I’ve learned some lessons in this life.
Some I can even share.

Here’s some of them.

This past weekend my bride went to a funeral service for a member of an organization of which she’s the president. It turns out the woman who passed was the mother of a classmate of mine. Her daughter and I went to grade school together.

So of course when my wife introduces herself to the family and expresses her condolences, my classmate, who I haven’t seen in years, promptly tells her that I was the first boy she ever kissed.
In kindergarten!

Later I was asked if I remembered “the kiss”.
Life lesson #1.
A 5 year old gentleman never tells.
It’s the code.
Never tell or don’t recall – same difference.
Chivalry ain’t dead yet.

Oh, and another one, people sometimes say the oddest thing at funerals. So, I ran into this guy at a funeral…
That’s number 2.

Another lesson learned came from my friend Frank.

Frank is in his mid eighties now and his health right now isn’t too good. But the advice he once gave me is as sound today as it was a few years ago.

Frank said to me, ” Young man, (it was just a couple of years ago) no matter what the situation, always smile. Nod your head to show you’re listening and if anyone gets upset with you, always apologize.”

I often watched him put his words into practice.
It was a sight to behold.
And no matter how often someone did actually get upset with him that feeling never lasted.
How could it?

He always smiled, always nodding his head as if in agreement.
And he apologized!
He’d say “If you apologize, what can they do?”
Kind of like, “asking for forgiveness is better than asking permission.”
Anyway, it’s good life advice.

Another thing about Frank.
He was extremely hard of hearing. If you were a few feet away, he couldn’t hear you at all.
A symptom I sometimes exhibit and which my friends can easily relate.

Sometimes I’m sure I’m nodding in agreement about something and in turns out that I didn’t quite hear what the other person said correctly.
Or at all.

No matter.
I’m smiling.
What did you say?
I apologize!

JT

french kiss