AN AWKWARD AGE

by Wayne Scheer




Hugs were rare where I grew up,
reserved for mother/son greetings
and father/daughter consoling.
I don't recall seeing
either of my parents hugging
a friend or each other, for that matter.
To the day he died,
my father and I shook hands.

My wife, on the other hand,
probably hugged the doctor at birth.
And after years of standoffishness,
she taught me to open up
and hug friends, male and female.

Yesterday, at an art museum.,
we met a friendly young couple
who live a couple houses down from us.
My wife went in for hugs
while I shook the man's hand
and proudly moved to hug the young woman.

As I opened my arms
I saw she had extended her right arm for a handshake,
a member of Pelosi's straight arm club, I presume,
but it was too late,
and it resulted in an awkward half hug.

Now that I finally learned to hug,
I have to relearn, like Joe Biden, that hugs
aren't always welcomed,
that I need to wait, momentarily,
for the woman to signal
how much of her personal space
she's willing to give up.

As Joe said, I get it.
But please forgive the awkwardness
while I adjust.


Wayne Scheer is an old codger trying to stay relevant. He has been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and two Best of the Nets. He's published numerous stories, poems and essays in print and online, including Revealing Moments, a collection of flash stories. His short story,
“Zen and the Art of House Painting” has been made into a short film.

Related Posts :

  • THE WITCHESby Tricia Knoll Cartoon source: Cagle Some brandish torches to burn rotting cabins in their narrow path. Some stir pots out of c… Read More...
  • ON DUTYby Pam Davenport Celeste Ayala: “Police officer who breastfed “smelly and dirty” malnourished baby is PROMOTED for incredible gestu… Read More...
  • OH YES HE'S THE GREAT NEGOTIATORby George Salamon "'We Didn’t Really Want to Weigh In:' An author defends his decision to write a new book celebrating Henry Kissinge… Read More...
  • TRUTH ISby David Spicer  "Truth isn't truth." —Rudy Giuliani If Truth isn’t Truth, what is it in this Twilight Zone of Lies? A woman in … Read More...
  • WIRE CUTTERSby Bill Sullivan "Cutting Barbed Wire" by Toyo Miyatake (circa 1944/1945). Somehow Mr. Miyatake was able to smuggle in his lense… Read More...

1 Response to "AN AWKWARD AGE"

  1. ATTENTION PLEASE, Am so glad expressing my profound gratitude to a man that is so concerned about other people's well being. I was suffering from (HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS) over 2 years, i have spent thousands of dollars in buying expensive drugs and visiting several hospitals in different countries, i was really in several pain "until" one glorious morning, i read about Dr.Sam on the internet on how he had helped and cured so many people suffering from (HERPES 1 and 2, (CANCER), (HIV/AIDS), (ALZHEIMER),(FIBROID), (ENLARGED PROSTATE), (HEMORRHOIDS' PILE) and (HEART DISEASE) ETC. So i contacted him through this Whats-app number: +1 (213) 349-2159 and i shared my problems with him, he gave me the healing procedure and i followed them. eight(8) days after he told me to go for a medical test, behold the result was negative, now am (HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS) free. I just want to use this platform to thank Dr.Sam for curing me from that deadly virus and also for exposing his herbal cure to the world, please you can as well contact him Whats app-number: +1 (213) 349-2159 for solutions to your health problems...Thanks.

    BalasHapus