I've rediscovered the pleasure of listening to books on CD since I've been making the 3.5 hour trip to visit my fiance. My latest listen is "Starter Wife." I've enjoyed the TV series, so I looked forward to seeing how closely the series followed the original book.
Let me just say the book is an F-Bomb arsenal. I don't like hearing that word and I don't like reading it. I know the use of that sort of language is supposed to make the story seem more realistic, but it doesn't work for me. I am almost 50 and know people from all walks of life, from corporate heads to blue collar construction workers and I don't know one single person who uses the word "fu--" in conversation like that.
Anyway, back to my story. So, I was listening to "Starter Wife" coming home from work at the monastery yesterday and stopped for gas. A pickup pulled up to the pump opposite mine and a guy got out.
"What the fu-- are you doing in this neck of the woods?" he asked. (OK, of course he didn't say "fu--." I was just teasing you.)
It was the big brother of my best junior high friend, and I had not seen him in about 20 years. What a pleasant surprise. We chatted about our lives and our families. I told him about my engagement and he gallantly commented that my fiance must be a great guy to make me agree to leave Grangeville.
When the gas pump stopped, I replaced the nozzle and we said our "great-to-see-yas."
I started my pickup and turned to smile and wave goodbye as "...AFTER FOUR OR FIVE BOUTS OF INCREDIBLE SEX, EVERY INCH OF HER BODY..." blared from my CD player and bounced around the gas pumps with abandon.
I think I left some of my back tires as I bolted away.
So, note to the wise: if you're going to listen to books like that, and tend to turn up the volume to be heard over your A/C, turn it down when you stop your vehicle. You never know who is going to be there when you start the engine and the story resumes. Just glad it wasn't Sister Mary Kay or Uncle Bob.
