by Thomas Dey
21166946
("you number ten, G.I.")
I enjoy yours and Moe's writing and both of you have inspired and encouraged me. Thank you sincerely.
I am feeling better but I will share one thought I heard recently.
"There is no remedy for mortality."
So I smile, sing a song, and say a prayer. A toothless SEG, the Impossible Dream, and the prayer of St. Francis.
I concur about when we are children,
Thanx AXM Editor's Note: Thanks, little john. And yes, there should be a little Walter Mitty in all of us. I have indeed heard that Waaa Waaa Waaa of prop engines going in and out of phase - can be very grating on already frayed nerves. The only planes I actually piloted were Aeronca Champs at the air club on Okinawa. One wooden prop and an old fashioned stick.
We did a time capsule thing in 6th grade, that they were suppose to send to us 20 years later, and never did. My prediction of my future was that I would be a professional basketball player and would be driving a red camaro. Age 30 or so. Neither occured. oh well. Editor's Note: Hi deep! I vaguely recall planning to retire uber rich at age 45. I'm still working my ass off at 63 --- hope to retire in mild comfort in a couple years. Or maybe I should working on my headstone? Epitaph - "You're Next." Warped, macabre sense of humor past the bitter end...
Moe Editor's Note: I don't remember drawing the clown pics. I know you were sure into costumes! Fast forward today - the engineers at work absolutely abhor the pocket full of pencils, lest they be considered nerds. Hell - I intentionally fill mine with a fist full of styli, ruler and a plastic fork sticking out "just in case."
Moon Editor's Note: OK - that would be consistent with our personalities. I was always pushing the envelope. Tommy
# 1. 11/12/11 3:32 PM by little john - Mt.Morris,N.Y.
Enjoyed the column very much. On USMC KC-130F's they have what they call synchrophasers. That is because all the turboprops turn the same way. When they are out of phase you can imagine the vibration and weird stuff that happens, especially when some fool on the ground is shooting at ya. That's the time for a near perfect # 10 on the pucker scale, so you can kiss it good bye.
and the greatest show on earth,
is right there in our own imagination...
(James Thurber, "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.")
# 2. 11/12/11 6:16 PM by deep watern - Lake Oneipeei
hey Tom, thanks for sharing, interesting stuff from a sewcond grader. i think i was still learning to tie my shoes then, or was it where to hide my boogers? Maybe both.
# 3. 11/30/11 2:14 AM by Moe
Hey Tom, I never read that one before. I love the numbers and propellors part, but also the trailer w/ costumes! I remember you liked clowns a lot as a kid- you used to like to draw clown pictures, remember? And now you sort of are one!
# 4. 11/30/11 10:00 PM by Moe
You got into trouble once for drawing a picture of a clown taking a whiz. I think I tattled to Mom. The plastic fork is inspired!