The Public Eye
I have been flooded with a series of random, mostly disconnected thoughts this week, which could be the result of old age establishing permanent residence in my brain or that the blood supply to the old cerebral cortex is being hampered by a belt that somehow became much tighter overnight.
Regardless, here's what I've been thinking:
n The Vatican has decided to investigate all American nuns because many of them no longer live in convents, or, to put it another way, they are unconventional. Many of them no longer wear habits, which might also be described as a non-habit forming approach.
Either way, I have an appreciation for the good work they do but my favorite nun story of all time occurred when my father returned from work after recovering from prostate cancer.
A two-pack-a-day man, he was sitting at his desk puffing away in front of an overflowing ashtray when Sister Miriam Thomas, a long-time friend, appeared.
"Mr. Dobson," she said, wagging her finger at him, "you must stop smoking or you'll get cancer."
My father replied, "Sister, I've had cancer and where I had it I didn't stick any cigarettes!"
n Friends of mine were politely kicked out of a local eatery this week when the husband made one too many requests and observations. He wanted breakfast, which was being served at the time, followed by a lunch entrée, which was scheduled to be served in 15 minutes (he's a hungry guy). He also pointed out to the staff that there was neither soap nor running water in the washroom.
Apparently, all this had a cumulative effect and it was suggested to him that no food would be forthcoming. What this proves is that as bad as business might be in some places, there are establishments where if you shoehorn in too many requests what you will receive is the boot.
n We were almost stopped coming home from the Seacrets birthday party Monday night for driving erratically. Regardless of how cool everything looked through those 3-D glasses issued during the fireworks display, they aren't necessarily conducive to excellent driving.
n If we insist that people new to this country speak English because they are joining our culture, shouldn't we be able to require people who move to Maryland from Pennsylvania to support the Ravens?
Then again, maybe not.
