Sometimes the smallest of things can make us smile.
An old girlfriend once told me that as I stepped out of the shower. I was shocked, as she was usually so humourless she could light up a room just by leaving it.
Recently, something happened to me that was pretty inconsequential, when you consider the state of the world today. But, it made me smile and I hope it does the same for you.
I’d driven to a local garden centre – well it was more practical than driving to one in Birmingham!
I’d left my house around four pm, by the time I got to Birmingham, asked someone where the nearest garden centre was and found it, the place would’ve probably been closed.
I don’t imagine there are ‘All Night’ garden centres in the UK, not even in Birmingham.
Feel free to put me right, if you know better.
Walking through the garden centre entrance, I was aware that a man in his 20s was walking just behind me, holding a dog on a lead.
The dog, as dogs do, stopped to sniff the ground and I heard its owner gently rebuke the animal, sayin, “Don’t pee in the doorway, Buddy!”
I know! I should’ve minded my own business, but I turned to the man and quipped “That sounds like a song title!”
The man looked blankly at me for a moment, then said “Yes, I suppose it could” and went into the building.
I’m not sure who was more puzzled: him or Buddy.
Later, on the way out, I saw them again and thought I’d better explain what I meant about “Don’t Pee In The Doorway, Buddy!”
I said, “There was a hit song called ‘Don’t Sleep In The Subway, Darling’ by Petula Clark, back in the 60s!”
Obviously not a listener to the many ‘Gold’ radio stations that play the song regularly, he said, “I wasn’t born until 1998!” and walked off.
Driving home, I sang “Don’t Sleep In The Subway!” substituting my newly-created lyrics.
Next time you hear it on the radio, I bet you will, too!