Have you ever lost hair? It is a scary feeling! One day some twenty-five years ago, in the midst of graduate work, I was sitting at my desk, head down, buried in my studies. Suddenly, I noticed little bristles falling in front of my face. I scratched my scalp and more hair rained down.
Mr. B always wanted to be a pianist, and not just a piano player -- a virtuoso. As a young child, he was performing; at eighteen he was the family’s main breadwinner. At twenty-six, however, his hearing became impaired and at thirty-two he came face-to-face with the stark realization that his hearing loss was incurable.
I thought I could run with the boys in the NBA until I faced one on the court. Rex was an eight-year veteran of the league and ten years my junior when he came to “our court” one Sunday afternoon. On "our court," bellies hang over shorts. On "our court," braces adorn bodies the way earrings do rock stars. One look at the personnel and it was obvious Rex was there for the run, not the competition. I had different ideas.
Headlights, streetlights, stoplights, flashlights, floodlights, neon lights, spotlights, searchlights!
The State of Florida enacted a new law on July 1, 1986. Not all responses were favorable. Some considered the legislation too confining, too restrictive, an infringement of their rights! Regardless of the feelings the law generated--everyone was obligated to comply. The new rule? Mandatory seat belt use!
If confidence had a face it would bear the likeness of Bud Abbott or Lou Costello. Legend has it the famed comedy team once took out a $100,000 insurance policy with Lloyds of London that guaranteed payment if any of their audience should die of laughter. Now that’s confidence!
