{"id":248532,"date":"2024-04-30T05:41:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T05:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/droplets\/?page_id=248532"},"modified":"2026-04-02T14:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T14:54:31","slug":"personal-reminiscences","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/droplets\/personal-reminiscences\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Reminiscences."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.26.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; custom_css_free_form=&#8221;.page article {||  border-top:0;||}&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row module_class=&#8221;blog-singlepost-multicolumn-topfullwidth&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; max_width=&#8221;1440px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#fcfcfc&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;min-width:calc(100% &#8211; 32px) !important;||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||11px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_all=&#8221;1px&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; module_id=&#8221;Code_FullWidthIntro&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Code: Intro&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<!-- MC PersonalReminiscences-FullWidthIntro --><!-- wp-remote-header<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-id:         248532<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-title:      Personal Reminiscences.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  block-id:        PersonalReminiscences-FullWidthIntro<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  site:            https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/droplets<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  pulled:          2026-04-02T11:01:15<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  remote-modified: 2026-04-02T14:54:31<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->&#8211;><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \/* Counters the hiding done in <head> css in Theme Integration block.  Required to avoid Featured Image from flasing briefly into view in large size during page load.*\/<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\tfunction displayFeaturedImage() {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    document.querySelector('.et_pb_image_wrap img').style.display = 'block';<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->try {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\taggregateWindowOnloadFunctions(displayFeaturedImage, 'Display featured image.  Called from Reminiscences page.');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->} catch (error) {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  console.error(\"Error in aggregateWindowOnloadFunctions load process, Reminiscences page:\", error.message);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  Welcome<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->I chose to make this page partly for &#8220;posterity&#8221;, and party because the majority of the incidents are reasonably entertaining.   There is no &#8220;deep point&#8221; to it all (or at least not one I am consciously aware of).<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  What you will find below is only a tiny fraction; I intend to keep adding to, time permitting.  Additionally, at the moment most entries are just titles, with no body yet; this will change over time. (Though on reading the aggregate of titles, just titles leaves much to the imagination in a fun way.)<!\u2013- [et_pb_br_holder] -\u2013>For those items that do have explanation, clicking the <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/writingsPP\/droplets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/yellow-green-accordion-arrow-.jpg\"\/>  button will expand detail.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->   To both family members and the general reader, I hope you find something to enjoy.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><pee class=\"mt-4 mb-3 ps-2 small\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  (PS: Some people have Relatives.  In my case I had <span Data-tippy-content=\"Admission: I added this as much because of how nice it sounded than anything else...\" class=\"blog-tooltip-enabled-singlepost-non-interactive\" data-tippy-theme=\"blog-popup-theme-singlepost\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Absolutes<\/span>.)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- \/MC PersonalReminiscences-FullWidthIntro -->[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; module_class=&#8221;singlepost-three-column blog-singlepost-multicolumn-lower-wrapper blog-singlepost-multicolumn-lower-wrapper-lightblue&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#e8e8e8&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;36px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_all=&#8221;1px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Code: Me&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;|12px|||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; module_id=&#8221;Code_FirstColumnMe&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<!-- MC PersonalReminiscences-FirstColumnMe --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  Me<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  The Little Inventor-Experimenter*<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Wax fireball meets wooden house.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Unexpected &#8220;sunburn&#8221; from welding.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Did you know burning skin creates a zero-friction smoke layer?<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Large trees weigh more than me.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>What not to wire your muffler to.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><pee class=\"generic-asterisk-footer mt-2 ms-3 mb-5\">(Of possible additional interest: <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <a class='link-against-light-black-underlined-color-inherited' href=\"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/tutoring\/DavidDurlach_ChildhoodAndTeachingPerspective_2013PresentationToCreativeEducationFoundation_1920x1080_2021-06-26.pdf\">Visuals-filled slide deck<\/a><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->I made for a 2013 &#8220;Innovators to Educators&#8221; conference.)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --> Life Generally<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li><em>&#8220;Surprise!<\/em>&#8221; Shot by babysitter&#8217;s husband.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Blushing: A self-sustaining feedback loop.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>I have never seen anything like this except on a corpse before!<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- \/MC PersonalReminiscences-FirstColumnMe -->[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Code: Nuclear Fam, Ext. Fam, S.O.&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; module_id=&#8221;Code_SecondColumnFamilyEtc&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<!-- MC PersonalReminiscences-SecondColumnFamilyEtc --><!-- wp-remote-header<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-id:         248532<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-title:      Personal Reminiscences.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  block-id:        PersonalReminiscences-SecondColumnFamilyEtc<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  site:            https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/droplets<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  pulled:          2026-04-02T11:01:36<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  remote-modified: 2026-04-02T14:54:31<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->&#8211;><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Nuclear Family<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Mother<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<div class=\"accordion-container01\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac ac-blog-singlepost\"> <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                  <pee>My immaculate gestation.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                  <button type=\"button\" class=\"ac-trigger ac-button-blog-singlepost-inline ac-button-blog-singlepost-yellowgreen\"><\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-panel yellow-extra-wide\" id=\"gestation\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-body-background ac-body-background-lightyellow\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee class=\"mb-1\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        My mother (93 and still kicking as of 2024) can be, let&#8217;s just say, &#8220;opinionated&#8221;.  And rather cutting, particularly if she feels what you are saying is &#8220;inconsistent&#8221; with her world view.  This is <em>by no means<\/em> a comprehensive, rounded description of her, but does contain elements of truth.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee class=\"mb-1\"><strong>The Incident<\/strong><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        We were having lunch one day in a hospital cafeteria, discussing her past medical procedures, when she mentioned her long-ago hysterectomy, to which I responded &#8220;<em>Yes, I remember when you had that operation<\/em>.&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        Without a moment&#8217;s pause, and in a highly dismissive and sarcastic tone, she looked at me and replied &#8220;<em>You cannot possibly remember that \u2014 it happened well before you were born.<\/em>&#8220;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        About two seconds elapsed during which time she maintained her unblinking &#8220;my memory is better than yours&#8221; stare, until the complete insanity of what she said struck her, at which point she just started <span data-tippy-content='She certainly has the ability to laugh at herself, an important saving grace, and for which I am most grateful.' class='blog-tooltip-enabled-singlepost-non-interactive' data-tippy-theme='blog-popup-theme-singlepost-againstlightyellow' aria-expanded='false'>laughing and laughing<\/span>.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee class=\"mt-4\" style=\"font-weight:500;\">I always treasure my few seconds of Immaculate Gestation, feeling it puts to shame any references to Immaculate Conception one may encounter &#8220;In the Literature&#8221; as it were.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END: \n\n<div class=\" accordion-body-background--light-blue-environment-inline\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p> <!-- EMD \n\n<div class=\"ac-panel\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"ac accordion-blog-singlepost-inline\">\" --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"accordion-container\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Trapped!<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<div class=\"accordion-container02\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac ac-blog-singlepost\"> <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                  <pee>&#8220;<em>I&#8217;m still reading it.<\/em>&#8220;<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                  <button type=\"button\" class=\"ac-trigger ac-button-blog-singlepost-inline ac-button-blog-singlepost-yellowgreen\"><\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-panel yellow-extra-wide\" id=\"stillreading\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-body-background ac-body-background-lightyellow\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        My mother, to put it kindly, often has to have things &#8220;just so&#8221;, and in consequence can be exhaustive (and exhausting) in her communications and attention to detail.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        At one point she wanted to hang a photograph on the wall of her condo, and as part of that, enlisted the services of a handyman.  In preparation for his arrival a few days hence, she emailed him, detailing all the issues surrounding the hanging of the photo.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        When he arrived at the scheduled time, immediately upon his opening the door, my mother asked if he had read her email.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        Brilliantly, and without a moment&#8217;s hesitation, his response was &#8220;<em>I&#8217;m still reading it.<\/em>&#8220;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END: \n\n<div class=\" accordion-body-background--light-blue-environment-inline\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p> <!-- EMD \n\n<div class=\"ac-panel\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"ac accordion-blog-singlepost-inline\">\" --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"accordion-container\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>He&#8217;s walking like he has an enlarged prostate.<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \t<\/p>\n<li>(More for posterity than amusement.)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<ul><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \t<\/p>\n<li>Actually, you need to add water first&#8230;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \t\t<\/p>\n<li>Whose glasses are these anyway?<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \t\t<\/p>\n<li>Hurricanes and window-taping \u2014 unclear on the concept.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    \t\t<!-- MIT Soup, Car Tires --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      <\/ul>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \t<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Father<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>It&#8217;s all right everyone, I&#8217;ve got him!<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Maybe <em>eating<\/em> this was not the choice of the pros&#8230;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Brother<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>A device that throws a curve-ball at over 90mph is perhaps not something to use <em>inside<\/em> the home.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>Shut the hell up and sit down.<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>The reason you&#8217;re an idiot is because of the extra bone in your nose.<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Combo<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>My parent&#8217;s divorce \u2014 weaponizing slices of ham.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>If everyone in the family must agree, you are f*cked.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <!-- Attic cleanup (pieces of string) --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Extended Family<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Grandparents and That Generation<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Chocolates as aerosol.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Senility collides with advertising slogan.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Aunts, Uncles, Etc.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<div class=\"accordion-container03\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac ac-blog-singlepost\"> <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <pee>&#8220;Wait, <em>what<\/em> drain are we talking about?&#8221;<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <button type=\"button\" class=\"ac-trigger ac-button-blog-singlepost-inline ac-button-blog-singlepost-yellowgreen\"><\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-panel yellow-extra-wide\" id=\"drain\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-body-background ac-body-background-lightyellow\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee class=\"mb-1\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>When I was young, my family and diverse generations of relatives would converge on a small<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            jointly-owned \u201cestate\u201d comprised of several shared summer homes, located in <span<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                data-tippy-content=&#8217;Sharon Springs, to be exact. In the 1800s I believe the town was a &#8220;destination spa&#8221;, due in part to its natural sulfur springs. By the time I was there, it was (very roughly, presented in a manner to enhance my story, not accuracy) a mix of local Harley riders, farmers, Hasidic jews, hippies, gay hospitality entrepreneurs from NYC \u2014 and us.&#8217;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                class=&#8217;blog-tooltip-enabled-singlepost-non-interactive&#8217;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                data-tippy-theme=&#8221;blog-popup-theme-singlepost-againstlightyellow&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                aria-expanded=&#8217;false&#8217;>Upstate New York<\/span>.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>At the house in which I stayed there was a gravel driveway. It was not uncommon for the<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            ditches that flanked the driveway to, at their bottom, become clogged with leaves, causing<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            rivulets of water to run across the driveway, carrying off the gravel.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Also on premises was a small swimming pool. At its deepest part it had a drain that,<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            similarly, would get clogged with leaves, causing the filtration system to stop functioning.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>The final piece required was my aunt Hannah&apos;s typical failure to give specific names to<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            objects, referring to them instead as \u201cthe thing\u201d etc.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee class=\"mb-1\"><strong>The Incident<\/strong><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Aunt Hannah, wanting me to clean the leaves out of the gravel driveway ditches: \u201c<em>David, would<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                you clean the leaves out of the bottom of the thing.<\/em>\u201d<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Me, thinking she is referring to the drain at the bottom of the swimming pool: \u201c<em>I can&#8217;t \u2014<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                I don&#8217;t know where the facemask and flippers are.<\/em>\u201d<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Hannah: \u201c<em>Why don&#8217;t you just use a broom?\u201d<\/em><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Me: \u201c<em>I don&#8217;t know where there is a broom with a long enough handle.\u201d<\/em><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Hannah: \u201c<em>Why don&#8217;t you just use a broom with a normal length handle?\u201d<\/em><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee>Me: \u201c<em>I can&apos;t because my ears hurt when I go down that deep.\u201d<\/em><\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        <pee class=\"mt-4\" style=\"font-weight:500;\">It took us that long to realize we were perhaps<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                not talking about the same drain&#8230;<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END: \n\n<div class=\" accordion-body-background--light-blue-environment-inline\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p> <!-- EMD \n\n<div class=\"ac-panel\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"ac accordion-blog-singlepost-inline\">\" --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"accordion-container\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Cousins Etc.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>What a small world.<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Incensed and insane.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    Significant Other<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol class=\"mt-0 pb-5 pt-0\">    <pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    (Tons of great stuff here, but have yet to get her permission to post&#8230;)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- \/MC PersonalReminiscences-SecondColumnFamilyEtc -->[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; custom_css_main_element_tablet=&#8221; \/* width:31% !important; *\/&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221; \/* width:31% !important; *\/&#8221;][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Code: Animals, More: friends of fam&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_css_free_form=&#8221;||  ||:root {||  &#8211;border-of-content: 38px;||  &#8211;right-margin: 12px;||  &#8211;content-stroke: 1px;||  &#8211;golden-starting-width: 192px;||  &#8211;golden-default-margin: 6px; \/* NEW: Set your desired default bottom margin *\/||  &#8211;golden-transition-duration: 0.5s; \/* NEW: transition timing *\/||}||  ||.golden-img-container {||    margin-top: 6px;||    margin-bottom: var(&#8211;golden-default-margin); \/* Use the variable *\/||    width: var(&#8211;golden-starting-width);||    position: relative;||    transition: transform var(&#8211;golden-transition-duration) ease, ||                margin-bottom var(&#8211;golden-transition-duration) ease;||    display: block;||    transform-origin: 0 0;||    cursor: pointer;||}||  ||.golden-img-container img {||  width: 100%;||  display: block;||}||  ||.golden-img-container.expanded {||    transform: translateX(calc(-1 * var(&#8211;border-of-content))) ||               scale(var(&#8211;scale-factor)); \/* Use JS-calculated value *\/||}||  ||\/* Add a class to disable transitions *\/||.golden-img-container.no-transition {||    transition: none;||}|||||| .hover-hint {||    position: absolute;||    top: 6%;||    left: 50%;||    transform: translateX(-50%); \/* Center horizontally *\/||    color: white;||    font-size: 12px;||    white-space: nowrap;||    opacity: 0.7; \/* Slightly transparent *\/||    transition: opacity 0.5s ease; \/* Same duration as the scale *\/||    pointer-events: none; \/* Don&#8217;t interfere with hover detection *\/||    text-shadow: 0 0 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.8); \/* Optional: helps readability *\/||}||||.golden-img-container.expanded .hover-hint {||    opacity: 0; \/* Fades away on hover *\/||}||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; module_id=&#8221;Code_ThirdColumnAnimalsAndMore&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<!-- MC PersonalReminiscences-ThirdColumnAnimalsAndMore --><!-- wp-remote-header<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-id:         248532<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  post-title:      Personal Reminiscences.<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  block-id:        PersonalReminiscences-ThirdColumnAnimalsAndMore<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  site:            https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/droplets<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  pulled:          2026-04-02T11:01:59<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  remote-modified: 2026-04-02T14:54:31<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->&#8211;><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  Animals<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  Family<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol class=\"ol-under-multipost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<div id=\"golden-retrievers\" class=\"accordion-container04\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac ac-blog-singlepost\"> <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<pee>The golden retrievers I grew up with, devoted couple Tito (male, older, right) and Suisette.<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->              <\/p>\n<div class=\"golden-img-container\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/writingsPP\/media\/golden-retrievers.jpg\" alt=\"golden retrievers\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <span class=\"hover-hint\">(Click to expand photo.)<\/span><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->              <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <button type=\"button\" class=\"ac-trigger ac-button-blog-singlepost-inline ac-button-blog-singlepost-yellowgreen\"><\/button><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-panel yellow-extra-wide\" id=\"golden-retrievers-inside\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"ac-body-background ac-body-background-lightyellow\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee class=\"mb-2\">Our family dogs shown in the above photo died many decades ago, but my fond memories of them remain and, overall, they made an indelible impact.*<\/pee><pee class=\"mb-2\">In that regard, and to the best of my recollection these many years later:<\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            <\/p>\n<ul><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>I remember having some physical mishap in our yard as a young boy and crying, and Tito racing to my aid, out of nowhere, licking my face to provide comfort.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>As a puppy, Suisette learning to swim by holding Tito&#8217;s tail in her mouth during their lake excursions.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>Tito periodically vanishing, following which we would invariably get a call from the ice cream store in the neighboring town that he was there \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>Tito wagging his tail so vigorously that he once gave a guest at my parent&#8217;s party a black eye.<\/li>\n<p>                              <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>Tito eventually had to be \u201cput to sleep\u201d as they say, due to cancer riddling his body. My memories from that event, all unforgettable:<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<ul><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Every time we had ever gone to the vet prior, he had rushed in, pulling on his leash to \u201csay hi\u201d to the vet and staff.  This time, we had to drag him in, his feet planted.  He presumably picked up on our extreme emotional distress and knew something was very wrong. \ud83d\ude41<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>I held him when they gave him the lethal injection, and I will never forget the feeling of the increasing weight of his head on my hand as he expired&#8230;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>It was the first time I saw my father cry. (The second, and only, other time, was when he and my mother informed my younger brother and I that they <span data-tippy-content='I was actually ecstatic at the news, given my visceral pain experiencing their deteriorated relationship. My father later shared with me that that was a transformingly-positive experience for he and my mother at the time, given how much like failures they were both feeling; my deep joy and relief at their separation was not they were \u201cexpecting\u201d.<!\u2013- [et_pb_br_holder] -\u2013><!\u2013- [et_pb_br_holder] -\u2013>FYI: My younger brother Peter was, similar to them, very upset. He, unlike me, grounds himself in \u201cstructure\u201d like \u201cThe Family\u201d, whereas I care little about structure, but rather, ground myself in the feelings and interactions of those around me.&#8217; class=&#8221;blog-tooltip-enabled-singlepost&#8221; data-tippy-theme=&#8221;blog-popup-theme-singlepost&#8221; aria-expanded=&#8221;false&#8221;>were getting divorced<\/span>.)<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/p>\n<li>Suisette was never quite the same and, while significantly Tito&#8217;s junior, died not long thereafter.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                <\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>Additional references informed by my relationship with these dogs:<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->\n<ul><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                  <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                                <\/p>\n<li>See item 9 in my <a class=\"link-against-light-black-underlined-color-inherited\" href=\"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/guidingprinciples\/\">Guiding Principles<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>Search for \u201c<em>Golden Retrievers<\/em>\u201d in a paper on technology, art, humanity, and AI I wrote in 1990 \u201c<a class=\"link-against-light-black-underlined-color-inherited\" href=\"https:\/\/AffectionateTechnology.com\">Affectionate Technology<\/a>\u201d.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                            <\/ul>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/li>\n<p>                              <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                              <\/p>\n<li>And finally, animals that most definitely do <em>not<\/em> compare in feeling and relationship connection to dogs, but nevertheless I bonded with during Covid \u2014 <a class=\"link-against-light-black-underlined-color-inherited\" href=\"https:\/\/daviddurlach.com\/squirrels\/\">squirrels<\/a>. (Be sure to check out link to see, among other things, \u201csquirrel yoga\u201d.)<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <pee class=\"mt-3\" style=\"font-size: 75%;\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                        (*Disclosure: Something of which I am not proud, but because I wish to avoid presenting real life as \u201call rosy and air-brushed\u201d, when that is almost never the case, and when so doing just makes others feel less good about themselves in comparison: As a young child there was a period of time when I was definitely not so nice to Tito (I believe I pulled his hair \u2014 I can barely recall, but as an adult my mother reminded me, suggesting I may have been jealous) and he was scared of me and would run away when I approached. Fortunately, this period did not characterise our relationship overall.)<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                      <\/pee><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                    <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END: \n\n<div class=\" accordion-body-background--light-blue-environment-inline\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->                <\/div>\n<p> <!-- EMD \n\n<div class=\"ac-panel\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"ac accordion-blog-singlepost-inline\">\" --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/div>\n<p> <!-- END \n\n<div class=\"accordion-container\"> --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h1><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  More<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h1>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<h4><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  Friends of family<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/h4>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<div class=\"multicolumnpost-content\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/p>\n<ol><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  <\/p>\n<li>Bluffing through an overcooked dinner might work, &#8230; if there were any water left.<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->   <\/p>\n<li>&#8220;<em>On any week you fail to mail me, I will send you my dead cat.<\/em>&#8220;<\/li>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- \/MC PersonalReminiscences-ThirdColumnAnimalsAndMore --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_code admin_label=&#8221;Code: JS for above&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; module_id=&#8221;Code_ThirdColumnJS&#8221;]<!-- MC PersonalReminiscences-ThirdColumnJS --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->(function() {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    function setImageScale() {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const container = document.querySelector('.golden-img-container');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        if (!container) return;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const targetContainer = container.closest('.ol-under-multipost-content');<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const parentWidth = targetContainer.offsetWidth;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \/\/ Get CSS variables<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const styles = getComputedStyle(document.documentElement);<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const borderOfContent = parseFloat(styles.getPropertyValue('--border-of-content'));<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const rightMargin = parseFloat(styles.getPropertyValue('--right-margin'));<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const contentStroke = parseFloat(styles.getPropertyValue('--content-stroke'));<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const goldenStartingWidth = parseFloat(styles.getPropertyValue('--golden-starting-width'));<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \/\/ Calculate scale factor using the correct CSS formula<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        const scaleFactor = parentWidth * (parentWidth + borderOfContent - 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