Pappa Hardy's Musings on Life.

As a mathematician, I always thought that the law of averages would indicate somehow (silly me) that things would happen randomly of course (chaos theory) but that on average, every x number of minutes something would probably happen. Of course, life is full of surprises. For instance, if you are lucky enough to subscribe to cable TV movie channels, the Law of Real Life (my life anyway) states that if you turn on that movie channel, no matter what day, or time, you are not only going to turn it on to the same movie, but that movie is always going to be at about the same place you turned it on to last time.

Likewise, if you go on a cruise, you are going to see the same people, at the same places, over and over again. Of course, that is probably due to the fact that people have routines they get themselves into, but still, nothing seems to be random anymore. I call that the Law of Real Life.

As I get older, some things have become clearer, and clearer, at least when I can remember. When I was young, I wanted to experience new things. I listened to new music, I read new books, I learned new things.

Now, I look back on what new music I have had interest in during the last 10 to 20 years and I can’t think of a whole lot of new music that I care for. The same goes for a number of other things. When I do try some new music, it is rare and then only after I have thoroughly checked it out.

I call that the Law of Diminishing Returns. I am narrowing my focus. I am shying away from new things and new experiences. Yes, I do love to travel. That is probably the luxury that I have now, is learning about new places and seeing new things. I recently had been to the Caribbean, some place that I never had ever thought I would get to. I think as you get more stuffed with things and thoughts, and memories, you tend to try and make the focus and scope of the new things you do become smaller so you don’t suffer overload.

I sometimes think that the best thing that could happen on an ongoing basis is to stay at home every night, watch a little TV, and try to stay out of trouble. That sure is the reflection of someone growing old. It must be proof positive of the law of diminishing returns.

Why is it as I get older that I seem to focus more and more on the obituaries. It seems to be a truism of life. I read them, and the question is, is it because I have survived another day and not changed my state of existence, or is it because I fear I may be mentioned in that place in the newspaper soon.

Living is wonderful. I think I am afraid of the next step.

The last day of a cruise is a rather melancholy time for those of us who enjoy and savor the experience. You are feeling sad because the time has passed so quickly, and soon you will have to go back to the hum drum of everyday life. It has also been sad because I realize I will have to go back to work.

However, I am sure that the staff of a cruise ship can’t wait until we disembark. Why? Well, when we all get on the ship, we are still used to taking care of ourselves and carry on our everyday life. However, it is the nature of people to enjoy being waited on, and it becomes evident as we get closer to the end of a cruise.

I was just top side and it looked like a pig sty. That wasn’t because the staff was negligent in doing their job, rather, it is because we cruisers are all now used to dropping anything we are finished with, or leaving laying around anything we didn’t want to eat, glass or dish we have used, or towels we have no further need for. The staff just can’t work fast enough to keep up with the accumulated clutter. We have become a Ship of Slobs. The only difference between Princess and some of the more expensive cruise lines is there is less staff to deal with the crap that people leave laying around. If this were Holland America for instance, then the staff would be plentiful enough to clean up quickly after those who are no living the good life. Many of us haven’t lived the “good life”, and when we can become slobs we will.

I hate scales. Why in the heck do they have to be so truthful? Why is it that they tell you that you have gained some weight when in fact you are just sure that you have lost 5 pounds? I know that those darned scales have got to be lying to me. I am not that big, not really. I am sure that they manufacture scales just to afflict and torment man, at least those who tend to pay attention to them. There was a time when I didn’t way myself, sure that I was OK and things are right in my life. When I discovered all things weren’t right, and then became well acquainted with scales, that is when I realized that I Hate Scales.

Back in the ancient times, they supposedly worshipped the sun. We have tablets, and ruins of ancient civilizations where the sun was the center of their worship. I wonder if they had skin cancer then?

Today we have people who worship the sun. They are called people who go to a lake during the middle of the summer, burn their skins to a crisp through getting sun burns, all in the name of getting a little recreation. Recently we sat on the shore of one of our large lakes. I was sitting under a tent, hoping not to get burnt and I got burnt anyway. I worry about skin cancer, but I guess that wasn’t enough to make sure that I kept from getting burnt.