JIM'S JOTTINGS: August 4, 2017

Getting Malled: My old friend Larry Groce once wrote a funny song about being “Malled”, as in retail therapy. Last week’s Time magazine had an interesting article about the rise and fall of malls in these United States, which, of course, reminded me of where our OLLI is located. The Mountaineer Mall is our oldest mall, now inhabited by TeleTech and Mylan and a few assorted entities like Senior Mons, OLLI, a gym or two, etc. + one hot dog stand. I have been fascinated by the occasion article or TV story relating how this or than mall has been re-purposed into something else. I have long thought that our old mall could very easily be converted into a center completely devoted to senior citizens. Make the old department stores into apartments, include a small drug store, a clinic specializing in elder-care, and a really inviting large common area with snack bar where people could gather to gossip and pass the time. All it takes is a little VISION…I’m just sayin’.

Al Gore has been on all the TV shows this week, but, of course, his new film, a sequel to his ten-year old climate change film, is NOT opening at either of our cinemas today…darn it! This is why, for the second time, our Film Forum fall line-up is going to be “Films That Should Have Played Here…but Didn’t.” And hey, thanks to those brave film fans that showed up for “Nosferatu” on Wed. I hope not too much sleep was lost… I was asked what the word means so herewith: The name "Nosferatu" is actually derived from the Old Slavonic word "nosufuratu," which is borrowed from the Greek word "nosophoros," meaning "plague-carrier.". The term does not actually signify "undead." [via Wiki]

A Challenge: Hey, here’s a fun summer activity. Could you write a one-paragraph short story? Complete with beginning, middle, end, a hero and a villain and some conflict? Is it possible? I’m going to give it a try and will add it to this column. If any of my readers accomplish this feat, I will happily provide space for the entertainment and edification of our members.

Kahlua by JDH. I was at the department chair’s home, sitting on a sectional sofa, one arm draped over the back, as we discussed how this Imperial Woods home had an indoor pool that had been covered over and that we were now sitting over. I had been introduced to Kahlua, a very petite chocolate-point Siamese. She seemed real friendly. As I draped my arm over the sofa and dropped it behind, the chair warned me, but it was too late. Multiples of tiny, sharp claws proceeded to dig into my arm, teeth bit down on my thumb, blood trickled, I felt my hand go numb as I drew it up with Kahlua hanging on and beginning to devour my fingers, one by one.  I frantically tried to shake it off, but by then the room was going dark, vertigo was settling like a tornado over my head, as down I went. When I came to, my amused department chair was applying another band aid to my fingers as I continued to see spots and stars. Kahlua sat calmly next to me, licking her chops and batting her red eyes at me…was this one of those vampire Siamese cats I had read about in “Amazing Tales” as a kid? Hmmm… As I drove out of those dark, foreboding Imperial Woods, something told me to avoid further contact with Kahlua…but I didn’t. It was too late. Her hypnotic powers had overcome my failing mental faculties as she had vanquished the rest of our faculty.

That wasn’t too hard, but I think I need to focus more on literary merit. Your turn, please!

Just Jim Held