Today is Sunday, May 5.  There are only 190 days left until Christmas and Swiss Colony has started their holiday production schedule already.  Happy Birthday to Antonio Smareglia, Nellie Bly and Tina Yothers.  On this day in 1382 the Battle of Beverhoutsveld was fought and the population defeated the drunken army.  In 1891 Carnegie Hall opened in New York City with Tchaikovsky as guest conductor.  In 1973 Bill and the lovely Elaine got married.  In Denmark, Ethiopia and the Netherlands it is Liberation Day; in Thailand it is Coronation Day and in Mexico it is Cinco de Mayo.

I feel that I would be remiss if I did not first address the fact that it is our 40^th anniversary.  That, in itself, is an amazing feat.  What makes it even more incredible is that we started going together 7 years earlier, when Elaine was a sophomore and I was a junior in high school.  I know, many of you are thinking that she would have come to her senses long before we got married and run away screaming.  I think what saved me was that I spent almost a year attending a college in Iowa (that went bankrupt and closed part way through my second semester, not my fault) and then spent three years and seven months in the Air Force.  So for a good portion of that time we were apart, making it easier for me to avoid driving her completely crazy.

Our 40 years together have been great.  We have been through some difficult times together – the key word being “together” – and have stayed strong.  We have a fantastic son and daughter-in-law and two of the absolute greatest grandsons ever.  We have traveled, we enjoy being together and we have fun together.  What more can you ask for?  I love her and she loves me.  There is nothing else that needs to be said.  People ask how she has put up with me for so many years and I answer very simply, “She drinks a lot.”

But enough about us.  Now on to different topics.  One time we were on a road trip and I noticed a car that had a bumper sticker offering a very interesting service.  You know how, when you travel, you always wonder where a rest area is when you need one?  We saw a car that had a sticker that said, “Honk if you need to POOP.”  I thought that it was great having cars ride around to help you find a bathroom when you are in a place you do not know well.  The alternative to offering a service was that the car was being driven by a stupid person with a warped idea of what is amusing.  A part of me wanted to honk to see what would happen, but I decided not to be drawn in by the ignorance.  Besides, I am sure I would have been scolded for giving in to the temptation.

A year or so ago when we were in Newport, I spotted a trend in the way people dressed that I found interesting.  I saw people wearing down vests over sweatshirts because, one would assume, they are cold.  But then they wore shorts and flip flops, trying for that nautical look.  Does that mean they are only cold from the waist up?  I find it interesting that people have to go with a certain look because of the area they are in.  In Newport, it is nautical because of all the sailing that is done there.  However, if you are cold enough to wear a down vest and sweatshirt, can’t you find some kind of pants that will keep you warm, but still look like you belong on a boat? 

   

Another trend I noticed recently is that people are no longer concerned with having their outfits match.  They get up in the morning, pick a shirt or blouse they like, select pants they like and off they go.  The fact that the pants are a floral print or stripes and the blouse or shirt is a plaid does not seem to bother them.  One outfit I saw had pants that had red flowers on a blue background and a blouse that was a green and yellow plaid.  By themselves, the pants were less than attractive.  Coupled with the blouse it was a terrible combination.  The person seemed to think she looked good based on the way she was walking.  If I had that outfit on, I would have been skulking in an effort to avoid being seen.  I saw a guy wearing a pair of purple, yes purple, jeans and a blue shirt.  I’m sorry but those two colors just did not go together.  I am, by no means, a fashionista, but I do know ugly when I see it and those outfits were ugly.

And now for something completely different.  We were visiting friends of ours last week and I noticed a sign on the street, just down from their house.  I asked the lovely Elaine if that was the next step after speed dating.  The sign said “Speed Hump.”  I got the look.

Hey, have a nice week and I hope you will tune in again next week.