Out and About – Week of May 6th

There are many people who lack common sense. I’ve mentioned this several times. A friend sent me this obituary that was apparently printed in the London Times. Whether it was or wasn’t is not important, but what it says does make a lot of sense. Perhaps we can all learn something from it, and if it pertains to some of us, perhaps we can do something to correct the issue. Here is the obituary:

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as :

Knowing when to come in out of the rain.
Why the early bird gets the worm.
Life isn’t always fair.
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his five stepchildren, I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, I’m A Victim, and Pay Me For Doing Nothing.

Not many attended his funeral, because so few realized he was gone.

Life is short. If you can’t laugh at yourself, call me, I will.

The Annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is happening this Saturday, May 11. All you need to do to participate is place several bags of non-perishable food next to your mailbox. Your mail carrier will pick it up and see that it is taken to the Three Rivers Food Site. What a great way to help those in need. A good idea would be to start collecting items that are on sale as “Buy One, Get One Free”. Everyone wins by doing this.

Ban pre-shredded cheese. Make America grate again.

See you Out and About!

Submittted by Norm Stutesman