by Pat Laster
I can’t seem to get away from the subject of scrap metal, the term now preferred to ‘scrap iron’. One day recently, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette ran an article about two scrap metal thieves, ages 48 and 55. Criminy, fellows, get a life!! Oh. They already did.
However, my brother in CA told of a person he knows, a well-careered “suit,” who began collecting scrap on the side. One day, a colleague told him about some scrap in the company’s venue, giving the collector the understanding that he was OK-ing it, so our man took it home and added it to his collection. The rat-colleague then went to his boss, and our man was fired for stealing. Now, collecting is his sole income.
And if that weren’t enough, a recent crossword puzzle contained this clue: “Scrap yard material.” Answer M-E-T-A-L.
Just when I intended to segue into another subject, I see a one-sentence “brief” in Sunday’s paper. Two brothers, 24 and 25, were accused of stealing a western Pennsylvania bridge and selling the fifteen-and-a-half tons of scrap metal for more than $5,000! Geez Louise!
Grandson/ward Billy, 21, came home during Fall Break last week after I sent him gas money. He goes through funds like . . . like . . . like any college kid will if allowed. He insists band students do not have time for jobs; that his survey (as I asked him to do) showed many band students DON’T have jobs. I wonder how many marchers were in his poll.
Kid Billy wanted to see his Papa (his grandfather--my ex) so I told him to call and invite them to meet us somewhere for lunch on Sunday. Ex and long-time lady friend accepted and KB chose Colton’s. As the old newspaper columns about community happenings described events in their area, “a good time was had by all.” KB is back at Henderson with a fresh stash of cash. When I called to see if he’d gotten “home,” he was at Arkadelphia Wal-Mart “picking up some things.” See what I mean?
How about some mind-teasers?
First question: What do Tarwater, Tong, Ye, Push, Fudge, Ertel, Constantino, Seeds and Kyles have in common?
Second question: What do Jia-Li, Jannel, Japan, DeeKotah, Champion, Serif and Hero have in common?
Third question: Who said this? “Death is very likely the best invention of life. All pride, fear of embarrassment or failure, these things just fall away in the face of death.”
Fourth question: What do these words have in common? Twist, Jacinto, Gill, Ladds, Tomahawk, Elberta, Redding, Sage and Swan Lake?
Fifth question: What do these acronyms stand for? UNESCO, GRAIL, STRIVE.
Ready for the answers? First question answered: They are surnames as found in my reading of daily and weekly newspapers that come to Couchwood.
Second question answered: They are all given names from the same family as found in an obituary.
Third question answered: the late Steve Jobs.
Fourth question answered: Places in Arkansas at one time or another.
Fifth question answered: UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It “tiptoes through diplomatic minefields to maintain consensus.” Its stated mission is “the promotion of peace and human rights through cultural dialogue.” (AP)
GRAIL = Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory.
STRIVE = Special Training in Remedial Instruction and Vocational Education, a proposed charter school.
I wonder if Eureka Springs, Arkansas is as delightful in the fall as it is in the spring.
c 2011 by Pat Laster dba lovepat press
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