Learning to Fly

 Learning to Fly

Noel Laflin

10-28-21

A friend of mine turns sixty-nine today, which means he’s older than me once again – even if it’s only less than by two months.

But despite that, we were still childhood best friends, first becoming so when at age three (or thereabouts), I would stand on my side of the street and yell out his name until he appeared in his doorway and wave me over to watch Superman reruns. This led to fantasies of actually thinking we could fly ourselves, just like the Man of Steel, if we tied towels about our neck, let the long fabric lay against our back to form a cape, and jump off the back of furniture in attempts to fly.

We always aimed for his folks’ couch, just in case we failed to fly, and I am here today to say just how glad we were that his folks had a soft one.

But in short order, that two-month age difference put us in different grades, a fact that bothered me greatly when he went off to kindergarten a year before I was deemed old enough to join him.  Consequently, he flew off to school and I was left at home watching Superman reruns on my own. 

My mom told me that because I was born in December, I had to wait another year before attending kindergarten. I never understood the rule, but there you have it.

So, I continued to practice my flying skills off our own living room furniture. I might have been alone now in each repeated attempt, but determined nonetheless.

I’m glad my folks had a soft couch too.

In hindsight, I now think that common sense - or more likely, the lack thereof - might have had something to do with when one was actually allowed to attend school.

However, I am still puzzled, all these years later, as to how my slightly older friend got away with it.

Seeking Mr. Emerson's Opinion

 Seeking Mr. Emerson's Opinion

Noel Laflin

10-19-21

"Nature always wears the color of the spirit."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's early morning and I'm listening to a cricket who's taken up permanent residency behind the refrigerator, a rooster crowing in a neighbor's yard, hummingbirds squabbling over territory out front in the walkway, and a flock of noisy parrots passing overhead. All the while, there's a bluebird drying its wings after a bath on the balcony.

Judging by the sight of the bluebird, Emerson obviously got the part about the colors right, but if he were around today - Mr. Emerson, that is - I'd invite him over, offer him my chair (along with a cup of coffee, of course), and ask him to describe the sounds of nature as well.

I'd sure like his take on it.

Meanwhile, I need more coffee, and whilst in the kitchen, remind the cricket to give it a rest for a bit. 

House Warming

 House Warming

Noel Laflin

10-15-21

Thirty-eight years ago today, on a warm Santa Ana wind-blown October morning, I spied a billboard just outside of Mimi’s Café over on 17th Street. It said, ‘New Homes’, with an arrow pointing northeast.

Curiosity got the better of me as I followed signs that led to a new development just at the base of Panorama Hill, way out in East Orange. It was so far out of town that roosters could be heard crowing throughout the old El Modena neighborhood.

Now, maybe there were roosters also cock-a-doodle-dooing around the St. Joes Hospital neighborhood where I was born, but as that was so long ago, and I was rather new to the world, I don't recall.

Unshaven, dressed in a ratty t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops, I toured the models and discovered one that I might just be able to afford - maybe.

Within two hours I was writing a hot check, all the while explaining to the banking rep that this retainer would be good by Wednesday, payday. He just smiled and said to postdate it.

By Tuesday, I had begged, borrowed and cajoled my way to come up with the down payment, and then persuaded my boss to write a preposterous letter saying that I would be due a bonus at the end of the year. The bank informed me that I needed said bonus to swing the deal. The boss agreed to write the letter on the condition that he be invited to the housewarming. He also reminded me that there really was NO bonus coming my way at the end of the year.

I gladly agreed to his conditions.

Escrow closed in twenty-six days and I suddenly found myself with a new home, and a thirty-year mortgage.

This was a fine starter home, I reassured myself; one might actually stay here for the next three-to-five years.

Although that turned out not to be the case, as I continue to gladly extend my stay, the boss did come to the housewarming.

Also, as promised, there was no bonus – other than the crowing of roosters, and the discovery of lots and lots of birds that also call this urban neck of the woods home.

Consequently, we all happily share it together.

I mean, they were here first.

As poet E.E. Cummings once wrote,
"May my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old."

National Dictionary Day

 National Dictionary Day

Noel Laflin

10-16-21

It's National Dictionary Day, as it celebrates the birthday of Noah Webster - a man who studied 26 languages, in order to better understand English.

A friend of mine, who recently died, had made it a youthful goal to read every single word in the dictionary.

I don't know if he accomplished the task in his seventy-two years of life, but he was the most well-spoken man that I have ever met, bedazzling one with unfamiliar words with every turn of phrase, or in this case, turn of page

So, maybe he did make it to the end of his book.

And I bet he'd be pleased with me making use use of the word bedazzled too.

October 9, 1967

 October 9, 1967

Noel Laflin

10-9-21

It was fifty-four years ago today.

With Scoutmaster Dale Wilcox and my folks in the basement of the old First Christian Church on Broadway in Anaheim.

The church is gone, as are my parents, but the former boy and his mentor (as well as my Eagle Pin) are still here.

Homecoming

 Homecoming

Noel Laflin

10-11-21

They patiently listened to my tales of seeing frolicking whales, playful otters, and bald eagles, but only wanted to know about fellows like themselves.

They had all flown south for the winter I said.

Good, they replied, as we don't want you having some short lived vacation romance with strangers.

No worries there, I assured them.

Then be so kind as to top off the feeder, I was instructed.

Which I did, with great haste.

Shock Top

 Shock Top

Noel Laflin

10-11-21

As I sat in a folding chair in front of the beer cooler at our local CVS this morning, waiting the prescribed fifteen minutes following my COVID booster vaccine, I couldn't help but notice that Shock Top was on sale.

Sitting in such close proximity to such tasty temptation, and knowing that David was going to prepare a juicy tri-tip shortly, and fully aware that we were out of beer, I grabbed a twelve pack when the time was up.

An older, wiser gentleman also waiting for his orders to leave, remarked that my selection sure beat Tylenol.

Indeed, I concurred, paid up, and smiled all the way home.