Good Morning and welcome to Hump day. Ok various translations from soup to nuts (after dinner snack)…on this day. Wednesday in more perspective is middle of the work week, but really when are you over the hump? Depending on what really would conceive your actual work day hours. So getting up in the morning on a hump day means you still have the day to surpass before you are totally over the hump. Oh well this is a job for the people who make up these little chronological idiosyncrasies (hell yes I used spell check!) and you may ask who they are… ok I am waiting… Oh heck I will tell you anyway without you sending an email into limbo land. The guys attributed to such days, events and other odysseys are those you find in any little hick town crowded around a checker table, playing cards, drinking coffee and just giving their two cents on what is and what is not. It could be old men and it could be old women and it might be both…but not too many times do the two mix when talking time, history and events that both have been through but both have different versions of the story. Ever notice that? I bet you could find a table full of granddads and grandmas and start a story at one end of the table and by the time that story got to the other end it had changed 10 times. Then they would argue on who was right and who was there and so on and so forth and bring of crap that had no matter or reason to be added. Up in northern Michigan as in many states I would expect this to be true that this is a way of life for some on a daily basis. Ever go into a grocery store which has a coffee shop or corner deli? Oh heavens yes there will be some old folks there meeting and going over world events, solving world hunger, electing a new president and hanging an old one. Bashing women if their not present and women bashing men if their not present as well. That is a way of life. Is it right..? Hell if I know. Is it wrong? Well let’s just use the phrase from when we were children “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me..” Wow that should be used in a few court rooms today and save the tax payers a billion or so tax dollars a year. General stores with a checker table and a pop belly stove normally are the preferred venue for old men and their meeting of the minds. Just this morning I heard to Country Radio announcers going on and on about the blizzard of 1976 and one saying no that was no blizzard and the other saying well 1993 was not one either and If I had a chance to grab the mic from them I would have argued the fact they were both wrong and it was 1978. This fact I know well, no need to consult the record books I have my own. I married her. Oh my god if I want to be proven wrong on anything I just have to give my side of the story and I will have 17 versions on why that is not true and the argument will end with I am right and you know it will not be me saying that. Sometimes it’s better to collect your wounded and retreat to fight another day. The difference between men and women is constant. We argue and we do it well. Does not mean we can’t stand one another just we would rather argue with one another then do most other things. But, point being on the blizzard of 1978 is a fact. I know this for gospel Jessica my oldest daughter was born January 24th 1978 in a full blown Blizzard that crippled the west coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Schools Business’s and you name it were closed. Traffic was marred all over Interstate 94 and most travel was done by snowmobile. Many other blizzards have hit our state as well as others and one back in 1967 gave many kids in southwestern Michigan a week off of school due to bone chilling temps that cut right through you like an Icicle dropping through snow. Some times so cold that hands and fingers would num up and get to that state where you can’t feel the slightest touch to them. But, all in all this is not about blizzards, cold feet, tingly fingers or arguments between men and women. This is about those who many times get looked over. Paid no attention to. Many whom have more wisdom then one could get in 4 years of college. They could turn a buck into two. Give that little reassure that everyone needs from time to time and not ask anything in return. Somewhat like a dog who gives and gives and gives love to their master and doesn’t ask for any back. You want to make an old timers day? Hell ask them a question most would topple over backwards to give the answer. You will see no brighter smile then that of an old timer being asked a question and them being listened to as they give it. A lot of wisdom comes down from these sometimes often forgotten people sitting in the corner drug store, the corner café. The biggest compliment one could pay them is listen… hell instead of buying that lotto ticket and giving money back to the state government. Invest it well. Buy the old timer a cup of coffee… that is money well spent.
Hump day…. You look at it the same? Have a wonderful day.
Mart
