert Frost that reads: “Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”

As for Mello, she just peeked out with one of the strongest barks in a year and half spurred by woman walking her dog. I wouldn’t consider it a friendly bark.

Mello rode along with Casey and I when we took him back to Eau Claire last Sunday. This was Mello’s third trip. On the drive back we stopped at The Book Cliffs in Wabasha. Casey had given me a gift card for Christmas. With Christmas almost three months ago I had no idea where the gift card was. Nancy and Craig are the proprietors and I was surprised to find the Book Cliff open.

I explained with almost certainty that I had misplaced Casey’s gift-card. Nancy remembered Casey stopping there and purchasing the gift card. She let me purchase a book that I didn’t really have time to look at. Meanwhile Mello was curled up down the street snuggled up by the passenger door and anxious. I quickly purchased The Gathering by Anne Enright. I’m not sure what its about. It’s the winner of the Man Booker Prized in 2007. The Washington Post calls it “Stunning … The book’s narrative tone echoes Joan Didion’s furious, cool grief, but the richest comparison may be with James Joyce’s Dubliners.” I’m not sure what that is either.

Entertainment weekly tells us the book is, “Entrancing, unflinching, and insightful. The Gathering is a haunting look at a broken family stifled by generation of hurt and disappointment, struggling to make peace with the irreparable.”

I made a decision.