Between the Bridges: Brrrrrrrr….
Last week I was preoccupied with giddy thoughts of what I would do with all my new found wealth after winning the $1.4 billion dollar lottery. My head was filled with visions of enjoying the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Nightly dining at Masa’s in Manhattan which serves some of the most exquisite and exclusive cuisine in the world instead of a monthly visit to the Empire Buffet in Howard Beach. Frequent and lengthy jaunts to faraway tropical island paradises via my personal yacht instead of our annual pilgrimage via the NY Thruway to the Irish Alps up in East Durham. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was thinking to myself, “Ah yes, you are destined to be wealthy!” My daughter Amy must have gotten wind of all this because she called from Ohio warning me not to get too worked about this. “Dad, if you did actually win you would probably have a heart attack and the only trip you’ll take is to the emergency room where all your fine dining will consist solely of hospital food.” Perhaps it’s just as well I didn’t win.
Ever since 2012 when Sandy left us in a house without heat or power I have developed an almost obsessive disdain for cold weather. Now, to make matters worse, we have entered the coldest time of the year known as the “Dead of Winter” which is the period of winter from January 10th through February 10th when normal temperatures are at their lowest of the season. Although Grace and the girls have always viewed me as sort of a “year round curmudgeon” they have also stated that I have become especially grumpy during the cold winter months.
My youngest daughter, Vicky, who is attending college majoring in health, advised me that I was probably depressed and suffering from a mood disorder known as “SAD” or seasonal affective disorder. She stated that there are medications that could help with this issue. I told her that “SAD” is nothing more than an overblown label for the garden-variety winter blahs. After all, once the holidays fade from the rear view mirror of our lives and all that holly jolly novelty’s worn off, don’t most of us just want to fast track to spring? C’mon, what kind of sick individual likes chapped lips? As long as everyone keeps their hands off the thermostat and my gas fireplace on the second floor I don’t need no stinking medication!
Speaking of thermostats, the price of a barrel of crude dipped below $30 late last week and there is continuing speculation that it could drop even further to $20 or perhaps even $10. The crash in the price of a barrel of crude allowed me to recently schedule a delivery of 150 gallons of home heating oil for $200 ($1.33 a gallon). Might I also mention that the price of gas at local area stations is running at $2.05 and over in Brooklyn gas can be had for $1.91! On second thought, maybe things aren’t as bad as I thought. When I realized that there was an upside to this winter season I got up from the desk, grabbed my cane and started dancing the “Nae Nae” while singing the lyrics from Pharrel Williams song “Happy.” Watching me hobble about the house singing out loud both Grace and Vicky agreed that they felt there was something seriously defective with the wiring between my ears. I told them they should get over themselves because they were just jealous that the old guy knew how to dance the “Nae Nae” with a cane!
Broad Channel – why would anyone want to live anywhere else?
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