THE RICOCHETING (July 20, 2014)

Fascinated by the discovery of citata in my writings, I am returning to my new record over and over again. And I am especially interested in the interplay between the citata and addenda. In particular, I am drawn to the pieces of writing extended by addenda so many years later that harbor citata referring to pieces written in intervening years. For example, the addendum to “In Praise of Senility” (April 30, 1992) was written on November 20, 2013, and it refers to “Householder, Hermit” (May 7, 2007). Chronologically, this is the second citatum on record. In all such cases, the time frame changes twice in a single piece of writing. By the way, out of three-hundred and ninety citata on record, fifty-seven appear in addenda. In all such cases, time ricochets back and forth. As far as I am concerned, this is no less than delicious, but I wonder about the reader. The reader other than myself, I hasten to add. He or she would have to be pretty well acquainted with my magnum opus to appreciate the ricocheting. Even I get confused by it from time to time, I must admit.