If I had my way
John E. Peterson, Special to The Gazette
Originally published 02:00 p.m., May 29, 2008
Updated 02:00 p.m., May 29, 2008
It is very nice to have people recognize me as the “If I had my way” person. Many say it to me on the street, many of whom I do not even know. Some even write it and and put my name with it.
For example, Susan Moran, the executive director of SOS, did just that in the January number of SOS Signal, the little SOS newsletter. In her report about some activities with some city officials, she said, “We had a chance to talk about the many ways in which our programs impact the community and, to paraphrase John Peterson, if I had my way, you would understand as well.”
How nice to have my name and those words appear in other people’s writing. It means they read these trivial columns I write. Thanks, Susan!
The basketball season is over. Therefore, it is past time to share responses from the games. There was a Sunday game just after the Thursday when my column about wearing shorts had appeared. I was sitting at that Sunday game eating my usual Polish dog sandwich before the game started. Our seats are on the back row. A lady passed by, leaned down and said, “I don’t like droopy shorts, either.”
Later, at the half time of that same game, I was out in the hall. A gentleman said to me, “I see you don’t have your shorts on today. It is almost nice enough weather so that you could be wearing them.” Three other people said “If I had my way” things to me at that same game.
More about the shorts column. The monthly Retired Teachers luncheon meeting was on the Friday after that column appeared the night before. At the luncheon, a lady asked me why I did not have shorts on. I told her that it was still winter and not shorts season yet. Several other people at that same luncheon made comments about the shorts column. Richard Keeling, for example, told me that he totally agreed with me about the sloppiness of the shorts being worn today.
And a few days later, at another meeting, Mary Stauffer told me I should be wearing shorts so that other people could see the great-looking legs I was told about. I thanked her, but said that my “sexy legs” were of many years ago. Now, they are just old man’s legs.
Since I have mentioned the Friday Retired Teachers luncheon, permit me to say a bit more about the responses I get there. Often it is the day after a column has appeared just the evening before.
At a recent such meeting, Mildred Caldwell came up to me and told me that, if she had her way, I would keep on doing these columns for years. At that same meeting, Meredith Bechtel told me how much she enjoyed my columns and the things I write. Three or four others commented about my columns at that same meeting. Thank you Mildred, Meredith and others. Your comments make me feel good about these trivial columns.
I went into Graves to pick up one of my routine prescriptions. There were several people at the prescription counter, so I had to wait a bit. There are two chairs there for those who are waiting. An older lady was in each of them.
After I stood there for just a minute or so, one of those ladies got up and said that I should have her chair. She said, “If I had my way, you would be sitting while you wait.” I thanked her and declined her offer. My prescription came up right away.
I did have a bit of difficulty in thinking that this little old lady felt I deserved the chair more than she did. Even if she had her way. I was very pleased, however, that she recognized me and used my words.
Loren Johnson of Long Beach, Calif., reads The Gazette and my columns. He once lived in this area. He has responded to my columns several times.
Recently, he sent a big envelope full of things he thought I would like to read. I did enjoy them, but there was nothing I could write about in a column.
Thank you, Loren, for reading my columns and The Gazette. And thank you for being stimulated to send me responses. That would continue — and others would keep responding, too — if I had my way.
I have told you before that I get many comments about my columns from people at the Presbyterian Manor. That is where we go over for dinner most evenings. There are several comments on the Thursday evenings when Fletcher Helton sits at the same table we do. He has given me many complimentary comments. In fact, after the last column, he commented on it three of the next four evenings. I wonder if he really likes it or just wanted to get his name in the paper.
I am kidding, Fletcher. I know you are serious. You would keep on boosting my ego, if I had my way.
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