When I was 12 or 13, my parents got wall-to-wall carpeting in our home. In the early 50’s only hotels and a few really expensive homes had wall-to-wall carpeting. Up until then we lived on oak hardwood floors, with area rugs. Which is what you find in all the most expensive homes now!

Can you just imagine covering up beautiful hardwood floors? What were they thinking?!!

And can you imagine how important this was to a 13-year-old?

Well, actually it was important to me. I was quite a mommy’s boy, and so anything that was so important to her, was important to me. On the day that it was due to be installed, she was SOOO excited! She practically danced all over the house before I left for school! Her excitement was infectious.

I walked home from school that day, full of excitement and anticipation. As a matter of fact, it was hard to walk at all. I wanted to run, but my friends would not understand. I am certain I made much too big a deal of it anyway.

As I neared the front door, I braced myself for what I would experience as I walked through the door. I opened the door and, “Voila!” It was completed! Wall-to-wall carpet, covering every inch of the home’s floor. And not just carpet, but only the best for my mom. It was 100% wool!! Well, at least no sheep had to be slaughtered for it, but it must take a lot of sheep to produce enough wool to cover the floor of a complete house!!

And, boy was I impressed! Was I impressed? Remember: I was thirteen years old! I walked into the house, expecting … I don’t have the slightest idea what I expected. I know what I experienced: What’s this? It just lay there. It didn’t jump up and hug me. It didn’t do a little dance for me. I could not feel the warmth that comes from only the best woolen carpet mills.

I was stunned. What a let down!

Ever hear the song by the recently deceased Peggy Lee where she talks about going to the circus as a little girl? When it was all over, she sang,

“Is That All There Is?” Is that all there is?

Well if that’s all there is my friend,

Then let’s keep dancing.

And break out the booze.

And have a ballllll

If that’s allllll …

There is!

Great song! Sometimes people build things up way too much. I didn’t see the movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. It was built up to be grander than life itself, super fantastic, tremendous, the-best-movie-you’ve-ever-seen. When I saw it I was disappointed. It was a good movie, but all that hype! And not Hollywood hype. This was from my friends.

So I don’t over build things to people. Let them be impressed on their own terms. That’s why I liked “Groundhog Day” so much. No one built it up to me. I saw it. I got it. And there is such a great message in that film. Yet many people just did not get it. So many people said to me, “Most boring movie I ever saw!” They didn’t get it.

Have you seen it? If not, go rent it. I won’t build it up except to say there is a great lesson in it. If you don’t get it, e-mail me (and I promise not to call you stupid) and I will tell you what the lesson is.

So I am going to be all bummed out because February second falls on a Saturday, and most likely I won't have a chance to write the date: 02/02/02. Cool Date!

But seriously, don’t you sometimes have one of those days, when you just have to say, “Is that all there is to life?”

I’m glad there a re a few good days. Because

I love life. And

I love me. And

I love you!

(In that order!)

Aw, C'mon!
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