pos...

pos... 

                 

                                                           

  My goal was to sell a few paperback books when I walked into a Half Price Books Store.  Snagging a great interview of a POS (Person Over Sixty) wasn't even on my mind.  But, maybe my lackadaisical attitude is why the experience turned out so well.

  We had been to this particular store a few other times and my first impression has never changed.  The atmosphere has always reminded me of a combination of a flea market, yard sale, and, state fair.  The store is never really clean, junk and books are stacked precariously on movable carts that could topple at any moment, and, many of the customers are like watching strangers on the Midway.   

  Most of the time, we donate the paperbacks we have read, but, this time we had about 150 books, so, the greed factor came into play.  I thought we could net 30 or 40 bucks and go have a lunch a cut above McDonalds.  

  Regina and I were waiting for the agent to tell us how much the store would offer for our booty as we headed in different directions in the store, she to whatever genre she was interested in that day, and, me to the store's collection of CD's. 

  The entire CD stock was displayed in waist-high shelves wide enough and deep enough to hold CD's and that is all.  If I had wanted to browse through the thousands of choices, I would have had to do two things: sit on the floor and, sit in a cross legged fashion.  Neither one of those things was going to happen.   

  But, that's how I found Gerald Woods, 77.  I figured anyone who could still sit that way at his age had to be a good interview.   I was right.  

  I come here every two or three weeks to see what's been added, he told me.  I have a CD collection at home that's thousands of CD's.  There's another place I go also, but, this is my main one.  

  What kind of music do you buy?

  Everything, he smiled.  If it is music, I buy it.

  Are you retired?

  I am, he assured me.  It's been 12 years now.

  What did you do to make a living?

  I sold cars, was a manager, and, I was a dealer spread over a lot of years, he said.

  Do you have a better half?

  Yes, she spent 36 years with the Jefferson County School System, he volunteered.  She retired when Covid hit, then, they called her back.  Now, she works three days a week in Special Ed. 

  How do you spend your spare time?

  Well, it depends on what year it is, he grinned.  Last summer, I spent May through October building a deck all the way around my lake house.  It is now complete and it is massive.  Goes around three-quarters of the house.  Here, I'll show you.

  (Gerald showed me a couple pictures of his project, prompting me to say) You built that by yourself?

  Everything except the foundation posts, he said.  I had help with those, but, the rest is mine.  

  Okay.  That's last summer.  What is going to happen this summer?

  This year, I am working on juke boxes and wall boxes, he replied.  I bought a 1952 juke box and matching wall box and I am setting them up in my basement.  I got stuff off eBay to completely restore them.  It is going to be beautiful.

  You know, you could make some money with your skills.

  I don't need the money, he countered.  I don't want to.  I just want the time.

  Do you and your wife travel?

  Not as much as we used to, he shook his head.  We have the house on the lake now and I like to hunt and fish.  The kids and grandkids come down and it's a family affair.  

  It seems you are doing what you want to do, but, are there any goals in the back of your mind you would like to achieve?  Maybe a bucket list?

  I have one thing on my bucket list, and. it is my main goal, he replied.  I am going to live to be 100 or die trying.

  Gerald, my name is being called.  My offer must be ready.  Thanks for your time.  

  Good luck to you young fella, he quipped.  

  Coming up:  another job$ somebody's gotta do; an oddities, observations, & ?'s, and; more POS.

  And, finally.  The assault on free speech by President Trump is astounding.  Even more bewildering is the fact that we are barely told by the media of these attempts to punish judges, lawyers, former staff members and other politicians who voiced an opposing thought to Trump.  

  I don't get it.  Why isn't there a mass public outcry?  Where is the media?  Where is Paul Revere?  Where is Mitt Romney?

  HUH?  What's up with that?