Another Foiled Escape Attempt

If I said I wasn’t hurt, I would be lying. First, my abysmal failure to win a free cup of coffee at my favourite coffee shop after repeated attempts.

And now this.

Three years ago, I was among the 75 Canadians who, along with 200,000 other people from around the world, volunteered to go on a one-way trip to Mars to help colonize the place. One-way trip as in never coming back. Ever.

It sounded like a heck of a good deal to me. Six months free travel in a little capsule with a few other people, then setting foot on the Red Planet which would be my new home till the end of time. It would not be crowded there, I wouldn’t have to walk the dog and there would never be another free coffee contest. At least I don’t think there would be.

But alas, today it was announced that six Canadians have qualified for the final round of selection for the 2025 trip. I am not one of them.

I am really getting tired of having my dreams dashed like this. I am as eager to leave this planet for good as some people I know are excited to see me go. And yet, Earth it is for me. For now.

I will write more about it when I get back from the coffee shop and have taken the dog for a walk.

2024-02-21

Author: Jim Hagarty

I am a 72-year-old retired journalist, busy recovering from a lifelong career as an unretired journalist. This year marks a half century of my scratching out little fables about life. My interests include genealogy, humour and music. I live in a little blue shack in Canada and spend most of my time trying to stay out of trouble. I am not that good at it. I also spent years teaching journalism. Poor state of journalism today: My fault. I have a family I don't deserve, a dog that adores me, and two cars the junk yard refuses to accept. My prized possessions include my old guitar and a razor my Dad gave me when I was 14 and which I still use when I bother to shave. Oh, and my great-great-grandfather's blackthorn stick he brought from Ireland in the 1850s. I have only one opinion but it is a good one: People take too many showers. View all posts by Jim Hagarty

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Please scroll down to the bottom of this sidebar from time to time. There are some interesting things here and I am trying to change pics, quotes, and jokes as often as I can. Also there are links to my social media sites and my archives (back to April 2016). Also a form you can fill out to register and start serving your Lifetime Sentence. The bar is open 24/7 but behave: I’ve hired several retired hockey players as bouncers. Don’t forget to tip the wait staff!!!!

Jim’s Rhymes, No Reason

The Young Woman in the Shop

I know a young woman who never smiles.
She works in a shop where I go.
She looks as unhappy as anyone could
And I have no idea why that’s so.

Maybe she hates working there in the shop
And dealing with people like me.
But she’s walked by my place when she wasn’t at work
And she still looks as sad as can be.

Sometimes she is rude when we have an exchange
And I’m tempted to call her on that.
But I don’t want to add to the troubles she has
So I keep it all under my hat.

Maybe things are a mess in her life
Or maybe her mother is ill.
I simply don’t know why she always is down
And I don’t suppose I ever will.

But I hope I am wrong and that’s just her way
Because life is too short we all know,
To spend our time fretting and frowning all day.
At some point we have to let go.

A woman who works alongside this sad one
Is always pleasant and bright.
And who knows, she might have problems that would
Make the sad one’s issues seem light.

A person whose manner says, “Leave me alone”
Will be left alone, that is for sure.
And whether her problems are real or imagined
Life won’t likely hold much joy for her.

Another Foiled Escape Attempt

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