A Walk on the Punny Side

Several years ago I worked in an office where everyone at break time would take walks in the parking lot.  It helps keep the blood flowing through the day.  One day my friend and I were walking.  About one hundred yards away I saw his car parked under a tree.  I asked him if he left his window down.  He said he didn't think so but he'd better check.  Break was just about over so as he went to check I went back to my desk.  Several minutes later, my friend came back to the office.

"Did you leave the window down?" I asked.

"No, it just looked down," he replied.

"Well, I hope you did something to cheer it up."

"Yes, I juggled some balls and told some jokes."

"Oh, a real 'glass' act," I said.

"Hey, that's funny.  You can go to a comedy club and 'win dough'," he countered.

"Naw, they'd see right through it," I replied.

Memories

My earliest memory is of my mother.  My mother at this time was 29 years old and was raising 5 kids, ages 1 to 7.  On this particular day, a November afternoon in 1963 my younger brother, sister, and I were watching the television.  Pre-schoolers spending time with Mom. 

My memory starts with me hearing my mother in the kitchen, softly crying.  My brother, sister, and I are in the living room, idly watching the grainy, black and white image on the 12-inch television screen; an image of white horses pulling a carriage holding a flag-draped casket.  

I had no idea, or no comprehension of what it was all about.  But I remember my mother in the kitchen, crying to the image of this death; this end of life. 

And now, as I write this I realize that the earliest memory I have of my mother mirrors the last memory I have of my mother… and tears run rampant. 

My mother died in the fall, an October morning, 48 years later.  We had her service later that week.  I remember thinking they are going to close the casket at 9 PM, time to say goodbye.  As 9 PM approached and passed, I found myself crying, sobbing uncontrollably at the last image of my mother on this earth. 

My first memory of tears.  My last memory of tears. The first of sadness in her life.  The last of the sadness in mine.  

D. 2016

Notes to self:

Drink a lot of water.

Shut off the computer and go DO something. 

Where is my phone?

Write more, talk less.

Drink water.  Whisky and ice.  Yes, ice is water.

Do we need anything from the store?

Where is my phone?

Why is the cat in my office?

Shut off the computer and feed the cats.

Geesh!   Duly noted.

DN.