So the Couch in Mom's Basement Was Unused All Weekend?

I encountered a person today with whom I have a nodding acquaintance, as literal as it is figurative, who was pretty 'stoked to be back,' and wondered if I'd missed him. Not since I had the scope repaired, I replied, as I always do just to see the blank look of zero comprehension in his eyes, knowing he doesn't get the joke but won't ask me to explain.

And then it was my turn to look blank as he shared with me, unbidden, that he'd been at TERRIFICON over last weekend in the convention center at the Mohegan Sun Casino. 

These happen (or did before the COVID 19 pandemic) on a regular basis around and across the country. He mentioned that as he went on about a lot of stuff I can remember feeling odd about since I thought all this time he was a grown-up. A little strange as a grown-up, but a big person in a big person's body, if you know what I mean. 

I didn't realize I actually knew one of those stereotypical caricatures of a person, with the dark and greasy hair, the small, nervous eyes, and the sweaty palms who lives on a couch in his Mom's basement because to my knowledge, none of that is true in his case and yet.....

I dug around a bit online, of course, and learned these events are a multi-billion dollar business that exists as something a lot bigger than grist for my snark mill so perhaps I need to speak less loudly and cruelly of things about which I know so little. Except I've been this way for sixty-nine plus years so why change now, right? 

I enjoyed comics when I was a kid. I am far more often childish now than childlike but sifting through the websites trying to understand the difference between graphic novels and comics and the thousands of shades of meaning between them, I was overwhelmed with the sound of commerce, as in big business, I was tempted to lie down. That was when I realized that was the purpose of the couch in the basement.

Thanks, Mom, for gathering up the Archie and Jughead comic books all those years ago and getting rid of them. Was Archie hooking up with BOTH Betty and Veronica? And what the heck was that thing on Jughead's noggin? 

Here at Life's Rich Pageant, it's always worthwhile to pack an extra napkin and use it for the spot next to your mouth. On trash day, I'll drag the couch down to the curb and help load it onto the truck. Should be a hoot.
-bill kenny