Murphy's World

The driver in cement shoes

Dear Murphy,

Ever witness someone else’s Murphy Day and feel totally helpless?

I was taking a shortcut through Lewisburg, WV not long ago when the traffic started to slow. I could see up ahead that cars were swerving to avoid something, so I followed suit. There was a gloppy substance on the road.

Well, I go around the bend and find the source: Some poor soul apparently had a malfunction on his cement mixer, and it had started pumping fresh cement out onto the road! He was frantically trying to sweep this massive pile of wet concrete off the road with his feet, which didn’t seem to be doing much good. It was kind of a pathetic sight, and I was trying to think of how I could help (short of needlessly destroying my own boots), when the police arrived. They quickly got traffic moving again, so I continued on my way.

To my brother trucker, if you’re reading this, I hope it turned out OK for you. Did you bill the city for the repaving job?

Eddie J.

Dear Eddie,

I’ve heard of folks getting fitted for a pair of cement shoes, but it was in the movies when they ran afoul of some mobster. I’ve never heard of a guy giving himself the treatment, but as the saying goes, there’s a first time for everything.

It’s nice to know your heart was in the right place, that you at least thought of trying to help this poor guy, and that you hoped it turned out OK. On the other hand, if I was in this guy’s (cement) shoes, I’m not so sure I would find your crack about the repaving bill all that funny. But what the heck, I’m not him, so I’m sitting here laughing my head off.

Isn’t it great when the Murphy Day happens to someone else? Enjoy it while you can because, trust me, one day you’ll have your very own “M” day. We all do.

Regards,

Murphy and Lucky Dog