It’s been rather uneventful this week here at the ranch. Thanksgiving was extremely lovely; several friends came and went. I do have a new visitor though, Molly the gray fox. She’s been making an appearance for the past week or so and seems very healthy. Her coat is thick and beautiful and her tail is bushy.
I did some reading about the fox. When the fox picks a mate, they mate for life. If the female dies, the male remains solo. If the male dies, the female chooses a new mate. Interesting.
Last time I was in town for supplies, I stopped at Marie Calendar’s in Sun City for a bite to eat before making the trek home. Sun City is a community designed for retirees. The majority live there full time while the others are snowbirds taking advantage of the extremely mild winters here. I’ve never seen so many Cadillacs and RVs in one place. Needless to say, driving in Sun City is done at your own risk – look out for those tanks!
I placed my order for the Fish ‘n Chips and my server quickly returned with my Arnold Palmer and dinner bread. I noticed a couple of tables occupied by elderly gentlemen dining solo. One nodded and smiled as I scanned the restaurant. Just as my dinner was brought to the table, two elderly ladies were sat at a table next to my booth. As they looked over the menu, a foursome of ladies was sat at the booth in front of me. I couldn’t help but stare – I’d seen blue-hair, but pink-hair? Wow!
As I munched on my delicious fish, I overheard the ladies at the table as they scoped out the gentlemen dining solo. One said, as she motioned towards the gentleman, “Bert’s available; he’s been widowed for seven years”. “His wife was from Norway, they came here from Minnesota.” “He used to drive a gold Cadillac, blah, blah, blah.” Her companion asked, “Does he date anyone?” Well, I wasn’t the only one eaves-dropping. One of the pink-haireds leaned towards the table and said, “No, not now anyway”. “You remember Myrtle, Myrtle Baker?” “They broke up when she moved to South Carolina to live with her son", then in a whispered tone, "the alcoholic.” Good grief - is no one’s life story sacred?!?
Both tables were rubber-necking to check who else was dining solo. Some conversation went back and forth again between the two tables. They were not at all shy about their motives. They all wore their casual best, painted faces, coiffed hair and, good lord, lots of perfume.
I could not believe it when one of the pink-haireds got up from the booth and approached Bert. She had a flyer in her hand. She walked up and boldly asked if she could sit down. He agreed. She went on and on about her bingo as the others would sneak a peek at their friend and would giggle after a comment was made under their breath. After 10 minutes of rambling, the pink-haired lady returned to her seat. I was surprised there wasn’t a round of high-fives the way they were carrying on.
Everyone had been served and was comparing their selections and trying to decide which pie they would order later. Then one of the pink-haireds offered the blue-haireds a flyer, an invitation to their bingo night. The blue-haireds were obviously pissed-off that they had made a move on the gentleman and refused the flyer. Talk about poor losers! They were behaving like junior high girls, "I saw him first." "No, I saw him first." Jeeez!
So, like the fox, I observed the same behavior in humans. It was the unmated females looking to hook-up and the unmated males were solo. Although I wanted to stay and take in more of this competitive nature; however, it was time for me to make my way back to the ranch. Pink Hair – 1, Blue Hair – 0.
I did some reading about the fox. When the fox picks a mate, they mate for life. If the female dies, the male remains solo. If the male dies, the female chooses a new mate. Interesting.
Last time I was in town for supplies, I stopped at Marie Calendar’s in Sun City for a bite to eat before making the trek home. Sun City is a community designed for retirees. The majority live there full time while the others are snowbirds taking advantage of the extremely mild winters here. I’ve never seen so many Cadillacs and RVs in one place. Needless to say, driving in Sun City is done at your own risk – look out for those tanks!
I placed my order for the Fish ‘n Chips and my server quickly returned with my Arnold Palmer and dinner bread. I noticed a couple of tables occupied by elderly gentlemen dining solo. One nodded and smiled as I scanned the restaurant. Just as my dinner was brought to the table, two elderly ladies were sat at a table next to my booth. As they looked over the menu, a foursome of ladies was sat at the booth in front of me. I couldn’t help but stare – I’d seen blue-hair, but pink-hair? Wow!
As I munched on my delicious fish, I overheard the ladies at the table as they scoped out the gentlemen dining solo. One said, as she motioned towards the gentleman, “Bert’s available; he’s been widowed for seven years”. “His wife was from Norway, they came here from Minnesota.” “He used to drive a gold Cadillac, blah, blah, blah.” Her companion asked, “Does he date anyone?” Well, I wasn’t the only one eaves-dropping. One of the pink-haireds leaned towards the table and said, “No, not now anyway”. “You remember Myrtle, Myrtle Baker?” “They broke up when she moved to South Carolina to live with her son", then in a whispered tone, "the alcoholic.” Good grief - is no one’s life story sacred?!?
Both tables were rubber-necking to check who else was dining solo. Some conversation went back and forth again between the two tables. They were not at all shy about their motives. They all wore their casual best, painted faces, coiffed hair and, good lord, lots of perfume.
I could not believe it when one of the pink-haireds got up from the booth and approached Bert. She had a flyer in her hand. She walked up and boldly asked if she could sit down. He agreed. She went on and on about her bingo as the others would sneak a peek at their friend and would giggle after a comment was made under their breath. After 10 minutes of rambling, the pink-haired lady returned to her seat. I was surprised there wasn’t a round of high-fives the way they were carrying on.
Everyone had been served and was comparing their selections and trying to decide which pie they would order later. Then one of the pink-haireds offered the blue-haireds a flyer, an invitation to their bingo night. The blue-haireds were obviously pissed-off that they had made a move on the gentleman and refused the flyer. Talk about poor losers! They were behaving like junior high girls, "I saw him first." "No, I saw him first." Jeeez!
So, like the fox, I observed the same behavior in humans. It was the unmated females looking to hook-up and the unmated males were solo. Although I wanted to stay and take in more of this competitive nature; however, it was time for me to make my way back to the ranch. Pink Hair – 1, Blue Hair – 0.
Great blog! Thanks for posting my giveaway and hello from one ex-schlepper to another.
ReplyDeletenice post !
ReplyDeleteMan, I think I'd rather be a fox and avoid all the hassle! A male fox that is... :p
ReplyDeleteWow. I expected behavior like that from the teens I teach, but never from the elderly. I guess human nature is always human nature, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe might think it's Jr. High behavior, but these women have had years to perfect it!
ReplyDeleteAlso, regarding the mention of overuse of perfume.... do you think as people age, their sense of smell diminishes along with their sense of hearing and sight? Too many elderly are far too perfumed! But we love 'em!
We have a Sun City for retirees too! What a coincidence.
ReplyDeleteIt really is true! I know from eavesdropping on the seniors in little diners also! Crazy!
ReplyDeleteGreat commentary,
ReplyDeleteHumans are certainly the most fun animal in the zoo to observe. I know it takes up all my time. LOL enjoy pjc
I loved it!
ReplyDeletethanks for taking time to look at my blog! i appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteGlad to come across your blog and thanks for the kind comments in my blog... I'm adding u as a frnd as well... will be back ... keep up the good work!!
~jjs~
Great blog with a romantic twist. As always, I love your writing
ReplyDeleteThis is hysterical!
ReplyDeleteMy, how the men must feel! So many pinks and blue to choose from.
Great story!! I love the way you write!!
ReplyDeleteI did not realize the old ladies were still that crazy. Maybe they are crazy from the heat. I definitely see myself being like a male fox. If I ever lost Mrs. Shife I would be done. No need for me to find anyone else because I could not do it.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant- I love earwigging too. Great story. I was doing the same Saturday night at a hotel. A man dressed in a rather bright patterned jumper sat with a lady in a clashing pink blouse and they asked the waitress her opinion on whether to have the (wait for it) Hanky Panky Chocolate dessert or the Chocolate brownie. Later on I heard them telling the waitress the Hanky Panky dessert was a tad too chocolatey!
ReplyDeleteNow that's an interesting post. BTW I just learned about the Arnold Palmer 15 minutes before reading this. There's no telling what I would've thought....golf, a hat, who knows?
ReplyDeleteHilarious. I know old ladies in small towns act like that, for a fact. My grandmother is one of them. And she does the same thing when scoping out the fresh "old" meat. Old ladies misbehave, too. And, I too, have been in a restaurant where you hear gossip go back and forth.
ReplyDeleteI'll be adding you to my blogroll, Me-Me. Gave ya a whipdandy review at BC. Hope ya don't mind. :)
ReplyDeleteCleverly recounted and an excellent read! Bravo Margo, you are really onto something :-) Now I know why they say "Foxy Lady" LOL
ReplyDeleteWay to go pink hairs. I think the male fox got the worst end of that stick. Being lonely for life isn't very fun even if your significant other passes on. The female foxes have it right. If marge simpson was there though the blue hairs would win for sure.
ReplyDeleteHeh, I'm going to dye my hair green when I get old! Wonder what these ladies were actually like in high school, & have they changed much since then?
ReplyDelete