[Rob is sitting at a table writing a postcard. He does this in silence for a minute and then leans back and looks at the card. He puts his pen down and addresses the audience.]

R: I was talking to a friend about his upcoming visit. He said he was excited because he needed a break from school and work and he wanted to see his girlfriend again. I asked if he was counting down the days until he arrived. He said no, that he didn’t do that kind of thing. He said if he kept on counting down then it would seem too long.

[Rob begins rummaging around in his backpack for a stamp]

R: Around Christmas time I met someone. She and I seemed to hit it off pretty well and since then we have been talking on-line and on the phone. I send her postcards periodically too. She’s coming home in the summer and I’ll see her then, but neither one of us is sure what’s going to happen or how long we’ll have before she disappears for who knows where. Even with al that uncertainty I know that she’ll be here in seventy days.

[finding a stamp, Rob puts it on the postcard]

R: Maybe I’m counting down this far out because of the uncertainty factor. Like, maybe I’m all excited because no matter what happens it’ll be a surprise. Maybe if I knew what was going to happen I could be like my friend and shrug off the time that needs to pass and not wonder about what’s to come.

[he looks at the postcard]

R: I’m kind of glad I don’t know