Something About Being Professional

You know what’s strange? Not being asked much

about my profession anymore.

Actually, when I was younger no one asked me that either.

They must have known I was not a professional. Guess I just

had the look and demeanor of a plain old worker.

So, generally, I have been asked what I did for a living instead?

Oh, I’ll reply, lots of things in my time, you know, factory work,

sales order taking, material control, care giver, delivery driver.

I even did some sales and restaurant serving in between the

more substantive gigs.

For a time I was an art director for a small advertising agency.

That was my favorite job of all.

But now, retired and gimpy at age nearly seventy-three,

folks take one look at me (unkempt, shabby, wrinkled

and gray) and they ask what I do to keep busy?

Oh, I read and write some, watch the news, science and history

channels on cable TV. I listen to a lot of music on my

Amazon Echo.

I like variety, you know, a wide assortment of tunes from classical

Beethoven to Carlos Montoya flamenco guitar, rock and roll,

folk and popular from the Eagles and Queen to Peter, Paul and Mary.

Oh, I drink coffee and smoke about ten cigarettes a day.

I get my physical exercise by hobbling back and forth from

the living room to the bathroom ten times a day. Got to pee

a lot when you reach my age.

All in all, that keeps me busy and active enough so to speak.

Had I been a professional in my earlier years, I'd be known as

having had a career. And given my scatter-shot work history,

I certainly could never be accused of having one of those.

Then, I’d just be sitting here, twiddling my thumbs, looking for

other things to do.

Besides, had I been a former career professional, you’d likely
find me a hell of a lot more boring than I already appear to be.

                                 -30-

Chris Hanch 3-23-2020