Proud to be an American, still

 

I decided to take a walk on the trail today, since I wasn't crazy about working up a sweat, I thought. It was pretty warm, so didn't prevent that. But, walking you have a lot more distractions that stop you along the way, than you do when you run.  Today, an Englishman, whom I've seen biking daily for years, was walking with his bike along the trail.  I stopped to ask if he had had a break down and needed help.  He showed me his out stretched hand, blacken with grease, holding the nuts and bolts from his bike. After we determined there was no way I was going to be able to help him, we got to talking. He started out by ragging on how America is no place for old people and how he wished he'd never come here.  He said he reluctantly came, when he was a young man of 23 with his family, only able to become a citizen because his brother was already here.

After he complained for a bit and I had bitten my tongue for as long as I could, I said I was proud and glad to be an American.  If he hadn't been so my senior I would have said a few more things that were going through my mind.  Such as, if you don't like it, than why don't you just leave. Maybe that attitude adjustment is exactly what he needed.  We may not be perfect, but, if you don't just believe what the media wants you to believe about the state of affairs, we are better than any other alternative.

On a lighter note, how are them onions?

And an even lighter note, I read an article in the local paper today that really brought back memories.  She was talking about uncontrollable laughter we get sometimes, usually at the least opportune time.  So, it really got me to remembering the times that has happened to me.  It is usually at my own expense, but at times I have to admit it has been at the expense of another. 

I still start laughing every time I remember seeing my sister with her pants caught in the barred wire as she was trying to squeeze through while wearing her cross-country skis. I almost was unable to be of any assistance to her in her plight I was laughing so hard.

I also can't help laughing again when I think of my daughter(I won't incriminate the one) who grabbed the piece of cake off the kitchen counter and popped it into her mouth as she ran down the basement stairs to her room.  The next thing I heard were her shrieks as she came storming back up with a mouth full of sugar ants.  Well, it was funny and still is.

Of course, I know she can't help laughing every time she remembers watching her sister(I won't incriminate the one) tumbling down the basement stairs to the family room with a bowl full of popcorn exploding over her head. 

I guess you had to be there.