The Call

I have noticed recently that my cell phone is rarely used for calls anymore. I get more texts and emails than calls. I do know why. This is the generation of being impersonal. Texts and emails hide many things. They hide your voice, your emotions and your personality. God forbid I heard happiness, sadness, or anger in a caller. I remember the movie " Doctor Strangelove". The President of the United States asks Larry Hagman to convey the emotions of the Russian President during a phone call after a Nuclear strike has occurred. Imagine that today. Sorry, Mr. President but the text is in capital letters. I'm not quite sure what that means. I am definitely "old school". I want to hear a person's voice. I want them to hear mine. Pauses in a conversation speaks volumes. Not so in a text. Happiness in a voice will never be replaced by a smiley face. Laughter will never be the same as "LOL or LMAO". Call me. Speak to me. Let me use my minutes with someone on the other end.

My Ten Most Memorable Smells

10. Garbage on the street

9. My horrendous stinky feet

8. Hot sidewalks after a summer shower

7. Cookies and Pies baking in the oven

6. Leaves burning in the fall air

5. Pine Trees anywhere

4. Popcorn popping

3. The Beach anytime, anywhere

2. A New Born Baby

1. The One You Love

Just a Kid

"Just a Kid" The universal excuse for bad behavior. Unfortunately, once a person gets to be a teen this excuse should cease to be used. I have learned from my many years that as one ages their behavior should reflect their maturity. A kid acts like he does because he is immature and hasn't experienced patterns of behavior out in society. Teens should have been taught basic rules of decorum and courtesy. Young adults, especially men, still exhibit some juvenile behavior but no excuse is available. People as they age and mature should show their ability to deal with situations. There is no excuse that comes to the rescue of adults, especially older ones. Just admit it. They're rude, ignorant individuals who haven't matured and didn't learn anything as they grew up. I'm sorry but "Just an adult" doesn't cut it.

The Find

My wife and I watched the movie "Letters to Juliet" last week. It takes place in Verona, Siena and Tuscany. It invoked memories of our honeymoon trip to Italy. We went for 15 days and stayed in private apartments in each of the four cities we visited. The trip was incredible and fulfilled one of my wife's lifelong desires. The flight from Philadelphia to Da Vinci airport was eventful as many are. One of the radars for transoceanic flights malfunctioned and after 30 minutes we had to turn around and return to Philly. When you arrive in DaVinci airport you still have to take a train to get to Rome. The trick was to find the correct train, board on time and actually arrive in Rome. We did it. Now the fun part was to find our apartment in the Piazza Di Popolo. It was necessary to take a subway from downtown Rome to the Piazza. We spoke very little Italian and the Romans knew we were Americans. The act of getting information was tedious at best. Once at the Piazza the real test came. We needed to find the street of our apartment. After having traveled, it seemed forever, and lugging luggage around we tried to read the street map in the dying light as night was approaching quickly. My wife led the way and we arrived to our new home. The stays in Siena, Monterosso and Venice were equally challenging. Italy was beautiful. We had a great time. The time spent finding our apartments was the best part of the trip.It was challenging and rewarding for doers like Lea and me. Of course the best find was my Vo!