I own issues 1-13 of a quarterly literary publication that once brought me great joy. I looked forward to finding it every season, and a couple of years ago I finally made the plunge and got a four-issue (one year) subscription. This, too, brought hours upon hours of great joy. Issue 13, in particular, was acclaimed as a masterpiece. After that one, my subscription ran out (as did my monthly income) and I couldn't seem to justify the extra expense.
Now I'm seriously considering renewing my subscription (although our finances are still the same; I'm just decadent in the pursuit of reading materials), which would start with issue 18. I'm troubled, though, about the missing issues...If I "need" to renew my subscription, don't I also "need" to back-order issues 14-17? If I just re-start with issue 18, won't that gaping 4-issue hole leave me with a sense of something missing every time I look upon it? Or is it time to really cut the cord and move on, like when I finally cancelled my Rolling Stone subscription after college? Better yet, is it time to once again review my many Buddhist books cautioning about the dangers of attachment to things?
I understand that books don't do it for everyone...some people are never tempted by the allure of a freshly printed or well-worn collection by a favorite author. But for me, books have always been, and surely will continue to be, a simple and true luxury.
Posted by rightmoon at November 8, 2005 05:07 AMmaybe you could "borrow" the missing issues from the library...too bad they always mark their periodicals. very un-buddhist, i'd say.
Posted by: mom at November 8, 2005 12:20 PM