Chocolate Ice Cream Sings!

by Irwin Lengel
(Lakeland, FL)

July 29, 2012

This was sent to me via an email and while I made a few minor changes, it sort of explains, in my humble opinion, the way we should look at life once we reach a certain age. On second thought, why not look at life this way no matter what age we are? You decide!

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

One day I had lunch with some friends. Jim, a short, balding golfer type about 80 years old, came along with them---all in all, a pleasant bunch.

When the menus were presented, we ordered salads,
sandwiches, and soups, except for Jim who said, "Ice Cream, two scoops – chocolate, Please”.

I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others
were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie," Jim
added, completely unabashed.

We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did
this all the time... But when our orders were brought out, I didn't enjoy mine.

I couldn't take my eyes off Jim as his pie a-la-mode went down. The other guys couldn't believe it. They ate their lunches silently and grinned.

The next time I went out to eat, I called and invited Jim. I lunched on white meat tuna. He ordered a parfait. I smiled. He asked if he amused me I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me.

How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible? He laughed and said "I'm tasting all that is possible.

I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I
should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate
missing out on something good.

This year I realized how old I was. (He grinned) I
haven't been this old before."

"So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many trout streams I haven't fished. There are more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead.

There are too many golf courses I haven't played.
I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of sporting events and potato chips and cokes.

I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace.

I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want un-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most.

I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind on my face. I want to be in love again.

So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having
dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired."

With that, I called the waitress over... "I've
changed my mind,” I said. "I want what he is
having, only add some more whipped cream!"

This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends
Day! Live well, love much & laugh often - Be
happy.

Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we like and respect. Remember that while money talks,
CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SINGS!

And with that, allow me to end this post with the following thought for today:

Life is a continuous process of getting used to things we hadn't expected.

Hope you enjoyed my two cents...read on!

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Catching the Raining Chocolates & Blue Berries....
by: Retd. Prof. Mr. Durgesh Kumar Srivastava, New Delhi, India.

The Indian society has many strange traditions. One of them is that in most places a boy and a girl cannot meet and be with one another after they reached a certain age.

So, here were a boy and girl GOLA and PINNI who were attracted to each other but could not meet. They were neighbors, there was just one house between their houses. That house belonged to an old man who lived there alone. The lovers decided to enlist the support of the old man, they called Chacha Ji (Hindi for Uncle). Chacha ji was a wise and seasoned man and knew all the tricks. He showed them the way. The way was to communicate in languages spoken by animals and birds.

The girl would call out in the language of the Koyal bird .... cookooo ... cookooo. Chacha ji would call out in his own animal language .... Huaa... huaa .... (like a male fox) The boy would at once come to Chacha ji's compound and give his own call sign .... guttargoo .... guttargooo ..... The girl will then throw Jamun (blue berries) from across her high wall, which the boy and Chacha Ji would sit and eat together in the midst of lots of laughter and merry making. On other days, the boy would have chocolate candies to throw across the wall to Chachaji and the girl sitting under the high wall between the boy's house and Chachaji's house. Chacha ji and the girl enjoyed the rain of chocolates.

However, in deference to Indian social tradition, Chacha ji never allowed the boy and the girl to come together to his house. Chacha Ji died long ago. The lovers somehow could not be united. That boy is my childhood friend. We know nothing about the whereabouts of that girl. When we meet we remember Chacha Ji with love. We laugh at the way Chacha Ji got free Jamun, chocolate candies and other goodies. He drank with joyful abandon the sweet nectar of life in his old age.
To No Body, Gordon, and Wendy
by: Irwin Lengel

Thank you for your comments.

Each of you are absolutely correct.

A good traveler in life enjoys the journey, not just the destination. And the fact that we are retired makes the journey all the sweeter.
Wonderful tale
by: Gordon G Kinghorn

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this article, a joy in the very least, it made my day, a great lesson for us all.
Retirement +
by: My Name is No Body

Now, I do all the activities after my retirement onward 65+ which were a sort of forbidden during my youth , without any remorse.

Wendy: And THAT, my friends, is what retirement is all about!! Doing what you want to do, when you want to do it -- but you DO have to DO IT (not just sit there).

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