Category: Uncategorized

AFTER DINNER
© By: Richard L. King

Bright orange clouds fade slowly to amber
a light fog settles in
….dusk takes over.

There’s a slight chill in the air.

The smell of the sea permeates his nostrils
as the sounds reverberate in his ears,
accentuating the distant, yet distinct, island music.

The best of Mother Nature’s beauty
peers at him over the rim of his glass.

….the candle flickers from a faint breeze

                                                                                                   ….and she smiles.

.…A distant balladeer brings them back to the moment

….conversation has been minimal
as their eyes soak in the beauty.

“….More wine?” ….he asks.

“We could watch the fishermen unloading
and cleaning their catch”
“….but honestly, I have better suggestions.
….perhaps a walk along the beach?

….Maybe a carriage ride?

….If you’d care to dance,
there’s a trio performing in the lounge.

….My room has a fully stocked bar
and a large balcony overlooking the coastline.

.…the night lights make for a fantastic view
and the stereo has all the greatest tunes.

….room service is exquisite….
Course, if you’d prefer, I’ll take you home.”

                                                                                ….and again, she smiles.

.…They arise,
silently floating on gossamer wings
… she reaches for the key card
as her eyes momentarily hold his

                                                                        .…and he smiles.

 

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #416

About: Life’s Lessons

 “The key to a long, healthy relationship…
…never mention her weight.”

Could it be that an entire generation was not taught to ‘do unto others as you want done unto you’? Or could it be that each person is so wrapped up in themselves and their own personal needs that they forget little things like saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’? The simple act of including the ‘loner’ in your conversation at a gathering has gone by the wayside.

I don’t think people forget their manners to be cruel. I think it is just not important to them. It’s not important to say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ — after all we’re all friends here. Why be so formal? We don’t need to include everyone in our conversation because we really don’t know that ‘loner’ very well and we’re not interested in what he has to say anyway.

It is sad – the way we treat others, even the ones we care about. With the holiday nearly here – a time of giving, it would be nice to give a smile to that person you usually ignore. Ask the ‘loner’ how his day is going and is his family well? Start a conversation. Besides making someone’s day, you just might learn something. Remember the ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

It really doesn’t hurt. I promise.

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Gram use’ta say

“Never miss a chance to shut up.
You can’t listen and learn if you’re chattering.”

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RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC
By: Richard L. King

Why do so many of us old farts find that we have to be out on the streets during RUSH HOUR. We’ve been retired forever, we have all day to do whatever it is that’s so important to get us out on these roads, but we find that the only convenient time to do whatever it is that we have to do is during the hours when all those poor working stiffs are trying to get to or from work. We’re probably rushing off to the restaurant to be the earliest bird in the hope that there might be a PRE-early bird special. Either that or it’s during lunch time for all those working stiffs and we simply have to go to lunch at the exact same time as we always have, no matter that we haven’t worked in years.

That’s maddening enough, but couple it with the fact that we probably don’t know exactly where we are supposed to turn, so again we’re poking along, holding up traffic trying to make a left turn from the center lane, or some other ignorant move. On top of that, we’ve had our turn signal on for the last three blocks, so by now the drivers behind us know that we don’t have a clue and they’re chomping at the bit trying to find an opening in the traffic to switch lanes and get out from behind us.   That’s about the time we spike our breaks, realizing that this is our turn coming up and if we don’t get over into the turn lane real fast, we’re going to miss the turn. Oh well, I guess we can just go ahead and make the turn from……. CRASH!

I could go on, but I’ve probably already made enough enemy’s for one day. Besides it’s almost rush hour and Sweetie and I have to get to that PRE- early birds special.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #422

About: Life’s Truths

 “Common sense don’t jist one day show up,
…ya have to cultivate it.”

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By:  Donna Hale Chandler

Bennie the skeleton came to live in our home the day after Halloween, 2017. When my sweetheart spotted him among the sale items at a local store, he couldn’t resist that cute face —- actually it may have been the 50% off that attracted his attention. Whatever it was the skeleton came home with us where we discovered almost immediately that storing a full sized skeleton takes more than a little space. He couldn’t be folded. He’d have to sit or hang. Hang him in a closet and wet my pants every time I opened the door? No thanks.

Until we could solve this dilemma we sat him on a bar stool at the end of our kitchen counter. The more I looked at him the more I felt he needed a ‘drink’ in front of him – so a beer mug was added to this ‘conversation piece’. Yes, as soon as anyone walked into our home, conversation started, “Yikes, what is that?”

Christmas came and we decided to dress the skeleton for the holiday. Then it began. The Skeleton received a name, Bennie. We started shopping in the children’s section for cute outfits to go with each holiday. Bennie moved from the bar stool to a chair at our dining room table. We talk about him as if he’s a real person and he has quite a following on my Facebook page.

He is the BEST relative ever. He never talks back. He’s never unhappy or bored. He doesn’t complain about his outfit being out of style. And if he ever overstays his welcome, we’ll hang him in the closet.

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Gram use’ta say

“The heaviest thing you ever carry around with you
is a grudge.”

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MILESTONE BIRTHDAYS
©By: Richard L. King

 Sixteen was a great birthday, maybe his favorite of them all,
he got to start driving,,,, meeting with friends at the mall.

Thirteen was also nice, a teenager at long last
and at eighteen he would graduate, putting high school in the past.

At twenty one he was legal some might say he’d come of age.
After that they’re all downhill, you just turn another page.

That’s the way he always thought, until eventually he hit 65,
then he really started believing that finally, he had arrived.

At 60 he got social security, thinking, “the governments paying me,”
after years of paying in, seemed he was getting money free.

He was drawing widower’s benefits, seemed more like a loan,
then he hit 62 and started drawing on his own.

But at 65 he really had it made, as he qualified for Medicare,
with the money he now saved, he could travel most anywhere.

Living in the best of times, he was like a pig in slop
and for the foreseeable future, he’d be viewing life from the top. 

BUT THEN ONE DAY . . . . 

Sweetie got a Jury Summons, causing his greatest exaltation,
cause he’d just turned 70, that’s no longer a part of his equation.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #440

About: Management  

“Ain’t never seen an effective boss
who didn’t ruffle some feathers
every now and again.”

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