Opinion

Some people are morning people. Some people are night people. And some people are only people for a few minutes right around suppertime. I happen to be a morning person, though I do cheer up considerably at the thought of supper. Unfortunately, families and workplaces are made up of all types, and this inevitably leads to conflict. A night person told me his early bird wife had, on more than one occasion, attempted to make their bed while he was still in it. Even I think that’s inconsiderate. She should at least tell him to get his lazy bones out of bed first. Night people love to stay out on New Year’s Eve. Morning people prefer to be up early on New Years Day. You can see how this could cause tension in a relationship. If a morning person sees the New Year in at all, it’s because we woke up at midnight to use the bathroom.

It is hard to believe that it has been 21 years since the attacks on our country. We all remember where we were and what we were doing.

Decades are like snowflakes. They’re white and pointy, and all a little different. Sometimes I think about the 20th century and the decades therein. Nobody knows exactly how many decades were in that century, but it almost seems like there is one every ten years or so.

I was watching tv the other day. As I do way too often. One of the major phone companies has devised a program on their phones to edit out unsightly people or things from photos you take. Just make them disappear , if you wish.

Golf is the simple, yet complex, game of gentlemen. It is a game of respect and sports-manship; a civilized sport played with propriety. Our society could learn a great deal from the basic etiquette of golf. It is a game of skill rooted in respect for others and for the course. My husband, Bobby loves golf and he used to play every day. In fact, he used to make golf clubs for himself and other players. In the last year he has started playing again and is having fun trying to get his game back on track. He and two of my nephews hit the links with him when they can.

If you were to see someone— I’m not saying who— jump up from her breakfast and start marching in place in her bathrobe, you might think she’s a few steps short of a full walk. At least you might think that if you don’t have one of those fancy fitness devices. You wouldn’t know that her Fitbit vibrates on her wrist at 10 minutes ‘til if she hasn’t taken at least 250 steps in the hour. At least it does if it’s anything like mine—and it very well may be.

Due to the overwhelming response (glad you liked it, Mom) to a recent column about nautical terminology, this is a kind of follow-up. Thus, I give you boat names. [Warning. This column contains more than your recommended daily allowance of puns. This is not my preference. This is how it must be.] Let’s start with the question: Why name your boat? Most people don’t name their bikes? I guess a few folks name their cars. (Speed Racer: Mach Five; Goofy: Bessie; Etc.) But a boat? Well, for one, there’s more space on the back/side of your boat for a name. But in olden days, boats were named after goddesses and saints because it was thought to ensure safe voyage. After a while, the close observer noticed there was no correlation, let alone causation between a good name, a bad name, and the outcome. Thus, names of goddesses and saints were set aside and mariners started getting “creative”.

I dreamt there was an actual three-ring circus going on in my home. At the same time, I had two visitors planning to stay the night and as I led them past the circus and down the hall to our guest room, I wished them a good night’s sleep despite the noise. In the way dreams do, it made perfect sense while I was dreaming. Actually, the way my life is, it kind of made sense when I woke up too.