If you are reading this, then just know James Phillips was taken advantage of while he was in a weakened condition and cannot be held responsible for the ranting of an aging mind that never won any awards when it was young.
This column is not intended to be comparable to the late and awesome Rick Watson. After reading his writings, you thought, “What a great guy! He should run for office!”
After reading my thoughts, you will think, “What?? Is this person running around loose among us? Surely there’s at least an ankle tracking device in place to protect the public.”
You may think, “Our community doesn’t need a curmudgeon.”
That’s true, but nevertheless, you’ve got at least one. We are like the village idiot, the town drunk and the national debt — we just happen. We have opinions. We share these opinions endlessly.
I’ll be sharing mine regularly, and one might strike a familiar chord with you. I say that because mental health problems are reportedly on the rise, so that is in my favor. I will not be taking on burning issues connected to politics or religion.
Curmudgeons deal with little every day irritations that normal people don’t notice. Once I’ve pointed out these trivial situations through a major rant, you too can be irate about them without having to do the research. You’re welcome. You can also just dismiss said rant and go on with your life. Either way, buckle up!
A matter of simple directions
When I was growing up, children were taught to distinguish their left from their right before they learned to read or tell time.
This had nothing to do with the family’s political views. It was important to know for navigation purposes.
People drove on the right side of the road in the USA, and were dang proud of it. It followed that if walking in close proximity to another person headed in the opposite direction, collision could be avoided by both parties keeping to the right. This worked in hallways and grocery store aisles.
I am here to tell you, it would work today if people would only do it! If I had a nickel for every person I meet hugging the left side of the aisle, or worse- smack in the center, leaving no room for anyone else, I could buy a half gallon of Blue Bell with less than a month’s take.
I don’t know when it started, but I blame Ford for putting gas tanks on the passenger side as if this were France or England, or I was driving a car from one of those countries. When I pay my hard earned money for an American company’s (probably foreign made) car, I want an American gas tank so I don’t look like a communist trying to fight my way up to the pump at Walmart, on the wrong side!
Left isn’t bad and right doesn’t always mean correct, but for practical reasons bearing toward the right is something children and adults could do to make the world a tiny bit better.
The Community Curmudgeon will share a rant every other week via The Community Journal. Please behave or something you do could become the basis for one of his/her rants.
