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| Social Butterfly in Action |
A friend on Facebook posted the following
obituary for an old and cherished friend. I think it’s awesome that I’m old
enough to act all curmudgeonly about young whippersnappers:
“Today we mourn the passing of a
beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one
knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in
bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable
lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the
worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by
simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable
parenting (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to
deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were
set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for
kissing a classmate, teenagers suspended from school for using mouthwash after
lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his
condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing
the job they had themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to
administer paracetamol, sun lotion or plaster to a pupil, but could not inform
the parents when a pupil became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common
Sense lost the will to live as churches became businesses and criminals
received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when
you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, but the burglar
could sue you for assault because you protected yourself and your own. Common
Sense finally passed away after a 7-year-old child was suspended from school
for chewing a Pop Tart into the shape of a gun. Common Sense was preceded in
death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter,
Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I
Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m A Victim. Not many attended
his funeral because so few realized that he was gone. If you still remember
him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.”
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| "I Read Your Book Mom" |
I’m a little late posting today because
I just spent a couple of the most painful hours possible listening to politicians
at the monthly board meeting. I received a text from my deputy, who was
likewise incarcerated, asking me to join her in jumping out a window. I avoided
the strong pull to do just that, buoyed by the thought that my wife and I are
driving south to New Jersey tonight for a four day babysitting stint with the First
Blog Reader. I’m still amazed at how fast she’s growing up. My wife is out
today on the obligatory grandmother shopping spree at the local Toys ‘R Us.
Last night as we talked with my
daughter and the precocious one I complimented my granddaughter on how “cool” she
looked in the below photo wearing her dad’s sunglasses. She immediately stood
up and left the conversation. My daughter looked confused until she saw her
coming back with not only her dad’s but also her mother’s sunglasses. She
proceeded to model them for us and in complete honesty – she totally dominated
the glasses.
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| Pure Domination |
A very good night in the Man Cave as I watched the Red Sox
complete a stirring 9th inning comeback against the all-smarmy team
from St Louis. The best part was receiving a text from Wingman shortly after I finished
what passes as a celebratory dance in the Cave. I was a little taken aback earlier int he game when the 1967 team was honored. Anybody who grew up in New England at the same time as me reveres this iconic team of the Impossible Dream season. It was jarring to see how old they all looked but then I peered into a mirror and figured it out.
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