Opinions

Tony dropped by the other day.
He’s about as nice of a guy as you’d ever want to meet, and funny to boot. During this last visit for example, he told an amusing story about a dog his brother adopted who came with an odd warning: the canine didn’t like Mexican men playing the guitar.

Four times a month I meet with groups of creative friends with whom I share ideas and accomplishments. Twice each month, the group consists of around 20 people, specifically writers; writers of poetry, fiction, fact and opinion. Another group, all poets, is smaller and while we examine and critique each other’s poems, we have the luxury of time to discuss many related topics that arise out of the discussions of poetry. The third group is made up of professionally successful artists, writers and composers, although the writers make up the majority of members.

We got engaged on Valentine’s Day, 1956. I don’t think either one of us planned or even thought about it being a romantic time for the proposal and acceptance. In fact, I don’t recall any mention of it being Valentine’s Day or any of the usual accouterments, such as flowers or a box of chocolates. It just happened to be Feb. 14, and the whole thing was coincidence. I guess, when you’re young and giddy with daydreams and hormones, any day will do.
Well, that was 61 years ago, and we were married for almost 50 years before my husband died.

My friend commented on the latest fad of taking photos of oneself with celebrities, be they politicians, sports figures, movie stars or any one else who is famous, admired or envied. As I thought about it, I began to realize that the practice is hardly new. The medium (the ubiquitous cell phone) may be relatively new, but the idea of having physical evidence that we have, at some time, had personal contact with this or that famous person is not. I think it is quite similar to the practice of collecting autographs of famous or admired people.

About this time every year, several of my friends start deserting me and take off for places with kindlier climates. Florida and Arizona seem to be the more popular destinations, with California the choice for some who’ve either lived there in the past or who have relatives there now. Apparently it takes stronger ties to lure people that far from home. Being the unenthusiastic traveler I am, I stay home and wait for them to come back.