His attitude was generally flippant, often making light of serious or stressful situations. For example, there was the job interview in which he was asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” His response was, “Sitting where you are now while you bring me coffee with two sugars.”
Five years on, there he sat as the former interviewer asked if he would like some cookies with his coffee. Sometimes humour pays off.
Padre
A mere twelve words are far too few to write about brevity.
Padre
Quaint English village in its valley nest
Scene timeless – picturesque
Brook rushing to who knows where
Old stone bridge from which to fish or at the water stare
Quintessential pub for the locals to meet
Place for tourists to share experiences or eat
Despite its yesteryear vibe
It is a place very much alive
Padre
Carrot cake orange and firm
With nuts and sweetness plenty
Cream cheese thick on top
A thing well worth the money
What could make this treat
Stand above all the rest?
The subtle addition of tangy shreds
Of yummy lemon zest
Padre
No public outcry was heard. It was not that the new policy was not without its flaws. In fact, it was quite unfair. It was just that the policies and official statements had been so demoralising and so regular, that the people had just learned to shrug them off and resign themselves to the fact that the government was going to do whatever it wanted.
Padre
It was impromptu
Quite extemporary
But an excuse was needed
In fact, necessary
I needed to explain
Why I was there
A purpose understandable
That would be accepted as fair
So, I told them I was there to tutor
Sent to teach their daughter
To use her computer
Padre
Her intellect on show was luminous
And her breadth of knowledge quite voluminous
And yet when she rose to on politics speak
The anger of her audience began to peak
Padre
Be it dictionary or lexicon
What English words mean
Depend on which side
Of the pond you’re on
American “quite” means “very”
While British “quite” falls short of “verily”
If that word’s meaning tends to vary
Check out “now,” but be wary
An American “now” means at this instant
While South African “now” might be a time quite distant
And there’s that word “quite” used again
So, I used the British meaning as to not offend
This English tongue can drive you round the bend
Padre
Musical tastes over the years
Brought various changes to what we hear
In Country and Western of bygone days
It seems the yodel was all the craze
Roy Rogers, the Delmores, and Jimmie Rodgers too
Thought that yodelling was quite the thing to do
From tenor to falsetto at a rapid rate
They let their voices oscillate
Padre
“This shop is so creepy,” Tim said.
“You’re just saying that to get out of shopping with me,” Jessica replied accusingly.
“No. It’s the mannequins. Why do they go so far as putting nipples on them, but no faces? There’s something unnatural about it,” he explained.
“Hmm,” his wife said indignantly. “I’ll tell you what is unnatural. It’s unnatural that you’re obsessed with plastic statues’ breasts.”
It was then that he realised that those plastic bits were the last he’d be seeing for a while.
Padre
Padre's Ramblings 