Dinner with an Old Friend

I had dinner with an old friend last night. I've talked with him on the phone several times over the last two years but had not seen him. A few years ago he lost most of his eye sight so he is legally blind now. There was an operation that gave him a little sight but it's almost like walking in a dark room he says. So, anyway, two years ago he had a stroke and though we'd talked on the phone I was not prepared for when I went to pick him up. The door opened and he stood there looking very feeble to me. Walking to my truck was no easy task for him, he shuffled along, but I made no point to dwell on his disability to him. He struggled to close the door with his left hand because his right arm does not work.
Getting to the restaurant was slow as it was raining hard but luckily it let up when we arrived. I noticed that when we began to get out that he was looking over at me to see where I reached for my door handle. So I pretended not to notice but made my move slowly so he would see where I reached. This was at one time a very active friend who was in great physical shape and I did not want to embarrass him.

At the table he couldn't read the menu as the waiter was there to take our orders so I said to my friend: "Did you not bring your glasses with you?" I said this because he does still wear a pair. The waiter was really patient and I said that I needed more time. The waiter went off to do something else to give us more time. I read down the menu out loud as If I was reading to myself and making comments on certain dishes so my old friend could hear what was on the menu. You see, I was trying to help him keep his dignity and I hope I was not wrong.
We ordered and began to drink our coffee as the order was placed. My friend fumbled with trying to open one of those little creamers with his one good hand. I offered my help and actually the glue on it made it a bit tough to pull the lid off.
We talked and laughed and caught up on things during the meal; it was a generally good time as we both got lost in subjects of better times.

( I must add here that seeing my friend at the door was somewhat of a shock. After I took him back home, my drive was in a sort, sad for my friend, but also full of thought which provoked me to begin having a look at myself. Where am I and what would I like to do. Am I happy with where I am at this point in life? How fast it all went down for him, he went to bed fine one night and awoke paralyzed on one side from a stroke. )

Just some stuff to Ponder

A sharp knife is like a sharpe tongue, they both cut deep and leave scars.

The balloon drifts quietly towards the skies,
It carries with it all my lies,
Except for one held closest to my heart
That I am fulfilling my destiny

Snail mail breeds glorious anticipation, email grants instant but brief gratification.

Animals must think us the worlds greatest hunters.

Age brings wisdom but robs us of imagination.

Would it not be better to be born smart then grow older with stupidness. Then we wouldn't have to say: "If only I had known this when I was younger."

I'm trying to expand my mind but it's me stomach that keeps getting bigger.

General Motors just doesn't get it, they're still pumping out those big behemouth gas guzzlers; they won't even address the millions of bad 3100 SFI V6 engines they put in various cars for years either from 1994 to 2004.

I had an Idea


I had an idea for a motorcycle Inn in the mountains of North Carolina, A place to mellow out and hang with friends, let your hair down, sit around the fire after ridin. Or cut loose and holler and Skinny dip in the pond or sooth your bones in the hot tub. I'll take old tobacco barns and make em into little cabins all cozy and such. Over in the thick grassy area a place for tent camping. Then the little dining area with a huge rock fireplace for sippin and relaxing after a meal. Lets not forget a place to change your oil and fix what needs mending.

What would be thy name of this cool little place to escape to after a days ridin the scenic roads? Why "The Go Tuck Yourself...Inn" what else.

T-Shirts: "I had the best Tucking time at the Tuck Yourself Inn"
"The best place to Get Tucked is at the Tuck Yourself Inn"
"Everyone gets Tucked at the Tuck Yourself Inn"
"Ya ain't been Tucked till you've been to the Tuck Yourself Inn"

[It] Won't Ever Change

I'm tired of begging, pleading, being patient, understanding, asking, waiting, going along and pretending it's normal when it is not.
It had me so down & depressed then angry that my hands were shaking and my heart was pounding so I had to just get to a quiet place to calm down. [It] won't ever change no matter how much I pray for it to.

I bet Dr. Jerry sez

Put a cork in it.