Alternative Facts.
One of the ‘perks’ of longevity is the supposed accumulated knowledge we gain over the years. Dare I say, ‘wisdom.’ This is merely a guess on my part, but it’s a fait accompli for Stanley. It must be comforting to be so sure of one’s opinions, choices and pronouncements, discarding the opinions and pronouncements of others as rubbish. To be fair, he only discards the opinions of those he deems to be an ‘idiot.’ Of course, as far as Stanley is concerned, the world is full of idiots.
A long hit list.
Stanley has a long ‘hit list’ of people, past and present, that he could do without, mainly politicians. Some go back as far as the sixties and seventies. I’m sure we all have strong feelings around Richard Nixon, the father of ‘Alternative Facts’ and Watergate. But for most of us that anger has abated. Not Stanley. He is just as passionate about Viet Nam today, as I’m sure he was in the Sixties. Of course in the Sixties he was in his forties, too old to be a Hippie, but not too old to protest.
Heroes No More
Some of the ‘heroes’ of that war are on his hit list still. The mere mention of Colin Powell can send him through the proverbial roof. I don’t argue with him, there’s no point. I’m not qualified, and even if I was, it wouldn’t matter. I’m already an idiot in his mind for suggesting that the pandemic is on the wane.
It’s Stanley’s Nature.
He can get riled up over little things as well. The game of Bridge, for example. Bridge has more rules, conventions and ploys than Carter has little pills (if you’re old enough to remember that bon mot, you’re old enough to have actually played the game). I will not attempt to explain, even if I could, except to say there are as many opinions and strategies around the bidding and playing of the game as there are players. But Stanley chooses to disregard most of the more modern ones in favor of how he learned the game, fifty years ago. Is he wrong? Never, just ask him.
Teaching old Dogs new Tricks?
I’m not saying Stanley is bad at the game. Absolutely not. In fact, he’s very good and that may be the problem (if there is one). You can’t teach this old dog new tricks. Whether it’s a function of age or personality, he’s not A GO WITH THE FLOW (“vivre et laisser vivre”)kinda guy, not in Bridge and certainly not in life. As Stanley would say, “I’d agree with you if you were right, but you’re not, so I won’t.”
A Different Kind of Passion.
I envy him, not necessarily his opinions or his politics, but his passion. It may sound odd that a ninety-three old can still be passionate, but Stanley is. I’m not talking about that passion, but the kind of passion he has for life and living. He’s not sitting around waiting to ‘exit’. He’s out there, doing things, volunteering, going to the theater, starting the Bridge club, signing every petition in sight from “save the whales” to “save the planet,” even if he won’t be around to benefit from it.
Stanley’s a Man of the (NY) Times.
How many of us can say they read the Sunday New York Times from cover to cover every week? How many of us can say we even get the Sunday New York Times anymore? In print or digital.
Stanley’s One Luxury.
This is the one luxury Stanley allows himself. He puts up with all the commercials on Tubi, hasn’t upgraded his desktop computer in God knows how long, and has a cell service that is a constant source of frustration (he still hasn’t set up his voice mail). Why?
Stanley knows his priorities.
Yes, he’s frugal, even parsimonious. But Stanley knows his priorities, and nobody, but nobody, is going to change his mind. Believe me, I’ve tried.
Frugal or Futile?
As I’ve mentioned before, Stanley has two goals left in life. One is to live to one hundred (although he’s now considering one hundred and ten) and two, to pass his money on to his grandchildren. Upon first glance, that appears to be a noble decision. denying himself of what many would consider, the ‘luxuries’ of old age. I hope they’re grateful for his sacrifice, but being teenagers, my guess is that they’re not even thinking about it.
The Frugal Game.
But to be fair, he doesn’t deny himself everything. He goes to the theater and he’s been known to go out for dinner occasionally. I think that he secretly enjoys partaking in this frugal game. Finding ways not to spend money may be his raison d'être, what gets him out of bed in the morning, even what has propelled him into his nineties.
Frugal Fire.
So, if I want to see those golden years, what is my version of Stanley’s passion, this ‘frugal fire’ that burns deep within his heart? Good question. The trouble is, you can’t pick up a box of passion at CVS along with your monthly supply of baby aspirin and Prevagen.
Walking with Stanley.
Surprisingly, I’m passionate about these little ‘walks.’ During the pandemic, they have become my reason for getting up in the morning. I have a self-imposed deadline and hopefully an audience looking forward to reading them. That has returned structure back in my week, and connection back in my life. An unforeseen bonus, my partner and I have rekindled a little passion of our own. That Kind? A gentlemen never tells.
Retirement is a Mixed Blessing.
Retirement can be a mixed blessing. Add a pandemic plus a lock down and it can feel more like a prison sentence. My ‘walks’ have become a “get out of jail free” card.
Too Over the Top
Am I being too over the top on this passion thing? Perhaps, but I always feel a touch sentimental around my birthday. Still, I want to ‘thank you’ my dear readers for your kind words and continued encouragement and most of all for being there. And thank you Stanley for allowing me to use our walks over these past nine months, as a spring board to my literary meanderings.
Thanks for being there.
I realize that ‘My Walks With Stanley’ and I were both conceived in June— different years of course —- and I think that’s worth celebrating.
Happy birthday!
So happy birthday to me (this Friday), and I’ll see you next week.
The Aging Game
This has been a longer ‘walk’ than I anticipated so I have a truncated version of the aging game. No Multiple answers to choose from. Do a little ‘figuring’ and see what you can answer, before turning to the Internet. Anyway, See you in March! Only 20 days till DST— YAY!
Have fun!
1. What is so special about February 22nd this year?
2. When was the last time something like this happened?
3. When will something this happen again?
Bonus question: What’s got the Twitter-verse all ‘atwitter’ over this February date?
Double Bonus Question: How many French phrases and words did I use in this latest ‘Walk’— Look carefully before you ‘leap’ to a conclusion.
I couldn’t find a You Tube worth sharing about Bridge (the game), so take a look at Robin Williams’ explanation of how the Scots invented Golf.
The Dog(s) ate my homework.
For reasons I have yet to figure out, I can’t find the captions you all sent me last week for my dogs. I’m sorry but I’m going to ask you to send them again, and this time I’ll write them down as soon as they arrive. I do remember Stanley’s, so I’ve put it in for this week. Please send or resend more. Thanks.
”There, there, everything will be all right.” ( Stanley)
Answers
1. What’s special About this past Tuesday? 02/22/22 when written in the British format, is 22/02/2022 - the 22nd day of the 2nd month in the year ‘2022’ is a palindrome AND an ambigram. I’d never heard of an ‘ambigram so here are some definitions
Palindrome: “A word, phrase or sequence that reads the same backward and forward.” — 22022022
Ambigram: “A calligraphic design that appears to be the same when viewed upside down.” I can’t show you this, you’ll just have to write it down and see for yourself.
2. When was the last eight digit palindrome date? 12/02/2021 — using the American calendar format.
3. When will the next Eight Digit Palindrome date be? March 30, 2030. 03022030, again using the American Calendar format.
Bonus answer: It should be obvious Twenty-Two Oh-Two Twenty Twenty-Two falls on a ….”Twosday.”
Double Bonus Answer: four phrases and eight words- Specifically ‘Passion’ ( but NOT passionate) which is spelled the same in both English and French…tricky oui?
Here’s a link to get more information https://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-palindrome-28106
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