Musings Of A Man With Tiny Wings (and no pants)

 

Oh, why are my wings so tiny? They barely lift me off the ground. Maybe 2-3 feet. That’s it. Not very dignified. I long to soar into the sky. Alas, I cannot. Although I will admit it does make it easy to reach things in the tallest cupboard in the kitchen. My wife will call me, “Prince, I need your reach!” She calls me Prince, for that is my title. As you can see by my crown, which is also on the tiny side. I wanted a larger crown with many sparkling jewels, but alas, none of them fit.

 

You might ask about my attire…when I got dressed this morning, I could not find one single pair of pants. Not one. When I asked my wife about them, she said they were all in the wash and I would have to wait. My legs were getting cold, so I grabbed one of her skirts and put that on. She said, “That is one of my favorites! Don’t spill anything on it!” And she handed me a napkin to spread on my lap while eating.

 

I ask you…a Prince with tiny wings and crown, wearing a woman’s skirt and carrying a napkin…is this dignified? It is NOT! Yet that is what I am reduced to this day. I will not attend any important meetings or see any people at court until I am dressed properly. I know some will talk, maybe even mock my absence. My father (the King) will certainly make remarks. But I will remain in my chambers until I can make an appearance worthy of my high station.

 

So there.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

 

Random Thought

In your lifetime, you’ll produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.

 

They call us "The Elderly"

 

We were born in the 40-50-60’s.

We grew up in the 50-60-70's.

We studied in the 60-70-80's.

We were dating in the 70-80-90's.

We got married and discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.

We ventured into the 80-90’s.

We stabilized in the 2000’s.

We got wiser in the 2010’s.

And we are going firmly through and beyond 2020.

 

Turns out we've lived through EIGHT different decades...

TWO different centuries...

TWO different millennia...

 

We have gone from the telephone with an operator for long–distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world.

We have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music, from handwritten letters to email and Whats App.

From live matches on the radio, to black and white TV, color TV and then to 3D HD TV.

We went to the Video store and now we watch Netflix.

We got to know the first computers, punch cards, floppy disks and now we have gigabytes and megabytes on our smartphones.

 

We wore shorts throughout our childhood and then long trousers, Oxfords, flares, shell suits & blue jeans.

 

We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, swine flu and now COVID-19.

 

We rode skates, tricycles, bicycles, mopeds, petrol or diesel cars and now we drive hybrids or electric.

 

Yes, we've been through a lot but what a great life we've had!

They could describe us as "exennials," people who were born in that world of the fifties, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.

We've kind of "Seen-It-All"!

 

Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.

It is our generation that has literally adapted to "CHANGE."

A big round of applause to all the members of a very special generation, which will be UNIQUE!

 

–Author unknown

 

Last One?? (I make no promises!)

What's the worst haircut you ever got?

I had really long hair until about 3^rd grade. I don’t know what was going through my mom’s mind when she took me to get a pixie cut. My face was NOT made for that kind of cut. I had no idea what was in store, I was just told I was going to get a haircut. NO CLUE! I had to take my glasses off for the cut, so I couldn’t really see that clearly in the mirror. The gal seemed to be taking an awfully long time to cut my hair. When she was done, it was ALL GONE!! I was devastated! I hated it! And the kids at school let me know just how awful I looked with my fat face and no hair.

What is the first nightmare you remember?

We were living with my grandparents in their apartment above their grocery store. I was between 2-3 years old. Looking back, this must have been when my Mom had had a miscarriage and was sleeping in my little bed and I was sleeping with my dad. I woke up in the middle of the night and THERE WAS A SWARM OF BEES ON MY PILLOW! I can still see it clearly in my minds’ eye. A black mass of bees. I was screaming and my grandma came in and took me into bed with her.

What is your earliest childhood memory?

Being in the house before we went to live with my grandparents. Not a whole lot of detail, but I was in my own room, sitting on the floor and playing. I also vaguely remember my dad putting down brick for a patio in the back yard.

Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?

From my earliest memory I had a blankie and a bunny. I could not sleep without them. When my mom had the miscarriage, I was taken to spend the night with my Aunt Bernice. No one thought to pack my blankie and bunny. When bed time came, my aunt had to call a couple of neighbors to see if they had a doll or something I could borrow.

I don’t recall how old I was when my blankie “disappeared” but I’ve always suspected my grandma decided I was too old for that and took it. Bunny I still have. Rather worn out, but still filled with love.

Longest road trip ever taken, and where did you go?

First one was when I was four and we moved from Missouri to California when my dad got a new job. My grandparents moved with us. I don’t remember much, but I do remember being parked on the side of the road for something and my baby brother had a big blowout in his diaper and the smell made me throw up all over the back seat.

Second trip was when my dad and I drove from Chico, CA to Concordia, Kansas. My Aunt Bernice had passed away and a lot of her stuff that went to us was stored at my Aunt LoLita’s place. LONG TRIP. I don’t know how many days it took but it seemed forever. I was in my late teens and had an eye infection and couldn’t wear my contacts. Light bothered my eyes so much and I couldn’t do any of the driving to spell my dad. He didn’t believe me and thought I was faking. Driving back was better because Aunt LoLita came with us for a visit.