A golden oldie from February 2018
The third rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority…
The second rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority…
The first rate mind is only happy when it is thinking…. Milne
February 2 and I still have the same arthritic left knee. Sheila and I watched the boys over Christmas vacation for a few days. They were sick with the flu, Sheila caught it and about five days before surgery I came down with it. Went to the good doctor and discussed options. I did not want to undergo surgery feeling the way I did so it was an easy decision for me to make. The funny thing is that while I was recuperating the thoughts about enduring knee surgery became grimmer and more disheartening. After a few days of contemplation I realized I would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the hospital to have my knee replaced. In fact the knee pain would need to be at 8 or 9 before I would reconsider surgery.
The Tell Tale Terse Phone Call:
Several years ago one evening at work I received a phone call from a friend of mine. It was probably the shortest conversation I ever had with him. “Brooks?” “Yes, how are you?” There was a brief pause. “Brooks if you don’t call me our friendship is over.” He then hung up the phone. I can’t begin to relate how many thoughts and emotions ran through my mind as I placed the receiver down and tried to figure out what just happened.I was blindsided.
I had always felt there were two types of people in the world, those who were comfortable making phone calls to “chat” and those who were not. I was in the latter group.This was not due to some arrogance or some elitism. My genetic make up lacked the “Call up someone to chat” gene. I enjoy when people call and we talk, but for me to make that call is apparently absent in my DNA.
To me phones were like cars. They were a means to an end, to get from point A to point B. A phone was an instrument to be utilized to call someone and say, “I’ll pick you up at six,” or “I will be late for dinner tonight”.” Calling up someone to chat on the phone was for folks who were blessed with the friendly “Ma Bell” gene that allowed them to find joy in the world of calling a friend to inquire,“What have you been doing lately?”
Case in point. My father and I spent at least one full Saturday together once a month from 1980 up to his death in 1995.I would drive in from Turlock on a Saturday morning, Dad and I would go to an A’s game or whatever was happening, then we would head to the homestead in Hayward. Dad would barbecue a three pound T Bone steak, and we would sip an excellent bourbon while listening to Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Wills. We talked throughout the entire evening until lights out. We enjoyed each others company and looked forward to our Saturday dinners.
But on the other hand. My father would call me ever so often to “chat” and when the conversation was over my father would say, “Brooks you need to call once in a while.” I innocently responded that since he called was it really necessary for me to call. He repeated, “Brooks it wouldn’t hurt you to call.”
My own daughters are gripped with fear when I call them. “Dad! What’s wrong? Why are you calling?” I need to explain to them that nothing is wrong just that I needed to solidify a date for a coming up birthday party or something of that nature. I ask them why they are so concerned and they both will say,”Well, dad, you NEVER call.” This doesn’t mean I don’t talk to my daughters. I am able to spend a lot of time with them and we do talk for hours.
Back to my friend and the worlds shortest phone call. I thought about his warning for about and hour and it was easy for me to take his advice and call him.We chatted for a few minutes and neither of us mentioned the phone call. We set a date to have lunch in the future,(which we did) and the phone call was not mentioned. To this day we still have never discussed the phone call and sometimes I really do believe that maybe, just maybe I dreamed the whole incident. We still visit each other and still care about each other.I guess that phone call will always be a defining point in our relationship. Maybe someday we will talk about it.
My beloved SF Giants have acquired a third baseman and two outfielders that should help matters considerably in their run for the 2018 World Series. I can’t wait to check out a few games with my big sister.
The 49ers God love them have found a General Manager, a coach, and an excellent quarterback that should make them serious contenders next season. I am looking forward finally after a few years of atrocious football to enjoy watching a 49ers game.
The Golden State Warriors are on a pace to win it all again. Three peat anyone? A class act from owner, general manager,coach, players, and fans.
Until March 2:
Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate, and if you are blessed with the Ma Bell gene phone a friend.