PBI--At Your Service

"The Grasshopper and the Ant"--Aesop's Fables--My version. "So there was this grasshopper, spent all summer playin' his fiddle hot down by the river, drinking beer, playing volleyball, and entertaining various young women on vacation from out of town. Near the spot he got on and off the bus each day on his trips to the river--he'd rather drink than drive--he'd often run into an ant about his own age, always busy stocking his house with food. Grasshopper had pretty much given up on talking the hard-working ant into taking a day off and going to the river with him. Ant had always told him that ha-ha, winter was a-comin' and HE by golly wasn't going to be hungry when the snow was blowin'. All summer, the ant worked while the grasshopper played. Then winter came, and they both froze to death." (Thanks and apologies to Mr. Aesop.)

Ever see that movie, "Griffin and Phoenix, A Love Story" (1976) with Columbo and Jill Clayburgh? They met in their forties, yet both partied and laughed and enjoyed life like teenagers. Then it turns out they both had cancer and only months to live, so started appreciating every minute. What if they'd just acted like that anyway? For no reason? All their lives?

I just watched a 60 Minutes segment about the happiest people in the world. The people of Denmark are #1, and apparently not for the first time. (Americans are #23 happiest.) Though Danes have ambition, the basic secret to their good attitude is contentment. 94% of American college students, according to the show, are under extreme stress throughout their school years. Not good.

All the radio and TV shows a few days ago were reporting about some study just out that said depressed people shop more than folks enjoying themselves. One point I found interesting, that unhappy folks will pay up to four times more for something than others will.

My suggestion for saving the planet: we're going to have to spend more time swimming at the river and dancing, and less time rote shopping; it's better for the environment. We need all the Grasshoppers we can get and fewer Ants if the Planet is going to survive. (Get it? Grasshopper Planet?) Additional fun, less debt. You got a problem with that?

A couple worthy reads:
"Stranger In A Strange Land" (1961) by Robert A. Heinlein.
"Another Roadside Attraction" (1971) by Tom Robbins.

To be continued . . . by Bob, Professional Bad Influence.