Observations on the two types of children

 

There are two basic types of children. Middle class and working class. I can observe both types now that I am in my dotage and have time to watch the behavior of both of the sub-species of juveniles in the United States. 

The first type is the middle class child. This child is rarely sighted in most neighborhoods unless you watch very closely. At 7:30 in the morning they can be observed leaving their front doors and scampering into their parents cars. They are then whisked away only to return in the late afternoon or early evening. Then they can be quickly observed leaving the cars and entering the homes, with Mom in tow. Such children are never seen on the sidewalks with the exception of snow days. 

Working class kids can be seen and heard throughout the day. They are bicycling around the neighborhood. They play ball in the little field where people walk their dogs. If in their teens they can be heard into the night playing hip hop music on their portable music players. 

Apparently middle class children live inside of a bubble, never far from the watchful eyes of parents and other adults during school, dance classes and playdates. Unfortunately, the real world intrudes on these kids too, thanks to the Internet. 

Is there a men's underpant shortage?

I first noticed when I was at the Shop-Rite that they no longer sold bags of Fruit of the Loom men's "briefs". "That's funny", I said,  "I'll have to try the dollar store next door". Nope they didn't have any either. 

When I was at Kohl's I noticed they had the expensive multi colored jockey shorts but no plain bags of Haine's or Fruit of  the loom men's "briefs" either. The next week I was in Big Buys and also noticed they had no men's undergarments at all. 

I seem to be detecting a pattern here. I may have to go to Amazon to buy underpants. Maybe it's just me but I can't find any underwear in the stores.

Editor's note: As the days get shorter and memories of high school football games come to the fore, here is a story about my first encounter with a public drunk. On my sister blog, the Sixties. 

Men who hang around pickup trucks

Since I retired I have noticed that around ten or so in the morning you can spot groups of men with take-out coffee hanging around pickup trucks. I have seen this in front of stores as well as in my condo development. It looks like they are enjoying themselves.

Being a white collar worker I have never got to spend a morning coffee break with the fellas standing in back of the truck. I realize it is one of the pleasures I will never have. I wonder what they are laughing about? Sports? The size of the ratchet wrenches they are using? My guess are that they are discussing the size of the rumps of the ladies in the office where they report. 

The new Taliban?

Here is alJazeera's take on the Taliban takeover. When they review this year, certainly the press conference from the Taliban will be featured. I remember when Nixon became the new Nixon. 

Cell phones have replaced cigarettes

We've all experienced those awkward moments. When you are alone at the bar. When you are alone at the airport long distance bus stop. When you are waiting for your order at a restaurant. In the past, to avoid looking weird at these moments you would light up a cigarette. Now you aren't some man sitting by himself doing nothing. You are smoking.

Today smoking in public places has largely been outlawed. Smoking has been replaced by looking at your cell phone. Today while you are waiting for the bartender to fill up the beer case you can't smoke but you can look busy by playing with your cell phone. Cell phones give an idle person something to do. 

Good bye Simone

In junior high school Mitchell Easton was president of the class. He seemed  destined to bring his leadership to the high school the next year. However, he surprised everyone by leaving public school altogether for a fancy prep school. This made it possible for other students to try their hands at being student council president, editor of the newspaper,  president of the honor society and other positions. All now within reach because the presumptive leader of the class was now gone to Chilton. 

And so it is with the departure of Simone Biles. For weeks she has been advanced as the name we will see again and again at the Olympics. The sportscasters at NBC Universal have been building her up all week. The greatest athlete in Olympics history. The legend upon which all women will now be judged.   And now the fall. Mitchell Easton is gone. 

Now is the chance for other women gymnasts to shine. Mostly they will be Russian and Asian. 

Editor's note: So great to see Steve Kornacki in the Olympics coverage. I don't really understand everything he says but it's still great having him there. 

My children have four paws

 

I was walking through a parking lot yesterday and I saw the above glued to someone's windshield. I was a little disturbed at first. I know that when a child has a disability it can be a serious matter. Still I guess telling the world that your children have anthropomorphic hands seems a bit much for me. The poor children will be made fun of at school and nobody knows how successful surgery will be to cure this condition. If the children can write, work with a plastic surgeon may be viewed as cosmetic only, and the insurance company will not pay. 

I wish luck to the parents who have to live with this condition in their progeny.  Good luck buying shoes.