I did something today that I haven't done in years. I said the Pledge of Allegiance. I took my mother to her 50 Plus Club. Before the head "Pluser" lead everyone in Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary (he knows the harmony), told us how much the pizza cost for this meeting ($88) and read the minutes of the last meeting (they made their own Sundaes), we said "it".
I forgot how powerful the words in that speech are. I pledge allegiance...to the United States if America. Wow. They should make you recite this before you vote. Right at that moment do you pledge allegiance to all your candidate stands for?
I learned a couple more things today. One is there is a very low bar for public speaking on the senior set. The strong, black, wannabe guru of positivity simple read a top twenty list clearly right off the internet. "Teach someone something." "Give your clutter to charity." "Put money in a stranger's parking meter." At least there was pizza.
Secondly you need to watch who you sit with. An enterprising senior at our table went around and collected the table numbers at vacant tables to hedge our chances when the host randomly drew for who got to hit the salad table first. "Table 4", he said. "Let's go!" "I thought we were table 5, a countless lemming said. "Shut up. We are table 4." That's how you get to the ambrosia salad before it is gone folks! I pledge allegiance to Valerie and her republic at table 5...I mean 4.
Blog Author
Michelle Tomko's comedy is a fervent blend of tomboy sensibilities courtesy of the older brothers she grew up with in the Midwest and the barrage of perimenopausal chaos the East Coast world has heaped upon her. She pulls her humor from everyday observations and classic stories of family, travel, pets, and adversity. With razor-sharp crowd work and improvisational skills to the rock-solid timing of a veteran performer, Michelle’s act is not to be missed!