The Why

My years as a litigator have taught me how to fake expertise in many subjects. I can readily engage, breakdown, absorb and palatably regurgitate the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and often the “how,” of many different things, with savant-like skills, but I rarely understand the “why.” Understanding the “why” is where real genius comes in.

Whenever I meet those that truly understand the “why” of things, I am left in awe.

I’m convinced four decades of faking expertise in all different areas has contributed mightily to my chronic bouts of Imposter Syndrome.

You see, as a lawyer, you don’t really need to convince others of the “why” of a certain fact pattern to win most legal arguments. If all the other factual WWWW&H points logically fall into place, people will assume that there had to be a good reason for whatever you have presented to have happened. They won’t really care about the “why.” It can remain a mystery of life.

The same is true when it comes to appreciating art – with any creative endeavor. You can look at a Jackson Pollock or Vincent Van Gogh painting, or any work by the High Renaissance all stars like Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci, figure out everything but the “why,” and still enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the experience.

You don’t need to know “why” Mona Lisa has that smirk or David is sans fig leaf. Maybe the two are connected?

The same is true for literature.

You don’t need to understand “why” the Danish Prince pondered “To be or not to be: that is the question.” (Hamlet, Act 3, sc. 1). The rhetorical question, itself, is enough.

I’m not complaining. Not understanding the “why” of most things is like living with a lifetime of color-blindness. With the notable exception of when my dear friend and brilliant legal colleague, Mark Diller, once pointed out that I was wearing two different colored versions of the same shoes upon my return from Court, the world will not care, and one can accept one’s limitation, adapt accordingly, and live a fulfilling life.

Indeed, on a more universal level, one does not need to understand “why” sex is so exciting to appreciate the experience. Understanding the WWWW&H is more than enough.

However, my IS ability to manifest WWWW&H faux-expertise has allowed me to weave all kinds of interesting storylines throughout the narrative of The Claire Saga. Quantum physics dances with old-world magik throughout the five books like Fred and Ginger. Murder, military, munitions, money-laundering and wormholes all make their expert appearance. Interstellar space travel, all forms of paranormal phenomenon and even evolutionary genetic manipulation find their way into the storyline with the warmth, detail and clarity of a June sunrise.

A glance at my many school transcripts demonstrates my natural adversity to anything scientific. There’s no there, there.

In the end, Claire knows the “why” of it all. And that is enough.

Which brings you, my fine, five readers, to another magical Friday.

We are entering that last full summer weekend in August. One more week for any Prime Member to freely download the Kindle version of The Wise Ass and witness and decide for themselves whether or not I’m completely full of shit. Or, maybe you’ll decide I know why after all. Better yet, maybe you’ll come away knowing just why. Oh, those mysteries of life.

Well, I have kitties to cuddle and rounds to make.

You fine, five readers take your carry-ons with you to work, show your boss why they were brilliant in hiring you, then slip out the door and catch whatever transportation gets you to the promised land before rush-hour. During your travel, distract yourself with a book.

And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.