Having reached the ripe, old age of fifty-four, I like to think age and experience have given me a wealth of common sense. Having learned a goodly number of life lessons the hard way, there are certain things I just don’t do anymore because I know better.
I know better than to don my swim suit and go boating in the heat of a bright, August day without slathering on the sunscreen. So could someone explain why I merely applied (as opposed to slathered) sunscreen Sunday afternoon? And could someone explain why I am now sporting the mother of all sunburns on parts of my anatomy which shall remain nameless?
I also know better than to keep walking in the rain after the first flash of lightning, no matter how far away the lightning is. So could someone explain why, armed with my metal umbrella, I kept walking yesterday morning, even as the lightning flashed, albeit weakly? And could someone explain why I was three miles from home when the lightning picked up strength and I found myself uttering my most ridiculous prayer ever? Yes God, I’ve always wanted curly hair, but not today. Not like this.
Finally, after twenty-five years as an elementary teacher, I know better than to say any of the following to ten-year-olds in a recess line:
- Stop bouncing your balls.
- Hang onto your balls.
- Quit playing with your balls.
So could somebody tell me why I snapped this photo in the park (during yesterday’s lightning storm) and felt compelled to title today’s post Soggy Balls Litter High School Tennis Court?
Unless and until one of you comes up with a more sensible explanation, I’m blaming my lapse of common sense on post-wedding let down. And until my common sense returns, I’ll render myself harmless by bathing in sunscreen on sunny days, wearing a rubber wet suit during thunderstorms, and duct taping my mouth shut and my typing fingers together in the presence of spherical objects.
Sounds like a common sense solution to me.
