Grumpy Old Man

I am actually having to do work today so there are no great adventures, I have not blown anything up nor have I eaten anything like deep fried chicken feet. I have been pondering about a grumpy old man though, now I do want to make it clear that he does not bother me at all but I did wonder how a guy could be so grumpy when everyone around him seems happy.
  
I have made an effort to get to know the people of Florence, Oregon and after friending people on FB and using many other means of communication as well, I have "met" over 300 people from this small town. Everyone has been welcoming with the exception of one grumpy old man who told me "you will never be welcome here, you should look for somewhere else to live". 

I knew right away he was grumpy because he had called my office phone three times asking me to return his calls. Being dutiful I called the man back when he told me the famous line. Within minutes after hanging up I was informed that I had better never call him again because it would be construed as harassment. This of course was funny because I called him once and he had called me three times. This did start to grate on my nerves a little till it hit me.... he really was the famous grumpy old man.

I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and every kid in town knew who the grumpy old man was. We made stories up about him and how he held children as slaves, that he poisoned his Halloween candy and that he would spit at you if he had the chance. As an adult I came to realize all of that was untrue and that we kids made it all up.


Thinking along this line and watching plenty of Andy Griffith on TV I realized every town needs at least one grumpy old man to scare the kids. So as I think of this fellow I do not feel any animosity towards the fellow but actually a sneaky feeling of thankfulness. This man is sacrificing his friends, reputation and honor to full fill the real need of a grumpy old man.


When I finally show up in town to live there full time I wonder what character I will be. I really do not gossip, drink or accidentally sever fingers off in shop class so I will probably have to live with the reputation of being the sarcastic one.... Is that job taken yet?