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Things I Count On
As I
weave my way through life, there are things I count on. They are
stepping stones in my path I don’t worry about, like:
1)
Where I am going to spend eternity.
2)
My wife will always love me.
3)
The airplane pilots know what they are doing. I get on an average of 175
flights a year.
But
if I had any concern about whether the pilots stayed up all night
partying or were visiting on their cell phone while we were trying to
land, I think I’d start packing a parachute!
I
have a friend in the entertainment business who could fly commercial,
but doesn’t. He’s not comfortable putting his life in their hands, I
guess. I’m philosophical about his fears. Then again, I don’t eat
Italian food. I’m not sure if that’s a phobia or a preference. Maybe
some Dramamine would help us both!
4)
I count on my best horse bein’ steady on the course. He’s good
around cows, cars, cameras, kids, corrals, dogs and wire. Though I
follow the admonition to "always be ridin’ your horse," ‘cause
rattlesnake "shys" and backfire "bolts" can happen
to even the best of horses.
5)
I count on certain politicians, broadcasters and public figures to be
there to lend continuity, whether I agree with them or not…Barbara
Walters, Ralph Nader, Orion Samuelson, Mayor Daly, Sean Connery, Cotton
Rosser, Bennie Beutler, Wayne Vold, Tony Bennett, Fidel Castro, Elmer
Kelton, Wally McRae, Paul Harvey.
6)
I count on America’s resilience. If I ever doubted the United States
has been the greatest contributor to the cause of good (as in Good vs.
Evil) on earth for the last 100 years, I would move…but where would I
go?
7)
I even count on the stupefying, partisan political process to continue
governing us. As an old cab driver in Washington D.C. told me once,
"I voted for Reagan. Next time I vote for Mondale." I asked
why. "Never let ‘em get a foothold, son, never let ‘em get a
foothold."
In
contrast, there are some things I don’t count on:
1)
Rain
2)
Bureaucratic efficiency. From the local Motor Vehicle Office to the
F.D.A. If you ever get your question answered or your problem solved on
the first phone call, you should bronze your speed dial!
3)
My dog. He’s trained about as well as I was when I was three, and he
has the attention span of a Bartlett pear! |
