NOT OUR KIND OF PEOPLE

We had a beautiful Zenith console television in a cherry cabinet and it was the "creme de la creme" when we bought it in 1981. About ten years ago, we decided that when the "good ole Zenith" died we would get a big-screen television. I couldn't justify such an expensive purchase when we had "a perfectly good TV"! Several people suggested we just put it in another room and I sheepishly admitted that we had televisions in the four bedrooms and that I didn't want one in the living room and there wasn't room in the library.

The neighbors across the street have a picture window and four years ago, we couldn't help notice that they had purchased a big-screen TV. I kept telling myself that I was not envious and that we had planned to get one before they had theirs, but nevertheless, we also kept looking at our television and yelling "DIE!" The neighbors are not friendly--which is OK with me--because I am not friendly with neighbors either. [I only mention this because it is important to the anecdote!] I do not speak, wave or in any way acknowledge their existence and neither do they! I do notice that they have opposing political signs in their yard!

Fortunately, our Zenith died a painless death at age 27 and we purchased the big-screen television; Gerald had been checking out Consumers Report and comparing prices for weeks! When we decided on the perfect viewing spot for the television, I admit that I was a mite disappointed that the neighbors could not see ours which was sequestered in the rear of the family room.

My brother is either a mind-reader or just knows me too damned well, because, as we were having the Dish and everything installed, he said, "Well, you know they're NOT our kind of people." I asked, "What do you mean?" He said, "Look, they're over there watching Leno and we're Letterman people!"