January, 2003

Old, But Not Forgotten

While most of my "stuff" still works, there have been departures-less hair to comb, less teeth to brush and less energy to get into trouble with. But the thing that bugs me most is: less memory to serve my aging carcass.

For instance, ya' know you're becoming an "ole geezer" when ya' get up out of your easy chair in the living room, walk to the kitchen, and once there forgot what ya' went in there for...or, get to church only to find that yer' shoes don't match...one black, one brown!

Or when yer' driving at night, yer' left foot keeps searching for the dimmer switch...or, some one asks ya' for your home phone number and ya' can't remember (but ya' can remember your WWII serial number.)

How about when ya' can remember the names of the mailman, milkman, ice man, but ya' can't remember the name of the guy ya' met 15 minutes ago!

I can remember the Cubs winning the National League Pennant in '45, but I can't remember where I put my pocketknife or where I parked the car at the Huntington Mall or remember to zip up after visiting the men's "can." (Grandma helps me here by glancing around, then focusing her "blues" on my "greens" and making a strange buzzing sound between clenched lips that comes out: zzzzziiiippppp!) Whew!

I can remember when a nickel 'usta get ya' a pack of gum, a candy bar, an Isalies' ice cream cone, or a cup-a-coffee. For a nickel, you could get a coke, make a phone call, or go to the Saturday afternoon matinee at the Paramount Theater. But, I can't remember when or why men stopped opening doors for ladies; offering them a hand when climbing stairs or exiting an automobile; referring to them as Miss or Mrs. Or other little courtesies that gentlemen usta' extend to ladies such as flowers, cards, and a gift on their birthday. No...I can't remember when men stopped being gentlemen, so I guess some memory loss ain't too bad since I still remember to do such things as those...now and then!


- Bob Murphy