My neighbor and I often sit out in the evening discussing world events and other interesting topics. Since it is the election year, we decided not to discuss politics. We decided to find something more interesting. We chose the weather. We figured that was a good subject since weather was a sure thing. There is going to be weather no matter what.

My grandpa had his system of telling the weather. He had a short piece of rope hanging outside his window. If it was wet, he figured it was raining or had been. If it was frozen solid, he figured it was cold. If it was slanted out, he figured it was windy.

Well my neighbor and I were both in agreement about the time change system. We both agreed that it was a bunch of nonsense. Neither of us could understand how they made the sun do that. And who were “They?”

Several thoughts were hashed around until a question came up. It was, “Are the days getting shorter or are the nights getting longer”? Immediately, I could see my neighbor was set in his opinion. I questioned that a man of his intelligence would think that way. After all, it was obvious that he was wrong. It turns out that he was getting his information from the TV while I was getting my facts from the internet. I could tell it was like trying to discuss a topic with a brick wall.

We finally decided to take a poll of the neighborhood. After all they were all intelligent people. We agreed that percentages never lie. Then we got in an argument about who was to word the ballot. I could tell he wanted it slanted his way. After a complete coverage of the neighborhood, we found that many made comments that didn’t cover the topic, but rather wrote in comments about us, the pollees.

Later as we sat out and the sun was setting, my neighbor said, “See, I told you.” Smart aleck!

Don Hill is a resident of Seymour and a longtime volunteer for Southern Indiana Center for the Arts. Send comments to [email protected].