Dear Pablo,
I know this may come as a surprise to you, but from my perspective, it has been a very long time coming indeed. Please read this letter in its entirety before taking offense.
I understand the concept of a “home office” is difficult to grasp for anyone who does not have one. In fact, I don’t actually have one myself. I have corner offices throughout the house – a corner of the dining room table, a corner of the living room. I sometimes have a table to myself at Starbucks, certainly. The park. The car. On rare occasions, a full bus seat. Sometimes, and on even fewer occasions, the bathroom, yes. (I do not like the idea of locking doors, but I fear it may start to come to that if you continue to barge in on me there.)
You must understand: Being a writer means you get to work the hours you want – provided you want all of them. If I do not get up until late in the morning, it is only because I worked through most of the night. It does not mean I plan on taking the day off so I can clean up after you. The fact that I happen to be home every day does not mean that I am free at any moment to:
- fix you snacks
- watch television with you
- go for strolls at the drop of a hat
- go to the store to get you pop and cigarettes
- spend a few hours playing games
- or spend a half a day entertaining your guests
Please understand I cherish the time we spend together. I enjoy having the luxury of taking time in the middle of a sunny day to stroll along the river and marvel at the sights and sounds and aromas, especially now that it is Spring. In fact, we do that at least twice a day, do we not?
You just need to understand that having a home office requires a degree of discipline, not just from the person trying to work, but from everyone who lives in that home. I am glad that something as pedestrian as the need to earn money is the least of your concerns. However, it is a primary concern of mine!
You need to resist coming in to nudge me for every little thing that crosses your mind.
You need to address your insecurities and to understand that a half-hour of silence is quite normal for me. Writers need solitude. Even if you cannot understand that, being the gregarious and social creature you are, I think it is time you learn to respect it – at least for a half hour at a time. It does not mean I do not care about you. I just need to work.
Because I know how difficult this can be for you, I bought you a gift today. I bought you a DVD of your favourite television show: Caillou. Obviously, television is not the best babysitter, but for small periods of time I do believe it gives you some satisfaction, and is an adequate distraction. Please enjoy it.
Your friend and master,
David Weedmark
Pablo Neruda enjoying another episode of Caillou.
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Dave and Pablo,
Working from a home office is a daunting task, that yes does take discipline and self control. I too work from a home office and know of what you speak. I also would point out that working from home also deprives you of social interaction, water cooler chatting, unneeded walks to other floors to get approval on a document and obligatory 5 minute chat at the reception with people starting or leaving for the day.
Working from home is in fact much more efficient and can turn the average worker into a workhorse. Often I have looked up and realized I missed lunch, because I didn’t see the stampeded of people leaving for the cafeteria, smoke break, coffee break. And do you take your hour lunch each day and eat alone , or do you grab a sandwhich and get back to work.
So maddoxx and I have worked out a little system, we gather up all those coffee breaks, smoke breaks and uneaten lunches times and we take a mid day walk 3 times week when we aren’t on the road. We stop and walk to the local coffee shop together as often together s we can. We don’t have water cooler talk but I will stop and scratch your back at least twice a day for a couple of minutes..
I also have a rawhide bone that only comes out while I am working, Maddoxx will lay under my desk by my feet and work on it while I work on my stuff.
All and all , sometimes I miss the office comradeship, but Maddoxx always thinks I am right about who should have gotten voted off last night. I love that about him!
Thanks for sharing Jon. Maddox sounds like a great dog! At 9 months, Pablo still has some growing to do, but probably less so than me. And thanks for the important reminder. Lunch. I forgot to eat again too.
Pablo and David;
First off, please note that I put your name first, Pablo, because as anyone with a dog (or two) knows, that is as it should be. After all, the sign hanging on my back door does state that ‘the dogs and their staff reside here’. I know what’s what.
I’d like to thank you both for the revelation that Caillou is such an enjoyable distraction for the canine crowd. I generally throw on the photography channel when my companions are in need of entertainment. (They love to watch the pretty pictures flip by) but now that I know that Caillou is just as enjoyable, I will have to seek out a couple of videos myself.
For the dogs, of course.
Always for the dogs.
Much love and tail-wagging;
Lori, Badger and Murphy
To the staff of Badger and Murphy:
I should mention that this article was not endorsed by Caillou in any way. And it may not be the best entertainment for older dogs… Pablo is still a pup, so I’m not too sure. We don’t have a photography channel but it sounds…. quite mesmerizing!
Its wonderful to have someone always close at hand. Like a dog. Or a Very smart cat! Even a pet rabbit. You know when he is Older, you’ll miss his bratty puppy ways. Until my dog passed away, I didn’t know how empty a home could be. (MISS HER SO MUCH!)
Thank you Lucy. Did you get my letter?
hmmm… I sent it to this email address that very night. and through dreams every night, through poetry as drenched as your hair, and through the bewildered wiccan courier you dispatched to me bearing your ring and your favourite cloak, carrying a box full of whispers, boxes of crayons and paper, and secrets stamped with that very ring…
I think its time you emailed me.
This made me laugh pretty hard.
I’m all about pet names dedicated to great artists and people. My cats are named Miles Davis and Harvey Milk.
Thanks Renée. I worried a bit in naming him that it might confuse the connotations I have when I hear the name. But it has magnified the love of both. I expect you’d agree.
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