I HOPE I HAD A GOOD TIME!
By Fran Fischer
I made a list the other day of some of the things that were
interesting and/or fun in my life. I know I can’t remember everything,
but what I DO remember includes:
I’ve ridden on an elephant, a camel, horses & mules. I’ve
been parasailing & in hot air balloons & the Goodyear blimp.
I’ve flown in everything from a 4 seater to a private plane to a jumbo
jet. I flew at zero gravity, like an astronaut. I’ve ridden in trucks,
buses, jeeps, a Rolls Royce, limos & was a passenger in a VERY fast
car on the Autobahn. I drove my own Mustang at 105 mph—once. I’ve
been on sailboats, canoes, speedboats, zodiac rafts, hydrofoils, pedal
boats, paddlewheels, ferries & cruise ships, including the QEII.
I’ve been on tricycles, bicycles & roller skates. I rode a
tram car in a mine. I’ve ridden a Segway. I’ve been on roller
coasters, bumper cars & Ferris wheels. I’ve ridden on a hay wagon, a
sled in the snow & gone snorkeling. I’ve ridden trains (including
monorails & funicular railways) & small & large helicopters.
I’ve been on aerial tramways. I tried my hand at a flight simulator
that real pilots use--& (virtually) crashed.
I’ve petted a dolphin (it feels like a wetsuit) & seen
stalagmites & stalactites in caves. I studied Japanese for a year in night school. I’ve been to spring training with the San Francisco Giants. I went to the Calgary Stampede. I’ve
sent koi into a feeding frenzy. My family & I saw the fireworks on
July 4th,
2000, while sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I’ve seen
the inside of the White House & Congress, the Viet Nam Memorial
wall, the Statue of Liberty, the Mona Lisa & the Venus de Milo.
I’ve seen the foliage change in New England, the Liberty Bell, Plymouth
Rock, the Eiffel Tower, the Berlin Wall, the palace of the King of Siam
& a space shuttle landing. I once wore real clown makeup in Florida.
I’ve stayed in fleabag motels & at the Waldorf Astoria. I was at the World Series in 1989 when the Loma Prieta earthquake hit & had a challenging time driving our rental car back through a very dark San Francisco to our borrowed house. I am an artist & work mostly with stained glass. I’ve been to most US states, including Hawaii & Alaska. I’ve visited Canada & Mexico. I’ve also seen Ecuador, the Bahamas,
Costa Rica, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, the Galapagos Islands,
England, France, Spain, Germany (including East Germany), Austria,
Switzerland, Italy (including the Vatican), Ireland, the Philippines,
Singapore, Morocco, Thailand, Japan & China.
I attended UCLA & worked as a salesgirl & a dental assistant. I have been married for 58 years & am the mother of three & the grandmother of four. I was a Brownie & Girl Scout leader, head Cub Scout den mother & a donor & volunteer on
Red Cross blood drives. Lucille Ball held me in her arms in a movie
scene when I was a month or so old. I’ve been on TV as a contestant on
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES & I answered phones on a Cerebral Palsy telethon. Last year, at the tender age of 77, I started posting my own blog, “fishducky, finally” at fishducky.blogspot.com. This year, my first book, Fishducky’s Fables, was released. My body may be 78 years old, but in my mind I’m only about 36. Some people might say I’ve done everything & had everything. Where would you put it?
And what is my point, you ask? My point is—if I can remember
all this, why can’t I remember what I had for lunch yesterday?
~fishducky
About the Author
Then
&
Now
Humorous writer and editor, Fran Fischer can make anyone laugh. Her first novella was just published by Wayman Publishing. Click the cover picture to read more about it.