The Second Hand Man
December 23rd, 1965

I really,really gotta be more careful!

I watchedmother popping corn in the old traditional way, using melted butter on thestove top.

It made merealize how handy microwave ovens are. Next to PCs, the internet andcellphones, they will become, in my opinion, one of the greatest devices everinvented. In my first life, I mostly ate out - or ordered in. So, I rarely, ifever, cooked anything in a microwave oven. But for defrosting, reheating and,of course, popping corn - it was the king of my kitchen.

Mother onlypopped corn on special occasions, so I had asked, “What’s the specialoccasion?”

“You’re goingto love tonight’s movie,” she beamed. “I first saw it when I was about yourage, and I thought it was just wonderful!”

“Yeah? What’sit called?”

“You rememberthat movie you liked so much, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?”

“Yeah, theone with John Wayne?” I lowered my voice and did my best impersonation of TheDuke. “Well, Pilgrim.”

“Yes! But, do you remember the other guy?”

“JamesCoburn?” I teased knowingly.

“No, thekind, gentle one.”

“Oh, the wimpwho kept getting his butt kicked?”

My mothershook her head and smiled. Then nodded, “Yes, James Stewart. Well, he acts intonight’s movie.”

“What’s itcalled?”

“It’s aWonderful Life. And…”

“Oh, sheesh!”I said scrunching up my face. “Not that old chestnut again. They’ve beenshowing it just about every year since forever. I’ve probably seen it a hundredtimes already.”

“Don’t talknonsense,” she said frowning and slapping my shoulder. “When did you ever seeit?”

“I…” Then Iremembered that I had only seen it for the first time around Christmas of ’65.I quickly took steps to correct my foolish blunder. “Sure I have, it’s the onewhere he’s a private detective and he gets framed for murder. And there wasthis half-a-dime in the…”

“No, no, no!That one’s called, It’s a Wonderful World.”

“So, isn’tthat what you said? I’m pretty sure that was the same guy from The Man Who ShotLiberty Valence.”

“It is, butthis movie is called It’s a Wonderful Life.” She stressed the word Life. Thenrepeated it, “Life!”

Thank Godthat Jimmy Stewart made two movies with similar titles. And thank God for mineand my mother’s knowledge of old movies.

So, anyhow, Iended up watching It’s a Wonderful Life for the hundred and first time. And tomy mother’s great pleasure, I even pretended to enjoy it - immensely.