Does this truck have Criminal stenciled on it?

Needing quarters for the washing machine here at the complex; I took a short venture. Uptown across from Stanbury Park  to the car wash. Feed the machine a 10 and get my quarters. Proceed to wash and wax the little truck. Yes, the dragon needed a bath. On the way home I pull into above mentioned park, pull to a stop in the sun to help dry the dragon. I then back into a parking spot in the shade for a quick coffee break. I had no idea I had broken the law. Shortly; say 5 minutes in; the Sheriffs Deputy pulls in and stops right in front of me. The officer (use that word loosely) approaches my truck and asks for id. Now everything with the vehicle is legit, save for the missing front license plate. As I hand him my drivers license he asks "Why do you hang in the park so much?" I answer out of respect and courtesy "Well I live about 2 blocks that way... and like to come to the park once in a while." He proceeds to tell me its a nice park, but there is a dark side here. I think it was at that point he asked me do you have any needles in the truck. By this time I felt violated and harassed. Is there a law about hanging out in the city park? I did, at one point think that is what parks are for. After about 25 or 30 minutes the cop did hand me back my license, at the same time asking "Have you ever been arrested for drugs?" Ensuing a brief conversation of a possession charge back in '81. Obviously he has "privy" to these things. Before he walked away there was the question "no weed in the vehicle?" Needless to say my 'coffee break' was ruined.  Oh I forgot to mention there was one comment about the missing front license plate. When told I would replace it in a month when my registration comes up; he responded "thats just the registration, you can get a sticker." I did respond well I am getting plates since I need a front one. (very bizzare if you ask me)

What in the World Happened?

     My heroes growing up? Well there was Popeye, Yosemite Sam, Batman (of course) the list does go on. Do pay attention though, all my heroes where surrounded with violence; and yet I grew up to be a rather Nonviolent individual. Oh and my #1 hero, my dad; owned a recreational fire arm, drank beer, rode a dirt bike and cursed alot (especially when he was repairing his dirt bike)...   All the elements are there... following my heroes I should at least be carrying a weapon. So what happened? What I don't understand in today's youth is the need to be "bad". Several mass killings at schools in the past 10 or so years, hear in the news kids involved in homicides, arrested for carrying an unregistered hand gun, rape and murder, its just a shot away... oh, sorry Rolling Stones; we will cover in another post. Back to the subject at hand, I do see one marked difference. I got by butt (stronger term needed here) whipped with a belt, when necessary. Maybe an 'example' for my brother and sister; I don't remember them getting beat (oops, harsh term) call it "getting corporal punishment". Are the kids taking over? Who's in charge here? After a while (5th grade or so) I did not like school anymore, but I certainly never got the idea to come in with an automatic rifle and kill. I never had the idea in my head that carrying a fire arm was "cool". My dad's pistol was in the house, I was sneaky enough to take it and go to school with it, but I guess I had enough intelligence to not do that. Is there something in the Book of Revelations about kids taking over near the end? Or did I miss that?

 

Making a choice

I've talked about shopping disasters, now a little on the other side.

I come home, back up the hill thinking I'm hungry. Its about 6pm and all I have eaten today was a bowl of grits this morning; figure, I need some food. So, I am driving right past a group of fast food places, Wendy's is on my mind. Well wouldn't you know it, I drive right past my favorite burger joint. Had driving on my mind I guess. I figure, no problem, I'll just go past my place, block around and back to Wendy's. Come to a traffic light and right across the road in the same square sits Dominoes and Subway, side by side. Think, its been a while since I did Subway, across the street I go, park and walking up think again. Wonder if Dominoes has any pizza for 8 bucks (that's all I had on me). Walk in stood there for a long moment, reading the menu on the wall, this that the next, lowest price I see is $5 but that's only if you buy a large pizza for $9. Mind you no one has come to the counter to help me so I turn around and next door I go. Some one did say something to the effect of "can I help..." as I walked out the door, I don't have the time, my mind is already made up; loser, too late. Walk into Subway, immediately greeted with a "can I help you, I'll be right with you." The young lady was at the sink washing her hands.  Menu on the wall has about 4 subs on it top of the sign says $5 foot long, $3.75 for the 6 inch. Do the math, I order the cold cut foot long. Now if you have been to Subway, I'm sure you have, its not just order and go... what kind of bread? and then you choose all the toppings. Wheat, just load it up I say, oh hold the tomatoes. Pull out the fin in my wallet, and a single, to cover change over $5. The young lady says, that'll be 5 dollars. Does it get any simpler than this?  Pay $5 (no tax) and go home. Sat at the table, ate till I couldn't eat no more, and guess what... I still have 1/2 a sub. Subway scored big points with me yesterday. :)  I did not get payed to write this brief episode of
"Neo shopping for dinner."                                                     


Little post script here, at the Subway there were 2 employees, the young lady that helped me, and a young man, he was obviously being trained by her. They looked so much alike they could have been brother and sister... twins at that, I asked are you 2 related, she said no. Weird.