Something About Philosophy

1.

My son turned fifty-three last December.

I’m too old to take him out to the back-

yard and throw the ball anymore. Neither

of us have the equipment to do that, and

besides, I don’t have a backyard where

I live currently. We have, however, had

a number of good conversations over

the years, grown-up stuff, you know:

2.

How’s the teaching going? My eyesight

has improved considerably since that

cataract surgery, but my arthritis is play-

ing hell with me. How is Becca getting

along at school? Is that guitar you bought

her for Christmas working out well? Did

Roto Rooter fix that stopped up drainage

problem you had? He loves soccer, dif-

ferent blends of coffee, Bob Seeger and

NPR’s, This American Life, I know that.

You need a couple of bucks to tide you

over till payday, eh? Will forty-dollars do?

3.

Some of our chats include favorite music

and movies we’ve heard and seen, you

know the ordinary day-to-day things worth

sharing. My son turned fifty-three last

December, and throughout the years I

have come to realize that I never asked

him if he has a philosophy about life?

Now, I know he has grown to be a good

upstanding man. He’s a fine husband and

father as well. He’s been teaching high

school admirably at the same place for

over twenty-years.

4.

Although we have been divorced since

he was a teenager, individually he treats

his mother and me very well, helping each

of us out when we have the need. But,

philosophically, what are his personal views

on how life is seen, understood and lived.

That’s what I’d like to know from him. Now,

I realize he is his own individual, and from

time-to-time his perspectives and ideals may

differ from mine.

5.

I’m seventy-three years old, settled in my

ways and numbered in my days, but I’m still

curious to know. Because of my disability, he

comes over after school each Wednesday to

do grocery shopping for me. I intend to ask

him about his personal take on life then. Lest

I forget in my old age, I had better write that

down. Which also reminds me, I need to add

a large jar of mayonnaise to my list.

                    -30-

Chris Hanch 1-28-2020