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Pursuing Satisfaction? Join the Posse! ....by D. Grant DeMan
Some time ago I was discussing transportation with my old buddy, Earl Tannock, “Remember that new pickup you bought? I asked him.
“Yep. You mean the first vehicle I owned that I drove a hundred thousand miles? The odometer turned over right in the main Oak Bay intersection, and I got out and did a war dance around it, whooping so loud a whole mess of those tweed jaws dropped clear to the sidewalk.”
“Then you got another more powerful. Seems I recall chrome-plated winches front and rear.”
“Yeah. No matter how good or big my truck was, I got stuck and was forced to buy a better one.”
“So you still own one?”
“Well, since I hated getting mired down I went over to the United States and bought me one of those Hummers, and it hasn’t failed me yet. If it ever does, I been looking at a .....”
Now ain’t it the truth? Seems we’re never completely satisfied: “Hey Marvin, that’s quite a new television set you got there!”
“Yep, but have you seen them new wide screeners with digital?”
Last summer at the Royal Comox Yacht Club: “It’s just a forty footer with dual Volvos, mahogany bar and all. Gets me there, but you should have seen some of the boats in Victoria. And West Vancouver, forget about it!” I could see Skipper Commodore Erik was plenty exasperated.
Flight Captain Midnight Kravitz used to love his Cessna twin engined airplane: “I’m flying to Calgary for my brand new Bombardier Jet, but John Travolta pilots a 727 I’ve heard. Boy oh boy!”
“MMMM, that’s a sweet-smelling pew you got on there.”
“Get a good whiff, Sweetie. I’m ditching it because it attracts losers.” Gold Digger Miranda confided.
And witness the competition between the Scrantz twins: First Shirl buys a 222 Meg computer, so Sharon does her one better. Over the years the war has escalated exponentially. Now Sharon has a 500 while her sister sent for a Dell 700 - or was it the other way around? No matter, everyone wants something newer, better, shinier, bigger and on it goes, no matter the cost or station in life. Old folks and young folks, school kids and boomers. They’re all on a chase into the realm of improvement, seeking happiness.
I haven’t yet met anyone who ever arrived. A few years back friend Chris threw it all up and left for India to enjoy a simple life clothed in white towels, eating rice and roots in meditation. One day he turned up looking like a pock-marked skeleton so I charred him a three-inch steak, which he devoured like a savage beast. Last I heard he was still wandering the world looking for a better one - beefsteak, that is.
“Nice coat Sarah!”
“Last year’s mink, Darling. Faunty’s promised me an Ermine for my birthday. He’s too too sweet.”
“Nice home, Throckmorten,” I told my host at his Christmas party.
“Well we got six thousand feet here, but can hardly see the ocean for that tree in the way. And the garage holds but three cars, so the Jag has to sit in the rain looking in at the Rolls, the Bentley and the Navigator. What are we to do?” Seems everybody is on an endless contentment-bound treadmill.
Getting mighty tired of all these gripes and complaints I went walking, and at the inlet spotted old friend, Hardtimes Harry who took me under the bridge, “See, here’s where I live now. Got my little stove there and a good solid crate.”
“Home sweet home, wherever you hang your hat, Harry. Looks cosy.”
“Yeah, it’s okay. But Blackie there has the spot next to the steam pipe. I’m waiting on him to move.”
On the beach I met Hiram. “You know everyone seems unhappy with what they have. Always looking for something better. But you and Hannah are so in love and satisfied. How do you do it?”
“You’re talking about last year. And mind, she’s my third wife and I’m her sixth hubby. Y’know George is looking sickly lately, and that young Margie has always taken a shine to me. You never know...”
Down at the church: “The Bible says The Lord has many mansions prepared for us, and I’m a-wantin’ the one highest up there beyond the clouds.” Remarked Ogden, the usher.
And so it goes with the world. Nobody’s ever happy with what they have.
I wish I could put it a better way though - be more effective I mean. Perhaps with the latest word processor I may well write more creatively. In fact I’m damn sure of it!
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