In a message dated 12/27/2000 10:21:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Ralph Walter <[log in to unmask]> comes in early to work and writes:
 >
 > Esteemed Pirate KIng,
 >
 > All New York will be looking forward to your visit.  Or upward.
 >

 hey ralph, one of my maxims, axioms, or whatever those things are called,
 is that no one EVER looks up   ;)
 well, hardly anyone.....

 deb  "unfortunately, old enough now to have legitimate 'wise sayings' " >>

Deb (and ee),

As a retired Boy Scout, I long ago acquired the habit of watching where I put
my feet (kept them dry while crossing streams, etc.)  This results in a life
spent looking at more dog shit than of sunsets (or sunrises over East 42nd
Street these days, on my way to work), and contributes to my overall rosy
view of the world.

However, if Pirate King has been gracious enough to warn me that he's going
to start heaving things across 42nd Street at me from the upper recesses of
the late Pan Am (now Met "Snoopy" Life) Building, it would behoove me to
watch what's going on above grade as well as at grade.

Which didn't keep bird shit off my nose during a visit to Hackensack a couple
of weeks ago, but at least I was getting paid for my time at the moment.

I'm not sure what the deep psychological/philosophical point of this is, but
it may be that one way or another, no matter how careful one is, we're all in
for it.  And we might as well enjoy the  sunrises while we're waiting.

Ralph (Let's all join in a chorus of "It's a Small World, After All")