Monday, November 25, 2013

three years

L and I went out for dinner last night, a nice Italian place. He says I smile indulgently at him when he speaks Italian to the waiters, but I don't think that's indulgence he's seeing.

We talked a lot about the fact that it's been three years since we met, and most of the conversations went like this:

Can you believe it's been that long? 

I know, it seems strange. Do you remember how small Sherlock was?

And Mycroft was only 12! 

We must've said those lines, or approximations of, at least five times in the past few days. It doesn't get any less strange. And yet, three years isn't really that long. I was in Afghanistan longer than that. Half the time, it dragged by and it seemed like I'd been there forever, and half the time it seemed like nothing at all, but that was more dependent on what was happening.

This...seems like a whole other life. One that I'm still astonished and grateful for, daily. 

70 comments:

Greg Lestrade said...

I still don't feel like Mycroft was ever twelve... or ever shorter than you ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Just wait till Sherlock's towering over both of us...

Greg Lestrade said...

Worryingly I don't think I will have long to wait! Maybe we should stop feeding him.

John H. D. Watson said...

It won't work. He'll just live on glitter and excitement.

Greg Lestrade said...

And the souls/life force of adults...

John H. D. Watson said...

That too. We'd wither away.

Greg Lestrade said...

disappear in a puff of glitter...

John H. D. Watson said...

Edible glitter.

Greg Lestrade said...

is there any news on his school play? Panto? Musical? Whatever it is they're doing this year...

John H. D. Watson said...

Just that he'll need a costume for it, type unknown, time frame unknown...

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll hazard a guess there's also some form of school-fund-raising Christmas fayre on the horizon. I'll probably be told I've promised them a millions cakes about twenty minutes before it happens, and that you're dressing as Santa...

John H. D. Watson said...

I am definitely not dressing as Santa.

John H. D. Watson said...

...Why do I feel like I've sealed my fate with that comment?

Greg Lestrade said...

If I sit on your knee and say I've been a good boy will you give me a present?

John H. D. Watson said...

You'll have to try it and find out.

Greg Lestrade said...

...if anyone involved in the school has read this exchange, I think it's safe to say you will not be invited to portray Mr Claus...

John H. D. Watson said...

You'd do a better job of it anyway. And your hair's almost the right colour...

Greg Lestrade said...

... I would not. Hair notwithstanding.

I've arrested far too many santas over the years to find them remotely cheery.

John H. D. Watson said...

I used to run away from them when I was young. Still the right decision, probably.

Greg Lestrade said...

definitely the right decision. If they haven't run away from a line of screaming demanding kids and surly demanding adults then there's clearly something suspicious about them.

Bed?

John H. D. Watson said...

Bed would be nice, yes.

Greg Lestrade said...

I have definitely been a good boy though, so if you do have a little something special in your sack for me, don't be shy ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Bed, mister!

Anonymous said...

:D

Joolz said...

You guys! ;) I love your banter.
Hope you had plenty in your sack for your good boy, John. Oops that just sounds so wrong when I say it!
Have a great day. :)

Small Hobbit said...

Have you managed to distract yourself from your urge?

Anonymous said...

Just imagine the look on Sherlock's face if you smoke. I feel like that should be sufficient deterrent.

ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Don't worry I have sufficient willpower without imagining John or the boys' reaction.

REReader said...

Yay! (Non sarcastically. As someone who failed to resist a chocolate covered chocolate donut, alas.)

pandabob said...

Have you had a good day at school Sherlock?

I hope your days have been ok John, Greg :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Mycroft, is this what you do on your computer? Did you receive the email? Got yourself a job on the side?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/10468112/The-internet-mystery-that-has-the-world-baffled.html

Mycroft said...

No, but now I know what to do while I'm home for Christmas. If that many people are solving it, the puzzles aren't hard enough.

Greg Lestrade said...

yeah, but you wouldn't be able to tell us anyway, right? So I'll still be thinking you might have done it...

Or maybe you write it! You'd have the contacts to get things on lampposts all over the world...

Mycroft said...

Anything's possible, certainly.

Have you showed this to Sherlock?

Greg Lestrade said...

He's cleaning out the degus. I'm not going to distract him!

John H. D. Watson said...

It was even his idea.

Greg Lestrade said...

They looks like prisoners when they stare out of the bars of their carry-cage... probably wondering what they've done wrong to be neither in their big cage or being played with!

John H. D. Watson said...

Very cute prisoners though.

Greg Lestrade said...

Very. I might have to get them out. Face Sherlock's wrath by feeding them some herbs as treats...

Sherlock said...

You fed them all the strawberry leaves and they were for when I'm doing training and I bet you didn't even make them do anything to earn them!

Greg Lestrade said...

Yes. I am a bad degu nanny.

Excellent footy result :)

pandabob said...

the football was a great result Greg but what was that penalty about? An eight year old could have done better ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

I didn't watch it - see above comment for reason. But it's not good! At least we got one later on. Always nervous with just the one!

REReader said...

Well, Sherlock, I don't really understand what people enjoy about football--American OR British; I only understand that they really enjoy it. So it's not stupid to them.

Is it that there was something else you wanted Lestrade to be doing with you? Maybe you could do it now, or is it too close to your bedtime? Because there's always tomorrow. And it sounds like you did a grand job with your degus' cage there, that surely must be a really big job.

Greg Lestrade said...

He's grumpy because I mis-fed his degus. But he's been in bed since that comment.

REReader said...

Oh, well.

Greg Lestrade said...

Just seen about that wolfbeing shot in Essex...Greg the Florist better try to control himself!

REReader said...

Wolfbeing?

Greg Lestrade said...

Should have been a space between the two words.

REReader said...

I mean, wolf being as opposed to wolf? (Space or not.) I just don't know what you're referring to is all.

rsf said...

RR, it was three wolves. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-25091939

REReader said...

Oh, how sad! Thanks for the link, rsf.

rsf said...

I am stuck on a train and not sleeping, so I wound up reading the ads, and found a showerhead with LED lights that uses the waterflow to power the lights. I thought of Sherlock. If he wants to think about one for Christmas, there's something similar over here: http://www.lightinthebox.com/7-colors-changing-led-contemporary-shower-faucet-head-of-8-inch_p383197.html and the company has other styles too.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sorry, wolf getting shot? Better? I wasn't very awake.

Hope everyone's having a nice day.

REReader said...

Not a problem, L, rsf linked me up to the story. (I wasn't up to searching it out myself, with one eye not working that well yet and the dregs of the anesthetics--and then spending most of yesterday arguing with hospital billing over them charging me for something I already paid.)

I hope everyone who's traveling home for Thanksgiving today and tonight stays safe with all the storm action going on all over the US!

Greg Lestrade said...

I just assumed I used the wrong grammar or something.

REReader said...

Oh, sorry, no. Well, at first I did think you were talking about some sort of wolf hybrid or something--I was pretty out of it still!--but then I just didn't know what the story was. It wasn't on the news here or anything.

Sherlock said...

Lestrade John said I can take your stitches out! I'll be good at it I promise.

Greg Lestrade said...

Oh, lovely I shall look forward to that.

Danger, can I have a medicinal scotch first?

REReader said...

I'm sure Sherlock has been practicing! (I bet you'll do it carefully and well, Sherlock. :))

Anonymous said...

"Practicing on what" is the vaguely ominous question that comes to my mind...

ella

REReader said...

:D

I imagine John had a suitable substitute. IIRC, Sherlock practiced putting in stitches on a banana--isn't that right?

John H. D. Watson said...

I did say only if you were sure! You're absolutely still allowed to change your mind.

Joolz said...

I have to say the famous Gunga Din phrase comes to mind. Good luck, Greg, I'm sure it'll be fine, John will be in charge and medicinal beverages can only be beneficial. ;)

I'm sure you'll be brilliant, Sherlock, look after your special DI.

Greg Lestrade said...

I don't mind. As long as you supervise. It's only an arm. I have another one.

REReader said...

How'd it go? Or not yet?

Greg Lestrade said...

I have survived. John is reviving me. Wafting me with ostrich feathers, holding cool cloths to my brow, that sort of thing the NHS likes to provide.

REReader said...

This is good (the surviving bit)! :) And John is the consummate professional, for sure. ;)

How did it go from your point of view, Sherlock?

Anonymous said...

Hello everyone,

De-lurking because of an exploding whale that I have a feeling at least one of you might enjoy:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/nov/27/sperm-whale-explodes-man-opens-stomach-video

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*Re-lurking*

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Sherlock said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WAS BRILLIANT!

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