The Three Stages of Neck Pillows



















At one time we had nine souls living in this small house. Nine. That's no small number even if you had a place as big as Michael Jackson's. Of course this home doesn't even remotely resemble a mansion, so as you can imagine, it got crowded. With nine people, you  have nine people's belongings. Some of them were treasures and some was junk, but somehow we made room for it all. What is truly amazing to me is that now that there is only Jan and I here, it still looks like we have nine people living here. There isn't a flat surface anywhere in the house that isn't cluttered with some manner of stuff... magazines, cooking utensils, plants and paperwork to name just some. Part of the reason we have so much stuff is that the kids, being the generous folks they are, periodically send us something they think we'll enjoy. The most recent gifts came from my youngest daughter Autumn. The coffee I love, and Jan really likes the candy. I think she's given up on dieting because she's constantly bombarded by well meaning friends and family members who can't imagine life without chocolate. However, the neck pillows are a mystery to me. I guess you use them, if you have the guts to, whenever you fly. They're probably a mainstay for the folks in first class. I only fly out of the state about once every three years, so in the interim I have to find a place for them. I thought about sticking one around my eyes like that blind guy, Jordy, on Star Trek, the Next Generation. Then if I'm trying to take a nap during the day it would keep the sun out, in the unlikely event the sun was shining. Then I thought, I guess I could sew the ends together and sit on it if my hemorrhoids were to flare up. They feel kind of cushiony. I finally figured I better give them a try for their intended purpose just to see how they would feel.
Stage One. I was happy as a clam at high tide. Or maybe Jan just told me to smile.
Stage Two. Reality was starting to set in. Those blasted tags were irritating.
Stage Three. I felt like the neck pillows were made of sandpaper and were filled with stinging nettles fibers and burrs. To make matters worse, Jan said it looked like a head was sticking out of a tablecloth. Upon closer examination, I couldn't agree more. However, it should be noted;she bought me that shirt, perhaps thinking that at my present rate of expansion I would fill it out completely by the end of the year, but its September, and there's still lots of room to spare. The last picture reminds me of a friend from Game Creek, Matt Ortega. He used to be a driver for one of the apostle's sisters. The way he told it, she was pretty heavy and sounded like she had breathing problems, but whenever they got within sight of  a Mc Donald's she would direct him to go there so she could get a cheeseburger. When he was telling the story he made a face similar to the one I displayed there. It always got a laugh. With no other form of entertainment on the farm, making fun of those in the ministry was high on the list of fun things to do. No doubt I'll have much to answer for one day.  Back to the neck pillows. I'm reminded of a Laural and Hardy movie. Ollie is in a hospital bed and Stan brings him hard boiled eggs and nuts as a gift. Ollie says "If you wanted to bring me something, why didn't you bring me some candy?" In any event, I don't want to appear to be an ungrateful buffoon. I do appreciate the gifts, but if I had my choice, I'd rather have hoochies.

Comments

  1. I don't know what to say!!!:):) Liz

    ReplyDelete
  2. I guess some things are better left unsaid Liz. Just chalk it up to entertainment I guess.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my gosh, I was laughing so hard! Ok, Hoochies next time! Love ya!

    ReplyDelete
  4. By the way, mom's right, looks like a random head.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hard boiled eggs and nutttsss!!. Hmm!!Ollie was the ultimate jerk., stan was the thoughtful one and still got crapped on, and if I remember right in that particular episode, Stan sat on a needle and fell asleep , then had to drive Ollie home . Haha. Ben

    ReplyDelete
  6. It had me laughing but some things are better left unsaid:)Liz

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Autumn- I really do appreciate the thoughtfulness. You should save your money though... so you can buy LOTS of hoochies in assorted colors!
    Hey Ben- ha ha ha- I had forgotten about him sitting on the needle. When he did his hat flew off. He always had such funny expressions. I'm going to have to find some more of their movies. When I was a kid they were the number one source of entertainment. Ollie was just playing the part. Stan's daughter called him Uncle Babe and really loved him.
    Hi Liz- I suppose you could be right. I would hate to have to filter all my comments so as to not offend anyone though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. No don't...did not mean that:) People always seem to get offended anyways about the silliest things. I was just talking about the pictures:)They were funny! Liz

    ReplyDelete
  9. oh dad..you had me busting up as per usual with the pics and the comments. I don'tknow as I remember that particular show..but do remember the show in general...that's hilarious..remember Matt Ortega too...will keep the hoochies in mind, however, the next time I feel inclined to sent you a tube of Preparation-H

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Liz- yeah, I thought for about ten seconds before I posted the pictures. I don't want people to think I'm a complete dolt, but it gave me something to write about. I often wonder what people who don't know me but read the blog must think. I don't fall into any particular category as far as interests. It's kind of like watching a variety show- a little singing, a little comedy a skit or two. Oh well.Variety is the spice of life.

    Hi Amber- I think it was the only Laurel and Hardy movie I have. I picked it up when I worked at L. Kane Store. The boys are fond of quoting different parts of the various movies they've watched down through the years. The line about hard boiled eggs and nuts was a favorite of theirs. I don't really need any PH right now, however hoochies are always nice to have.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I remember that episode not as good as Ben though, remember the boys would always replay scenes in movies or on tv shows at dinner time. hahahaha. I don't think they sell hootchies here but I can get you some live worms :). love you

    ReplyDelete
  12. That comment about filling up the house even when only two people are left sure hits home here...Our Mudroom still has enough boots and coats/parkas to imply there are still many people living in this house. Also, Autumn's father-in-law is like her father in the "prefer hoochies" as gifts over nik-naks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Camille- I don't think the worms would survive the trip though. As they say, it's the thought that counts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. HI Teena- I just don't know how it is that all this stuff accumulates. I suppose if a person lived long enought he'd have to have a home in a warehouse to store all of his stuff. The thing I enjoy about hoochies is that they don't take up much space and they're practical. I think that should be the standard for all gift giving. Thanks for commenting.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Sick Pack

Clear but Cold

The End of an Era