Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Much of what we pass off as complicated issues comes from something simple, the desire to be missed.

I like to listen to the podcast of former Washington Post writer Tony Kornheiser. I laugh a lot while listening.

Mr. Kornheiser is a big movie fan and follows the culture as he was a Style writer for the Post. He lamented during the COVID shutdown as he stopped going to movie theaters. After the pandemic, he wasn’t going to return out of concern of catching something that would kill him (he is in his 70s).

Mr. Kornheiser’s lament was not that he was not returning to theaters; his lament was that no one would note his absence and miss him.

I frequent a few coffee shops in my community every morning. I have done this for 15 years. During that time, some regular faces have disappeared. They died of old age. I miss them. I miss what they brought with them each day. Their absence hurts my heart.

Will anyone miss me? The lack of my patronage will not break any of these coffee shops. Will my time and presence be missed? I wish so. Still, why would anyone miss me?

Perhaps I can bring something with me each day that is miss-able. Perhaps I can do better.