Columns

History always has been one of those amorphous topics to most of us, defined by our relationships to events and eventualities more than encyclopedic endeavors.

If you had no reason to have studied the dynasties in China, the crusades to the Middle East or the founding of our nation/state/county, then you probably didn’t, unless someone stuck a book in front of you and required your attention for a semester or so.

Maybe you were watching the Super Bowl on Sunday with a heartfelt interest in whether the Giants or the Patriots won in what became a sensational and scintillating scenario.
Maybe you, like most of the tens of millions who watched, were more interested in the overpriced and overdeveloped – and sometimes overly stupid – commercials that have become so famous.

With the Republican presidential primaries in full swing and the annual “State of the Union” address this week, some of you might have been expecting a column focusing on political matters.  However, at least for this week, I am going to employ the rule that my mother always told me and that I’m guessing most of your mothers told you: If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. 

So, while I’m sure I won’t be able to remain silent until November, today I’ll go a different direction.

I heard about a mom who was straightening up the family room when her 5-year-old son let out a blood-curdling scream. Almost immediately, he yelled downstairs, “Mom, Chelsea pulled my hair!”

“She’s only 2-years-old,” his mom called back. “She doesn’t know that hurts you.”

Suddenly she heard another scream, this time from the 2-year-old.

Before she could ask what happened, the older brother yelled again, “She knows now!”