Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain

Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain

Hey! It’s me, TC. I’m here running the show and I feel like the Wizard of Oz these days.

You see, Darcy is off on the vacation of a lifetime and I’m here pushing the buttons and pulling the levers trying to keep everything running before Darcy returns to Kanas…err I mean Michigan.

That’s right. I’m here holding down the fort. I guess you never appreciate people like you should until they’re gone. From trying to keep up with the email, filling all the orders, answering your questions, making daily posts, writing newsletters, doing sessions, and keeping up with bills, I’m trying to do it all. Am I succeeding? I hope so! I will sure be glad when Darcy’s back. I’m old and I’m tired, I tells ya.

Darcy said she was going to get a special SIM card for her phone so she could text and keep in touch. Well, she’s been gone a week now, and guess how many times I’ve heard from her? Close your eyes. What do you see? NOTHING. I have heard nothing from her! She must be having the time of her life.

Woe is me. NOT!

Darcy is overseas doing as the Romans do, while I feel like the man behind the curtains… pulling all the levers and pushing all the buttons. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtains”

I’m not complaining I’m just letting you that this old man, the one you know as TC, is hoping none of you notice anything is different.

If you don’t notice anything different, then I’m doing OK.

But these long days that run into the evenings are tough on an old codger like me, Nope… I’m not complaining, I’m lucky enough to have most of my marbles left and that I can still touch type even with my arthritic fingers. Darcy will be gone for another eight days… so keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I’m sure I’ll need all the blessings and heavenly help I can get.

Being an old coot doesn’t have any advantages that I’m aware of… and I’ve been an old coot for a while now.

You know how you know you’re old? You know you’re old when you notice the adult diaper section at Walmart is larger than the baby diaper section. Heck, until a few years ago, I never noticed the adult diaper section at all. There must be a lot of incontinence in the world… I wonder if I’m headed there. Can it please wait until Darcy gets back?

You know, I’m so old I can remember the X-ray machines in shoe stores. The ones they used to make sure shoes fit correctly.

I’m so old, I can remember getting up to change the channel on my TV… there were no remotes!

I can remember helping my friend with his newspaper route. We used to fold up the newspapers into little squares, load them into canvas bags, hook them to our bicycles, and fling the folded newspapers on peoples’ porches as we buzzed down the sidewalks on our bikes.

I can remember when there were pay phones on every corner and in front of many stores.

I can remember when phone numbers started with words like MAIN, BUTTERFIELD, CLIFTON, etc. For example, Main 9580. You’d dial MA for Main then the number.

I can remember when there were no bicycle helmets and no child seats. Yet, somehow I survived.

I can remember being a smoker and sitting in restaurants smoking. Back then, every table had an ashtray.

I remember smoking on airplanes. Can you imagine?

I remember pulling into a gas station (then called “filling stations”) and having the attendant fill the tank, clean the windshield, and check the oil – back when gasoline was 24 cents a gallon.

I guess I’m just wanting to let you know that this old dude is running the show and I’m hoping none of you even notice. If that’s the case then I’m doing a good job and Darcy will be amazed when she returns.

I try not to think of her touring Italy, eating Gamberi Rossi di Mazara del Vallo and Ossobuco alla Milanese while I nibble on a cold Whopper and a bag of soggy fries – dropping crumbs of food on my laptop while trying to keep our little business going.

As long as I can take care of you and all our friends, I’m happy – no matter how many hours a day I work. I still love what I do and I know Darcy loves it too.

So, for now, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain… he’s doing his best and counting the hours until Darcy returns from her trip of a lifetime.