The math of aloneness

[klwilliams]

With only one person, there's

half the number of pillows, but twice the bed space
half the number of towels
twice the number of toothbrushes
zero people already up and dressed, who will go out and bring in the newspaper
all the cherries, but no one to share

Comments

A geometry too

[goldenmug.livejournal.com]

Once upon a long time ago, I was in class where I was the only person in a permanent relationship, except the tutor. We were looking at "Tristram Shandy" (IIRC) where he comments that when your bed partner is away you start sleeping diagonally across the bed. I said, "Funny, that's just what happens to me." Odd looks all round, except from the tutor - "Me too."

I never worked out whether it was an attempt to pretend that that bed was, in fact just as full as it ever was, or a vain attempt to find the something (leg, when your feet are cold - do feet ever get cold in California?) which must, surely, just have retreated right to the other side of the bed.

Re: A geometry too

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Good point. We fill the space that they leave behind.

Re: A geometry too

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

Oddly, I don't; I stay on my half of the bed. Sometimes I let my teddy bear join me, just as a place marker.

But I don't mind eating more than my share of cherries...