I can’t pinpoint exact times and places or relate word-for-word conversations, but I am pretty sure the topic of discussion between four young men in their late teens during any half-hour car ride I was ever involved in was probably centered on young women, and quite possibly, the physical attributes of same, along with the extent of their potential friendliness. These were always highly intelligent discussions, I can assure you of that.
Last night, I was part of a half-hour car ride with four men who range in age from 65 to 92. We yakked up a storm like a bunch of magpies in a maple tree in spring. I have no idea if magpies hang out in maple trees in spring or at any other time, but we’ll say they do.
Our sole subject, hotly debated by the occupants of the car: How best to remove a build up of wax from those two big ears on the sides of our heads.
I wouldn’t say any damage to friendships resulted from the lively back and forth, but if we had driven another half hour and stuck to the fundamental issue at hand, there might have been a broken heart or two when the ride ended and perhaps even men not speaking to men.
The one thing in our favour and the thing that prevented any breakdown in civility among us was the basic fact that none of us could hear what the others were saying at any given time.
All our ears were too full of wax!
What I am pretty sure of is the topic of women never even came up.
©2016 Jim Hagarty
