Growing up, my father would ask me from time to time,
“ Son, did you leave your brain in a box somewhere?”
This was most often after I had done something monumentally unwise. Often in defiance of gravity, reason, friction or fore thought.
Rarely, unfortunately, the question would be posed while I was preparing to declare my lack of wisdom. Sometimes this would occur mid event. Whereupon sometimes Dad would watch in amazed wonder. Amazed that I survived, wondering what exactly was wrong with me.
Often my endeavors wrought chaos, did damage, broke things, disturbed neighbors, lost his tools, made very loud noises, caused unexpected shock waves , involved fire, smoke, or wayward electricity.
I now understand that my father loved me dearly because not only did he let me live, he also saved my life on occasion.
My father, my Grandfather and my uncle Jack, Dads brother also had a demented sense of humor, and twisted sense of appropriate distraction.
Uncle Jack, gave me an electronics kit, full of projects, tools, supplies. Dad gave me access to books. Dads college texts, plus some of his military manuals and a Physics lab kit, and bio lab. PAWPAW, Grandpa Harper, gave me a chemistry set, books, access to his books, and access to a work shop, complete with a metal lathe.
They also had no compunction about answering any questions I asked in great detail and accuracy. There were no taboo questions. None. Dad and Pawpaw both believed that if was old enough to be thinking the thought, and curious enough to ask, that I deserved an thoroughly honest answer.
I will leave the wisdom of that approach to debate. They taught me to question everything, question the answer, the process, and the reasons. I appreciate and thank them for that. They also taught me that, there is always an answer and sometimes that answer is unpleasant.
Apparently that sort of openness, honesty, and integrity is not appreciated by some so called authority figures, adults and assorted others. My Dad encouraged me to ignore such disapprovals. To quote my father, “ Courage or Cowardice, we are all free to choose. “ which goes with “Only a coward and a liar fears questions or answers.”
Which brings to mind this event from first grade. An episode involving biology lessons, the birds and the bees and me lecturing my first grade class on where babies came from and how babies came to be.
Which also reminds me, my teacher,
Miss Fair,
I must say, I still have a crush on you. You were truly beautiful and thank you for those Christmas cards over the years. GOD bless and Keep you. I have never forgotten you. Thank you for your patience, kindness, and, not killing me tho I know I severely tried your patience. You went to bat for me, stood up for me, and always had my back.
A brief pause,
To taunt and tease you my readers.
Life occurs, I must attend to Coffee, local mayhem, and mundane functionality. It is 6:30 a.m. here now . I began this endeavor unplanned, prior to coffee and going to sleep on Thursday evening, now Friday and.
I need coffee.
I will return later I assure you.
As Anyone that follows me or knows me,
I cannot keep my mouth shut!
To quote General MacArthur
I shall Return.
, tho In my case later today, not a couple years from now. Lol.