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Mint Condition...repost #8....mood lightener
| Open Poetry #12 |
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Mint Condition...repost #8....mood lightener |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA 
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I'd had some major problems. I was really feeling down. I gave a call to grandpa on the other side of town. He always had a calming style that made me feel good. If anyone could ease my pain I knew ole grandpa could. I met him in a restaurant in the ritzy part of town. He saw me enter, called my name and waved me to sit down. The restaurant was completely filled and I felt out of place But instantly was more at home by grandpa's smiling face. "So tell me, Mike, what's got you down to make you feel so bad?" So I began recounting all the rotton luck I'd had. I'd lost my job, my girl left town, my whole life was a mess. My cheekbones drooped in sadness and my body slumped in stress. So I began recounting all the things that had gone wrong My voice down to a whimper as I sang my tragic song. I then looked up at grandpa to be sure he heard me well And what I saw made my mouth drop as I said, "What the hell.....?" Gramps had laid down on its side a shaker full of salt And, balancing a spoon on top, he'd made a catapult! He took an after-dinner mint and, with a lack of class, He hit the spoon and tried to flip the damn thing in his glass!  I could not quite believe my eyes! I mean, this place had class And there was grandpa flipping mints into his water glass! I almost slid beneath the table. How embarrasing! And, from the looks of other patrons, they thought that same thing. Gramps saw a stuffed shirt watching him with disapproving eye And said, "You think it's easy, bud? Let's see you give a try." The last thing that I would expect at that point came to pass... The guy made his own catapult and tried to hit the glass!! Another table tried....and then another! What a sight! Before long half the restaurant was flipping with delight! There were groans from nearly misses - cheers whenever someone scored. The tears were streaming dowm my face because I laughed so hard!  The management, outraged at first, at what was going on Joined in because their clientele was having so much fun. They sent pads to each table to be used for keeping score And sent the waiters out to pick the mints up off the floor. The dance band gave a drum roll and, whenever one went in, The leader banged the cymbals with a horrifying din! Free drinks awarded to each mint that settled in a glass And I could not contain myself. It really was a gas!  I laughed. Oh, how I laughed! My sides were aching with the pain. I looked at gramp's excited face and then I laughed again. The farce went on for hours and I had laughed so hard I cried! They all bid gramps a fond farewell and then we stepped outside. "I'm sorry, Mike" he told me "but with all this silliness I plumb forgot to listen to the reasons for your stress. Let's have a cup of coffee at the diner down the way And you can tell me all your problems there..so whatcha say?" "You DOLT!", I laughed, "I can't feel sad. You ruined it for me! How can I think unhappy thoughts with such tomfoolery? I haven't laughed this much since I was just a little child! Can't think of sad thoughts right now." "Is that so?", my grandpa smiled.  For weeks on when I thought of problems that I'd had that night I thought of grandpa flipping mints and chuckled with delight And, by the time the chuckles stopped and life had moved along, I realized to my surprise my problems had all gone. Since then I've never let events that I can not control Invade my mind in such a way I lose sight of my goal. When problems come from time to time to desecrate my day I think of grandpa flipping mints and smile them all away. |
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| © Copyright 2001 Michael Mack - All Rights Reserved | |||
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
well I for one loved this........and will save it, frame it and have it on a shelf to read...I don't know if you are telling a made up tale or not but it sure brightened my day *s thank you ~Wynter "The worst prison would be a closed heart". ...Pope John Paul II |
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
how delightful, michael! i remember this one! excellent advice and so nice to see you posting again! this one really cheered me up and i needed that today!!! *wink* thank you, my 'deer sweet poet! (((hugs)))  |
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bslicker 
since 2000-12-04
Posts 2321state of mind |
With this write you have made me smile today already. After reading, i can close my eyes and picture this all happening.. But isn't just amazing how the mind from an elder can make one learn. Bernie |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Grandpas....mints....goofing off....great memories....smiling here {~,^} |
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Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
'Deer love, truly excellant work, I was laughing till I cried. And I've actually forgotten why I was even down. Didn't I say you had a gift love, and there it is on display, giving us all the smiles we need. Thank you for this one love Take care love Mushy < !signature--> Take back the hope you gave,- I claim Only a memory of the same Robert Browning [This message has been edited by Marsha (edited 01-27-2001).] |
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Mark Bohannan Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269In the winds of Cherokee song |
OMG sir.......you have no idea how rewarding this little jewel of yours has made my day. I can see the whole scene and I do believe that your Gramps knew exactly what he was doing when he started the whole thing. What a wonderful way to celebrate life. A good laugh and the free spirit to share it. Excellent read. Still chuckling!!!!  If you find yourself stranded in a storm ...then reach for my hand and we will play in the puddles together |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Since I've spent part of the day flipping fingers (at least mentally... I DO need my job! LOL) I needed a trip to mint-flipping. *G* Thanks for the grins again! |
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Cerenity Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 2637Escondido-California |
My dear friend, < !signature-->I have been reading poetry this morning but have had so much STUFF on my mind I have not been able to find just the right words for replys, and then I saw MOOD LIGHTENER and of coarse here I am and with tears and all you have done such wonders, thank you so very much Love, Cerenity "God doesn't have to be reminded that we exist. We have to be reminded that He exist!" (Writer Unknown) [This message has been edited by Cerenity (edited 01-26-2001).] |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Delicious...delightful! |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
wynter...no, just imagination...but I'm glad it brightened your day...thank you! Doreen...I am SO glad I could do something to cheer you up...you deserve it!! Hugs back to ya!! Bernie....yep, sure is..sometimes wisdom DOES come with age, after all. Thank you, sir Sunshine....grandpas are definitely reasons to bring many smiles....glad I could bring one to you Mushy...that's the idea! Forget why you're down! Eureka!!! It works! LOL! Thnak you, sweet lady Mark...I'm so glad it brought a laugh! Yep, I can picture it, too....was chuckling when I wrote it.....thank you, sir! suthern girl...your job is mental finger flipping? Sounds Impressive!!! LOL! Glad you enjoyed, my girl cerenity...a comment like yours makes it more than worthwhile to write. I thank you VERY much, my friend. Temptress....and the same to you |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
such vivid images you conjured in my mind...i, for one, will love to witness old granddaddy flipping his mints... life seems so much easier, less complicated after reading your piece..thank you.. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
One of my favorites!! Thanks for the smile! Denise |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Absolutely a mood lightener! Great and fun to read. My Grandpa could do that for me too, though not in the same hilarious way. Thanks for the lift. Sandra |
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Mr.Magoo Member
since 2001-01-20
Posts 104 |
RIGHT ON GRAMPA!!! Mr.Balladeer you`ve doen a excellent job at putting this one on canvas. I could see all that took place in that resturant thru your words. Thank you Sir for the laughs. Mr.Magoo |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Balladeer, it's no wonder you love fishing you can reel them in without trying and then you tell the biggest farradiddles and make them sound believable. Oh how I laughed this! write on Kethry Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life. Patty Hansen. |
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Passions Voice Member
since 2000-10-23
Posts 291Michigan |
Wow, I needed this today. See what happens when you have a little time on your hands?? You find a great poem. Thanks! passion is life. . . ~Diana |
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Charisma
since 2000-09-30
Posts 5906lost in blue pages |
oh Deer thank you for sharing these wonderful creation, love your grandpa, may I borrow him for a while, I never had knew my grandpa but I would wish that he was like yours. |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
I got a great laugh out of this one Mike I can always visualize those kinds of situations.......you do have a great imagination my good man...and you even got away with calling your Grandfather a dolt now there's a trick many wouldn't dare try...I really enjoyed the read very much....ethome |
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