Time Marches On
By Don Shearon
First Published March 6, 1973
Lady Luck can play a major role in arranging the destinies of men.
Capricious, as traditionally is expected of the female of the species, Lady Luck can beam warmly upon you today, then deliver a karate chop tomorrow.
One fellow of my acquaintance was Lady Luck’s favorite beneficiary just recently.
The story began about seven years ago, when this chap’s family moved into its present home. In the basement laundry room they found hot and cold water faucets sticking out of a wall, a floor drain suitably distanced below, and nothing in between.
The Lady of the Household grew wary of water splashing all over the basement and pleaded for the installation of a laundry tub, a sink or anything else that might put things right.
Our Hero absentmindedly promised to do something about it.
Weeks fled by; months vanished from the calendar; years advanced.
Time marches on!
The Lady of the Household acquired a kitchen sink left over from a remodeling job. She led Our Hero to the basement laundry room and pointed, wordlessly.
Our Hero absentmindedly promised to do something about it.
Weeks fled by; months vanished from the calendar; years advanced.
Time marches on!
Finally, some months ago, Our Hero spotted his favorite sanitary engineer in a restaurant, told him there was a small job waiting, just whenever he found time.
Weeks fled by; months vanished from the calendar.
Time Marches On!
The anniversary date of His Lady’s birth approached. Our Hero was without an idea for a remembrance, since no hints had been planted. He sweated it out.
Came the natal date. That favorite sanitary engineer called to offer his services.
That evening, Our Hero led His Lady to the basement laundry room, struck a dramatic pose beside the installed sink he had decorated with a big red bow and a sentimental card.
His Lady’s reaction to this performance? I’ll fill you in, just as soon as the bandages are removed and he can talk coherently once again.
In 1974, former president, Richard M. Nixon was hospitalized with phlebitis, a serious condition in which the walls of a vein become inflamed. Not everyone was sympathetic, as this extremely short column indicates.
First Published October 1, 1974
That pre-schooler down the block can’t understand why such a fuss is being made about former president Nixon being in the hospital for phlebitis treatment.
Because, he says, he has the same problem now and then and no one make a big deal of it.
It happens almost every time the neighbor’s dog.
Then, he says, “Flea bite us.”
