Thursday, October 16, 2014

Word Play and the Lawyer's Perfect Skin

There are some words you remember how to spell with simple euphemisms such as dessert is spelled with two Ss – easy to remember because you want two of them, desserts that is. Why would you want two deserts? Unless you were a camel or there were vast underground oil reserves. Similarly, I remember hearing teachers perhaps say that principal is easy to remember how to spell because he is you pal. It sounds far-fetched but it is true.

I had a principal in high school who would come over to the basket where I was shooting in high school practice and shoot with me. He would either retrieve my balls or I would pass him a few shots. His jump shot, in his three piece suit and wing tips, was not bad. Not bad at all. He was my pal for a few minutes in practice and I was one lonely kid. He smiled at me and showed a small interest in my well-being. Thanks Dr. Brady.

Now how do you remember how to spell principle? I don’t have a clue but at least you will know how to spell the one with the ‘pal’ in it and by process of elimination you may remember the other.

Lawyers have nice skin

I don’t think I will visit the lawyer anymore. It put me in a very bad mood and probably cost me in excess of $250.  It was just like the first day of school where they tell you all the work you will be doing over the course of the semester – homework, exams, major projects – the syllabus is overwhelming. And to top it all off, there are multiple lawyers in multiple states and I didn’t get a clear answer about who is doing what. I was fine before I went in there. I think I am better off doing much of the work myself and saving the estate a buck or two. 

But as I was feeling overwhelmed, I suddenly noticed the lawyer’s skin. Now she has a good 10-12 years on me, easy. But her skin, especially on the back of her hands, was like a newborn’s. Now I am exaggerating somewhat, but compared to my skin, it was positively spanking new. The backs of my hands were weathered and age spots were noticeable. I had working man hands while her hands were white as the driven snow and not a blemish or a line in site. The same for her face and probably the rest of her body (though I did not let my mind go there). Wow, she has great skin. And I tried to justify my weathered, leather body I remembered all the sun filled days at the beach and the pool and outside playing sports. She probably hasn’t been outside a day in her life as she sits slumped at her computer screen. Now I exaggerate again, but her skin, that skin. It looked like it had never seen the light of day. Good for her. Good for her skin. But my skin, was the skin of a well lived life. Cancer be damned. 

Unrelated thoughts
  • ·         “Cross Country is like going in the ocean. At first you don’t want to and then you are glad you did.” Michael McGovern summer 2014
  • ·         “Mom, that is the least of my worries”. . . after I wondered what Michael’s college roommate would think about his clothes all over the floor.
  • ·         I thought if I gave you two laundry baskets you could use one for your clean and one for your dirty clothes. “But then I can’t see my clothes.” Michael McGovern summer 2014
  • ·        “I am eating like 5,000-6,000 calories a day and I am not gaining weight.” Matt McGovern fall 2014. You will young man. You will. 

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