Live and Learn

 

You are sent to school as a youngster

to prepare for what is possible in your

life ahead. You learn parts of speech,

how to read, write and spell. You must

be able to communicate with others in

order to get along and get ahead. And

then there is math. Add, subtract, divide

and multiply. It’s all about the numbers.

At any given point, checks and balances,

you need to know mathematically, finan-

cially where you stand. Then, there is

history. One must know from where they

come and hypothetically and hopefully

where they are going. Science is what

we’re made of and how things are and

came to be compositionally. Remember,

it’s elementary, my dear Watson, elemen-

tary. Oh, and there is more, so much more--

music, art, literature and so on. Ah, and

there is old age. It is widely and often

spoken about growing old gracefully,

but very little learning how one goes

about doing that. Some will never make

it that far in life anyway, so what’s the

use? Having myself achieved that under

appreciated and overlooked stage in life,

I offer this sage advise—nap often during

the day in front of the TV; eat your evening

meals early so you can retire by 9 PM; stay

close to the bathroom; rise each day at 5;

use a cane or learn to negotiate a walker;

curse and bitch, dribble and drool a lot.

And for those who remain modesty ambula-

tory and have transportation, day care and

Bingo can help while away a couple of those

useless and lonely hours. Of course, needless

to say, should you be afflicted with Alzheimer’s,

other forms of dementia or just don’t give a

damn...

forget about it!

                      -30-

Chris Hanch 10-11-2021