25th December 2003

Holiday Hotel

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Matt, Beth, and Ben… together again! And what do I care if Ben wears a silver ring on the impudent digit? It could be worse. It could be one of those decorative mucus emulations that hang from the pierced septums of so many young people these days. Harrumph…

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 25th, 2024 at 11:12 and is filed under Cat Pictures, Food, and Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

There are currently 7 responses to “Holiday Hotel”

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  1. 1 On December 26th, 2024, Mike Golby said:

    My twelve-year old, Cathryn, who seems to bear alarming likenesses to my spiritual leader Father Christopher’s daughter (my wife does not know him, I assure you), has just had her pert, freckled nose speared by an Arundhati Roy-type metal rod. Influenced, no doubt, by the likes of Evanescence, the dead Kurt Cobain, his woman, and other alternative rockers, I reason she seeks to emulate her 18-year old sister who, after she took the steel tie from her tongue, turned into a delightful and remarkably mature young lady (although she retains a fondness for heavy metal and reformed junkies of surprisingly high intellectual ability).

    I like these things no more than you, Frank. Without these metal attachments, my daughters might have taken after their 22-year old brother, a high-living techno yuppie earning obscene amounts of money in the computerized marketplace of empire. How do we make them see the errors of their depraved, sinful ways? Where have we gone wrong? I mean, we gave them everything, didn’t we? All the love, the quality time, the phones, Internet connectivity and stuff loving parents the world over pass on to their impressionable children–they certainly have not wanted for anything.

    I have a solution for you. I have just finished watching ‘The Count of Monte Christo’, an old morality tale by some Frenchman eschewing revenge once you’ve wiped out all your enemies. You have no choice but to sever Ben’s finger, send it to me and I will return him to you as the fine, innocent young lad you once knew.

    Unless, of course, like me, you have fallen victim to that most unprepossessing fault of character known to afflict failed fathers, peaceniks and ideologues of our generation, i.e. unconditional love of family. Indeed, Frank, I am on to you. I have suspected you suffer this affliction for a long time now and can offer you no comfort. It does not go away. It is terminal. Your family will continue to have its way with you and you, irredeemable, will continue to feel nothing but pride, joy and happiness in its company. Take solace, my friend. These things (families) are sent to try us. One day, we shall learn to accept contentment, happiness and unconditional love as our lot and make our peace with them.

    You’ll have to trust me on this one, Frank, but I know you will. You are, if nothing else, a consummate professional and a hard man to boot. Father Christopher tells me so.

    PS: Another failing of those of us in this sorry condition is a predilection for posting pictures of happy families rather than photographs of cats. I know millions of bloggers would laugh us off the Net were they to discover our sad, anti-social little fetishes, but your secret is safe with me.

    PPS: AKMA’s one of us. Love of family and all that stuff. In fact, we are legion and contain multitudes. But keep this between you, me, Father Christopher and the gatepost.

  2. 2 On December 26th, 2024, ray said:

    Haaaaaaaaaaaa…this Golby cat’s killing me.

    Enjoy, Frank…enjoy!

  3. 3 On December 26th, 2024, Frank Paynter said:

    Ben, aware of my plan to cut off the offending finger and send it to Sud Afrique, has fled the country. By now he is on his way to Jamaica with his sweet girl friend and her family. They may not even find his choice of jewelry offensive. How can one know? Anyway, next time I see him I’ll whack that finger off and send it to you Mike. That will settle things once and for all.

  4. 4 On December 27th, 2024, meg said:

    A fine family. Rings are removable, tatoos are permanent. When a young mand is as cute as Ben they have to tone down the cuteness with something. The ring works.

  5. 5 On January 25th, 2024, Ella said:

    I’M COMING TO GET YOU FRANK. I GAVE HIM THAT RING ALTHOUGH I CAN NOT REMEMBER WHY I GAVE IT TO HIM AND HE IS SITTING HERE WITH ME RIGHT NOW AND HE JUST HIT ME IN THE HEAD FOR NOT REMEMBERING. I’M IN TROUBLE!!!!! BUT SO ARE YOU.

  6. 6 On January 25th, 2024, fp said:

    omigod… I didn’t know it was a family heirloom! But what is he doing there in Saint Louis when he has to be at work in KC tomorrow morning? And when are you two coming up here to the cold and snowy?

  7. 7 On February 6th, 2024, Ella said:

    Hi Frank- I just saw your comment. Don’t worry, it is not a family heirloom. Ben was here because he got snowed in. And I will be visiting with Ben as soon as all of this horrible weather stops!!! We are not use to this in MO. ice and snow, ice and snow. Tell Beth hello!!!!!!!!

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