How Stupid Are They?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I'm going back to school for some higher math!

Won't work, you will be to distracted and anemic to learn anything. At least you will have fun.

I certainly hope so!

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I'm going back to school for some higher math!

Mercifully, my education possessed a different reality and direction.
(How's that for a study in contrasts?!! Eh? Huh?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Mercifully, my education possessed a different reality and direction.

I'm not sure that there are any qualities of mercy in the equation.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Mercifully, my education possessed a different reality and direction.

I'm not sure that there are any qualities of mercy in the equation.

Oh, yes, I am sure there was Mercy. Sister Richard had unlimited patience with my seemingly endless shenanigans. She never raised her voice, wacked me, or scolded me in public. She'd pull me aside and (often) say, "It's time to grow up." That worked. I made every effort to improve. That smile of hers you see there - nearly a Corporal Work of Mercy in itself - was always ready for my next error, which eventually diminished to some level of decorum. I had just lost my father the year before that photo was taken, and I had a lot to work through. Those sisters helped, with their inexhaustible patience and encouragement.

P.S. Remember the monkey?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Mercifully, my education possessed a different reality and direction.

I'm not sure that there are any qualities of mercy in the equation.

Oh, yes, I am sure there was Mercy. Sister Richard had unlimited patience with my seemingly endless shenanigans. She never raised her voice, wacked me, or scolded me in public. She'd pull me aside and (often) say, "It's time to grow up." That worked. I made every effort to improve. That smile you see there - nearly a Corporal Work of Mercy in itself - was always ready for my next error, which eventually diminished to some level of decorum. I had just lost my father the year before that photo was taken, and I had a lot to work through. Those sisters helped, with their inexhaustible patience and encouragement.

Ok, within that quanta there was for you. My uncertainty remains.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

What else can I say of any value?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

What else can I say of any value?

Be creative, be inventive, be unique............and avoid crossing the path of any toad.

[rogruth]

What else can I say of any value?

Be creative, be inventive, be unique............and avoid crossing the path of any toad.

Or BEAR!

[Roy]

I had just lost my father the year before that photo was taken, and I had a lot to work through.

You've mentioned your father's death before. Of course, you don't have to answer this, but I'm curious as to how he died.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

What else can I say of any value?

Be creative, be inventive, be unique............and avoid crossing the path of any toad.

Good advice. And if a toad does cross my path, I'll keep my tongue enclosed in my mouth.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I had just lost my father the year before that photo was taken, and I had a lot to work through.

You've mentioned your father's death before. Of course, you don't have to answer this, but I'm curious as to how he died.

Kidney failure.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

What else can I say of any value?

Be creative, be inventive, be unique............and avoid crossing the path of any toad.

Good advice. And if a toad does cross my path, I'll keep my tongue enclosed in my mouth.

As you were; carry on...

[Roy]

...I'm curious as to how (your father) died.

Kidney failure.

He was pretty young, wasn't he? I remember you saying he built the porch on your house.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

...I'm curious as to how (your father) died.

Kidney failure.

He was pretty young, wasn't he? I remember you saying he built the porch on your house.

He died at 41. The Bishop of Pittsburgh came to his wake, as did every nun in our school, all of whom wept (I had never seen a nun cry before). There were so many cars in his funeral cortege to the cemetery that my mother and I could not see the end of it parked along the roads by the funeral home.

I was so stunned when I first saw him in his coffin, upon entering the funeral home for the first viewing, that I collapsed to the floor (I was told afterward).

He had been a cool, handsome, gregarious member of the whole community and church. He had lead several group-effort Corporal Works of Mercy that benefitted the Church and school considerably. His death was treated as a "death in the family," by the entire town and our church community.

Thank you for asking, Roy.
Murph ( nickname he gave me when we were outside a "Murphy's 5&10" Store in McKeesport, PA, and I had read [at 4 or 5] aloud the name on the store's front.)

P.S. Yes, Rufus, that is a teddy bear in my arms (!)

[rogruth]

Murph,
It is good that you have such remembrances. All are not so fortunate.