BRAIN FREEZE

Author © Jay Kantor

BRAIN FREEZE

— Treat you to Good Humor? – Let's discuss THAT? —

Food Trucks – Currently a trending roadside dining experience – Once Dubbed 'Roach-Coaches' so if you don't remember the sweet sound of the 'Good Humor' truck, along with the excitement it brought, even for those few moments. Then, clearly you're out of the senior demographic required reading department and, probably won't relate to this article – I get THAT –

We all had our favorites - which would YOU choose? Are you an Ice Cream Sandwich - or anything with chocolate chips in-um. Me, I liked the Orange Sherbet Push-Ups...or the Twin Stick Popsicles; Just couldn't eat them fast enough before they melted–Remember 'THAT'–or were you a Fudgesicle kid? When standing in line the trucks' open Fridge-doors pushed out a cool fresh breeze/white fog coming from the dry-ice wafting in our faces on a hot day; this was a 'Treat' in of itself! – No need for pushy line cutting here! Kids would stand in line {Ear-Plug-Less} and actually 'shoot-that-cool-breeze' – talking to one-another – an oddity of late.

"Mom, there's a BUG on my ice cream" – "Don't worry Son, it won't eat much."

'Good-Humor Trucks' Slowly cruising down our street with our ears so tuned-into the Music's shortened version repeating staccato sounds in our anxious ears - even when the truck was already parked - But, I never knew what the song title was; does anyone? Now there's a trivia question for you. The 'Theme' music may differ from each State – but it always sounds like a revolving amplified child's music box.

— Take a minute to 'Kibitz' —

Current day interactions:

With so many Gadgets to distract attention 'Shooting-the-Breeze' has become an anomaly. WHAT Do you Really mean This or THAT? Or just a Momentary Blurt-Out to say they will follow-up but never do so: A brief answer to satisfy the conversation then they simply move on! Don't say you WILL if you WON'T – "Sure let's 'Do Lunch' – Give you a call!" But it never happens; people have expectations. "Let's do lunch" is a perfect example of saying something totally gratuitous – this can be hurtful. Some may just push-off because they don't know what's ok to say/or not these days—so NO dialogue is the safest way to stand off meaningless chatter.

The Archie Bunker era's 'Pollock Jokes' may have been a precursor to all of this; don't know which line to get into these days?

Cell phones have taken an obsessive hold on our culture. Just recently a woman came over to visit, and even when asked not to, she kept checking it: I mean who's THAT important or is it that she just couldn't stop herself; an addiction? Not unlike a smoker's-habit of constantly reaching for THAT "Fix!"

Although I try to be subtle, I have been outspoken about people who are actually right in front of me constantly going to their 'Habit' within our Non Smoking/Cell Phone Booth-Less House. When they are in my home the rules are that they either leave the phone in the car or mute it. I’m convinced those phone calls are NOT messages from GOD. So why waste my time with the full expectation that I’m willing to wait on their important conversation? Indeed..!

— No Big Shots Here —

Never could figure out how 'Priority' attention is applied? Maybe there are those who really DO blame 'Brain-Freeze' on their behavior? I know, a rant, but I needed to say THAT! Freeze~This – Is this the new 'Etiquette' – I'm probably the only one that's noticed?

Say it like you mean it! Many examples of Dismissive Remarks, such as salutatory clichés' –"Have a Good Day or Buh-Bye"– not a lot of 'shooting-the-cool-breeze' there. We're all guilty of this; some more off-putting than others in which the 'receiver' surely would feel un-important! Anything sound familiar with this? From a sender's perspective–or endured as a receiver? Of course you can be a little more sensitive about this issue than others; I am.

— Kindness never goes Unnoticed ~~

Kindness never goes out of Style, either —

Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, Cal

'Senior' Vocal Author

"For The Kids Someday"