I remember as a youngster doing things I knew were wrong or really frowned upon by the adults in my life. I am thinking that you are in the same boat. You probably found yourself doing something(s) that you considered harmless but you knew darn well that it was really socially unacceptable. Think about it and I am sure you will remember several instances in your lifetime that you were “walking the line.”

I can remember practicing my catching skills by bouncing a ball off the side of a building. What’s the harm? But I really knew that the sound of the ball ricocheting from the wall to be annoying, and the other associated noises and grunts were menacing to the serenity of the neighborhood. However, no one has complained, so I will continue until they tell me I can’t!

Riding my bike down the main street was always fun. Sometimes, some of my friends would join me in this activity dodging, people and animals. It was a lot of fun riding the streets and sometimes attach a playing card with a clothespin to the bike’s frame to make it sound like a motorcycle. People seemed to enjoy our presence, but I guess I do remember some snide remarks hurled in my direction and negative looks. And I do remember hearing some grumbling from pedestrians as I whizzed by! But I’m having a blast and overall, I think some of the people enjoy my presence on the streets so, I will continue until they tell me I can’t!

And no matter what the activity was that I thought up and thought to be lots of fun, people told me I couldn’t do it anymore.

Today, I like to think I’m older and wiser, but it’s difficult to get rid of the old mindset completely, so I will do those things I enjoy that others consider annoying until they tell me I can’t.

When I was a serious adult and a junior high teacher, I liked to hum a silly tune (usually from some commercial such as Band Aids) at the start of the day, and the kids started to complain when I did that because they couldn’t get the tune out of their heads! 

Using chalk on the blackboard was always an attention-getter. I could make the most horrible sound of chalk scraping along as I wrote a lesson on the board. The kids would cover their ears and complain bitterly as they shivered at the grating sound! What? What awful sound? It wasn’t hurting anyone, just a little annoying from their jokester teacher, so I will continue until they tell me I can’t. And they did!

I know you must have a bag of tricks from which you can pull your own annoying ideas! When my three boys were youngsters, they were fun to annoy. One day, they invited their neighborhood buddy over for dinner. We were having chicken and mashed potatoes and carrots. During the course of the meal, I looked up and told our guest to keep track of his chicken bones, as we will re-assemble the chicken after dinner. “Daaad!”

Another trick, I call the disappearing dessert trick is almost always quite amusing and a barrel of fun. When all have been served with dessert, create a diversion for one of the guests. When that guest is looking away, quietly and quickly take their dessert and hide it in your lap. The wide-eyed confused look is priceless. When the dessert accidentally hit the floor, then they told tell me I can’t do that anymore.

Now, I am older and I can do anything I want, just like one of my sons told me when he was in sixth grade. “I am in sixth grade now. I should be able to stay out as late as I want to and hang out with whoever I want to and ride my bike wherever I like!” Hmmm. Well, you can’t think like that anymore!

But seriously, at my age I don’t want to do all those things I’m supposed to be doing like taking my meds on a schedule, watching my diet very closely, taking my blood pressure at regular intervals, and going for a check-up! I don’t have time for all that stuff!

Lastly, don’t talk to me about my evening cocktail, as this is one activity that my wife and I refuse to give up until they tell us we can’t!

Tom Pinsonneault

Orwell