I do not always present my best side, especially when health insurance declines to co-pay my favorite mind-stimulant and tranquilizer --Cabernet Sauvignon from Woodruff Vinyard only 20 miles away. Magnum in Normaphoto was just carried home from RiteAid Pharmacy, under my protection. I still get carded there because I guess I pass for under 21 (can't help it if I'm lucky).
When I really was under 21, well over a half century ago, some high school acquaintances would organize recreational convoys over our southern border to towns like Tijuana and Escroto- Sangrante, both of which enjoyed Kakistocratic government. I learned about Kakistocracy in 1959, when our school bus driver, Mrs. Dixon, pulled over on a country road and addressed us passengers --many of whom were yelling, screaming and trading roars. She said: "Y'all quieten down, listen up, SMARTEN UP! And we'll get rollin' again!" It worked and she resumed driving our bus. Sadly, many rowdy belligerents grew into lifelong Kakistocrats -- a third party that obtained in 2016. By 2020 Republican and Democratic parties were able to restore governmental dignity and get the bus rolling again.
20th was a good century for me. People were having fun. When I turned 50, the Harlem Globetrotters inducted Pope John Paul II and gave him jersey number 75. That was year 2000, (Y2K!!!!!!!!) when we were all stripping store shelves of stuff we might need --but now can't remember what it was about. Number 75, I remember because the world still had some fun in it. We survived great hardships and little soft ones too, because sometimes we felt so loved, we'd never be unhappy again.
That's when I replay Mrs. Dixon in my mind, and feel better already.
I miss drinking...not getting drunk...no way...but just a casual beer during football...or a margarita on taco Tuesday. Or bloody mary for breakfast ..ok..maybe I miss it a little too much..
ReplyDeleteDear Jackiesue, I know the drill ma'am. But at an age where I've had to give up some bad habits --cigarettes, horse thieving, etc.-- I decided a glass of wine with supper is a keeper.
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ReplyDeleteDear ^.^, Likewise. Thanks. Most kind.
DeleteWe should have Mrs. Dixon as Sergeant at Arms in the Senate, retro to 2016, perhaps before.
ReplyDeleteIn late '65, prior to my holiday in SE Asia, I was stationed at the Naval Academy, which is near DC. That was often the weekend destination, as the age for beer was 18, an anomaly of the times. It was also where I met the future mate, remarkable for the ability to put up with me.
Y2K....I was a consultant to a company who made an absolute killing on people's worries their equipment would stop working at 12:01, 1/1/2000.
It's all an enigma to me, Geo.
When Y2K happened I was a time-traveler of 50 and knew I could solve the problem with a simple correction learned on my digital wristwatch when I was a third that age --but didn't want to go through all that draft stuff again. There were alternative services available that had little to do with computers or naked men prodded in Oakland Induction Center. Glad we're both here, Mike.
DeleteHey, Geo! You're lookin great for 21 in the Normaphoto! I shall have to keep my eye out for Woodruff Cabernet. I, too, like a glass of wine with dinner fairly often. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things online. I've been sidelined by computer problems and the sudden onset of Graves eye disease. Mrs, Dixon is my kind of school bus driver. Y2K ~ I still keep a bunch of $1.00 bills, a can of tuna, a can opener, and some water always on hand as a result of that non-event. Of course, now my larder is stuffed with a lot more, thanks to the pandemic. I'm glad to see that you two are enjoying wine and dinner, even if the world is crazy right now. Take care!
ReplyDeleteTrue, dear Blue. The world is crazy, but has it not always been? Best thing now is to take care of eye problems. See M.D.s involved in thyroidal insurrections and referrals. I myself was recently decapitated (ok, only half decapitated) by M.D.s searching for discomforts suffered by partial decapitants or some such nonsense. Graves disease is very serious, so don't ignore medical recommendations. Also keep your wine-rack and pantry filled. We need to get through all this.
DeleteI just googled "partial decapitants." Holy Toledo, Geo! I didn't know such a thing could happen. Please take care of yourself!
DeleteI know how serious Graves is. It took a couple of months to diagnose what was wrong with me, because my thyroid had been fine in recents tests, and my doctor was looking at things that were more likely candidates. Isn't getting older fun ~ lol! My ophthalmologist figured out what was wrong when I went to him about double vision that had suddenly appeared. Everyone leapt into action, and now I have a stable of doctors and ophthalmologists. I was really sick and miserable, but I've turned a big corner and am feeling much better. I follow directions very well.
My mom had and my brother has Graves disease, so I am familiar with it. But it doesn't usually appear at 71. I'm pretty open about having Graves disease, because sharing information might help someone else whose doctors are looking in other directions.
I'll have a glass of wine tonight and toast your continued healing and recovery, my friend!
Dear Louise, The term is a reference I gave myself when I returned from throat surgery 4 years ago when I noticed the stitched incision ran halfway round my neck. I got home too soon and popped a jugular in the shower, exsanguinated into the tub 'til Norma got the ambulance over --which took me for repairs. I wrote a silly post about it titled "Coherence" --https://trainrideoftheenigmas.blogspot.com/2018/09/coherence.html. Appreciate and gladly participate in toast:Here's to you too!
DeleteMrs Dixon's influence is required in the UK, please! Meanwhile thank goodness for wine and land. Good to see you :-)
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa, Good to hear from you too! Mrs. Dixon was one of the most pleasant and safety-conscious people I've ever encountered. Her southern accent (south of the old Mason-Dixon Line) was lovely and calm, but could up-rattle us to silence to restore our good behavior on the highway. She loved us and we loved her.
DeleteCould have sworn I left a comment here a couple of days back, but I see Blogger is acting up and some bloggers are finding comments in their spam . . . or maybe I just closed the comment window without hitting Publish; it wouldn't be the first time!
ReplyDeleteThis world needs more Mrs. Dixons. Too many people need a good smartening up :)
Dear Jenny, It's close to 11 p.m. and I've tried 3 times to reply, but under my text is a notice I've never seen before saying this site is protected by recaptcha, which I never asked for. Have always used comment moderation w/no problems for many years. Things like this make me wish Mrs. Dixon was in charge of the internet. Best to you, let's get the bus back on the road.
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