Laughter was a huge part of my life growing up, and still is today! Even our moments of grief were tinted with shades of laughter. It took a very special woman to teach me that laughter and joy can color your life and make it much more brilliant. That woman shines brightly as one of the most colorful and vibrant people in my life, and without her abundance of wit, mischievousness, and creativity, my life would be a shell of what it is today. The stories she has provided either by purposeful, well thought out planning, or by happy accident will be family legend for generations to come. My mom is beautiful, talented, and outrageous.

This is my tribute to M.O.M. My Outrageous Mother.

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

~ Charlie Chaplin

Hard Knocks Hair Drying


M.O.M. wanted to be sure that we knew not to stand down when it comes to H.O.M.I.E.s, so she bestowed her experiences upon us like gifts of armor meant to protect us from pending stupidity.  One of my favorite recollections proves that anything can be used for self-defense. 

Back in the 50’s, General Electric and other companies made a style of hair dryer that resembled some kind of combination of a medieval torture device and a Shop Vac.  The mechanical workings were neatly packed into a very convenient carrying case about the size of a small suit case.  A vacuum style hose ran from the mechanics of the box to a plastic cap and warm air was then pumped from the suitcase to gently dry your hair and put you to sleep. 

 
M.O.M. was still living at home and walked into the house to find Carl and his hooligan buddies camped out around the dining room table.  They had most likely been sitting around drinking and being teenage boys began cat calling when M.O.M. entered the room.   She felt the best course of action was to retreat to the safety of her bedroom and avoid the immature antics of Carl and his pals. 
Apparently one of Carl’s friends, we’ll call him Ned, wanted more than to cat call, and as M.O.M. made her way out of the kitchen and started down the long hallway toward her bedroom, Ned ran up behind her and reached around for a grope.  M.O.M. shrugged him off and walked faster, but Ned was persistent, he stayed right behind her reaching for as much breast as he could fit into his grubby little hand. 
M.O.M. increased her pace and in a single move, swung her arm in a backward, upward arc with all the strength she could muster.  This would not have done a lot of damage until you add to the swing of the arm the velocity and weight of the hair dryer that was firmly gripped by its convenient carrying handle at the end of that arm.  She felt the case connect with flesh, and I imagine she heard the air leave his lungs at the moment of impact.  She took the final step into her room, slamming the door closed behind her without turning around, and then she heard the thud.
They say he fell like a tree, legs perfectly straight, hands clutching his precious family jewels, eyes wide and staring blankly ahead.  It was a spot on the mark shot, an unintentional direct hit that dropped him.  There were rumors for weeks afterward that his new nickname became Blue Balls after a colorful discovery in the locker room during gym class.  
 If a grabby boy falls in the hall way, and no one is around to hear it, does he make any noise?  Probably a little.

No comments:

Post a Comment