Life, in reverse. My father, he of PRNDL ilk, used ta think he was funny in saying "Put it R for race." Don't get me wrong, looking back (hint, hint hint, the ilk of this blog) my father was a wonderful father. Sure, I'm biased, but sure, I'm correct as well!
Life today way includes backwards. Bassackwards some say, others say ass-backwards.
There's the guy who bought the brand new Ford. You know, the one with the screen "bigger'n your PC at home." The backup camera. Well, the guy wrote (mighta been 'called'., I ain't sure) Ford to relate, "It's defective...every time I go to the Piggly Wiggly and backout to leave, the DVD player keeps 'playing the same movie' over and over of the guy putting his hands up, getting run over. If was funny the first time, but this camera thing needs fixing."
Uh huh.
We've talked about Michael Jackson and his moonwalk. Kris Kross and their bassackwards clothes.. folks, back in the day, labeled 'backwards'.
We know a certain blog writer that 'lives in the past a bit much.' Forgive me Father for I have admittedly key-stroked here. I likes me some yesterday... sure, the McCartney one, but. all the others we've got stored in our brains, photo albums, junk drawers, minds of friends, yearbooks, newspapers, microfilm, yada yada yada.
We here have grabbed our Crayons and colored Victurd weird because he enjoys reading (NOT celebrating, but reading) obits. It's a thing with me. I walk outta a funeral.. there are two schools of thought... "Good guy"... "Not so good guy." Fortunately, the good guys and gals WAY outnumber the others.
Recently, the obit of a lady A HUNNERD AND TWO. We'll call her 'Sal'. Sal lived a charmed life. Her first job was in a high rise on the only floor that had air conditioning. She'd ride the street car to work... and years later would look back (is there a theme here?) marveling about how those tracks were torn out.... and then many years later, put back in virtually the same place here in KC.
She rented a room next to a furniture stripping business.... and for many years, bought 'things' (antiques') of the past, sold them as a dealer. She became well known for her expertise, appraisal and fair prices - all, in accordance with how she was brought up (in the past).. the era... thanks to the efforts, role models before her.
'Sal' was known for her light-hearted wit, keen intelligence, as an avid reader, the kind who would do crossword puzzles in ink... had a natural tact for not letting a grammatical error go uncorrected (speech and print.) As her eyesight and hearing waned, she never lost her sense of humor. Festive, holiday meals, she might suggest "Next time.. you might try....". When asked "How?" (to 102 years) she replied "This too shall pass" and "All things in moderation."
The entire obit was a wonderful read, but, the 'gooder' part, to me anyways, is how the family was thankful to all who enabled this charmed, wonderful lady to remain in her house and continue life living on her means.
Without specifically calling it "Paying it backwards", the family thanked many who played a role in that. The one who gave facials.... another who cut her hair.. .yet another who kept her yard up to Sal's standards.. .the guy who made sure, rain or shine, her newspaper made it on the front porch... another for their weekly 'wine and companionship'.. another who brought her a good lunch and conversation..
The three names that enabled her to remain (and pass) in her final days in her own bed, alongside her cat Maddie.. and of course the entire Hospice crew.
Paying it backwards is such a wonderful thing.
As we go forward in life - we gotta remember, when backing up, if we see that guy in the video holding his hands up in dispair....... hit pause (put it 'in P for Park')... look at life.. smell the roses... whilst we can.
Love, Victurd
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