The Suit with Two Pairs of Pants Paradox
My father lived 96
clear-minded years.
Each year I live
I step in time-footprints
where he set foot.
Standing where he stood,
seeing the world as he saw it,
and hearing his voice in my head,
I gain meaning.
I can hear my father saying:
“ I am of the age where
it makes no sense to buy a suit
with two pairs of pants.”
I know that of which he spoke.
For his paradox has many faces
for me these days.
It is six one way and
on the other hand.
For example, my car is getting old.
So am I
and I may not be permitted
to drive before a new car
would even get broken in.
A new washing machine and dryer
would give laundry day new legs.
But I am not sure where I get new legs.
As I consider the best way
to dispose of my Jazz CDs
I make additions.
The pool needs replastering
to fight black algae.
But the pool with black algae
is still a great swim.
And new plaster would mean
no early monetary distribution
for a while.
Bottom line is the two pairs of pants
paradox comes down to this:
How does one leave this life?
The organized ones have an answer.
As close to even as possible
feels about right.
Too many left -over coffee filters
are a sure
sign of poor planning.
And how about sox, shorts
and tee shirts?
Clean enough for an auto accident
but worn to embarrassing shabbiness.
Stall long enough
and the paradox question
becomes moot.
But I will be hard put
for the second pair of pants
if I also live to be 96.
Doug Minnis
August 23, 2010