Pop goes your weasel. The music is playing – you’re cranking your handle – when all of a sudden…you pop out – no one knows when. Everything was good, just going along your merry way and then your your weasel jumps out.
Why am I talking about this? Maybe because I’ve been cranking the handle for so many years that eventually Jack will come out of the Box. Perhaps its because while jogging on the beach – old men give me a thumbs up. Makes me wonder what they’re thinking…like “wow that dude should be dead and here he is jogging on the beach”. Audacious.
Auspicious. Very close to audacious. Probably related somehow. So yesterday I have all my bangles dangling on my wrist (jogging on the beach remember) – return to the room and two are missing. Hmmm. Auspicious. Didn’t feel them leave, they didn’t say goodbye. Whats interesting is one was green and one was yellow. Both obtained at the same time from the same vendor. One was purchased, one was gifted. Six bangles left that morning, four returned. Hmmm. Where did they go? Auspicious.
So old men…well they look old to me…I give them a thumbs up 👍🏽 when I see them burying themselves in the sand on the beach. Hmmm. Why do they do that every morning? Must be fun and I should try it sometime.
My Psychiatrist tells me its important to share my thoughts and not concern myself with what I think others may think. 🤔 He says they’re too busy thinking about themselves. Like I’m not much but I’m all I think about. You are the most important person in the room until I walk in. Ha. Not funny. Well back to my psychiatrist…which should tell you something, however I haven’t received a bill as yet so perhaps you get what you pay for.
Now this is the end of 2023…the last day of the year as I write in Da Nang, Vietnam. Where the women are pretty, the men hardworking and the children above average. Well the good Doctor suggests smoking a cigar every evening to turn the cares and concerns and stresses of the day into ash, then begin anew. So my wife and I will do just that before the stroke of midnight, to turn 2023 into ash, put it in the rear view mirror, and leave it there, starting afresh. Which brings me to…
Assisted Living
Just exactly what does that look like? Assisted how? My Mother thought it time for “assisted living” and that consisted of an apartment with kitchen, bath, emergency pull cords, maintenance and utilities included. All sounds good until you watch your friends being carted off under a sheet with whom you were just visiting the day before. Then that lifestyle gets depressing. Only because you’re now in that age group and will eventually “pop” out of your box. Thats one type of AL, abbreviation for “Assisted Living” not to be confused with AI. Artificial Intelligence….is what you’re currently reading.
A good friend is enjoying assisted living in an over 55 complex, no maintenance, no appliances to replace when dysfunctional, pool, gym, pickleball, walking trails, nearby shopping and conveniences. The next level of assisted living, instead of an apartment lifestyle, you have a hotel lifestyle, which is what we’re currently enjoying. Staff to greet you roadside and assist you with packages, complimentary umbrellas ☔️, 24 hour reception, security, room service, daily housekeeping, breakfast buffet, steam/sauna, no maintenance, no utilities, no wifi charges, no taxes, no insurance, no lease, no problems. For a daily charge less than you would pay for 4 Grande Caramel Macchiatos at Starbucks. The upside is your neighbors come and go…so if they’re noisy or rowdy, they don’t stay more than a day or two. The downside is you can’t have all your personal belongings or collect many things as space is limited.
This is the end…
Of 2023. The USA now enters an election year of sought after leadership, financial responsibility, less bickering, more action. We’ll see how that all plays out. How I recall wearing political lapel pins every 4 years. Each candidate promising positive change, a better life, more peace, jobs, improved health care and finances. I’m not sure they can manage their own lives let alone millions of others. Smoke and mirrors. We’ll turn that to ash tonight as well.
If you enjoy what you read, share it with a friend. If not, keep it to yourself. The Bear and I wish you all the good stuff for the coming year.
Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds.
You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.
Peace out. Yogi
You are a delight our dear friend! Loved the message, although I suspect it is YI (Yogi Intelligence) rather than AI! Nothing artificial about you! My youngest daughter Shannon has been with us for 3 weeks and leaves for her home in NYC next week. Debra & Rob were in LC for a few days and now skiing Telluride. Tate is now engaged to Miranda, a lovely gal we have all fallen in love with. They are currently in LC and planning to climb the ice wall. Cynthia is visting college friends in Napa. My son is camping in the high desert with his family. Dan & I are spending a quiet weekend at home after hosting a rollicking Christmas Eve with our families! We sailed the St Lawrence waterway from Montreal to Boston spent a few days in upstate NY at Shannon’s then on to her apartment in NYC for some sightseeing, fine dining and a Broadway show! No future travel booked but starting to consider a spring adventure of some kind…perhaps Venice! Look forward to being back in LC after Memorial Day. Happy New Year!
Yogi my brother and beloved friend! You are so creative in your writing. You should maybe think about writing a book about your life, your travels, etc!
This is an excellent article!
Enjoyed the article. POP Goes the Weasel…forgot about the Jack In he Box and how we were fascinated as children…sitting for hours waiting for that weasel to pop out and here we are today in our second childhood, still waiting.