2006년 7월 13일

     Kincaid had smiled and said "I've always figured there are two main indicators of maturity. One is the ability to laugh at yourself. Most people take themselves and their lives a lot more seriously than circumstances call for, have trouble seeing the ultimate absurdity of the whole business. I keep myself amused by laughing at all the dumb things I do. And I do a lot of them, so I'm pretty well entertained most of the time."

     Francesca had asked him what he thought to be the other sign of maturity.

     "The ability to grin in admiration at others' accomplishments, instead of sulking in envy," he said without hesitating. "I recall frist time I ever heard Bach, and my immediate reaction was to grin. Afterward, I remembered my reaction better than what piece was playing, felt good about it, and I've tried to maintain that outlook. Sat in a cafe in Paris once, before the War, and listened to a guitar player, gypsy fellow named Django Reinhardt, who had only two workable fingers - lost the use of the other two in a fire - but still played with unbelievable speed and purity. I had the same reaction then. Admiration, not envy."

------------ Robert James Waller <A Thousand Country Roads>