Richard Dutton

Learning In Time

Acting through college
Helped dance training at YWCA
King of ballroom with bused in
girl college students
Brief contact with beauties

I was in no hurry
Planned to make money first
I had high standards for a wife
Must have a college degree
and of course be pretty

After becoming an army veteran
and seven years of mostly
“over paid” field engineering
I was noticeably balding
No dolls were running after me
Even after I had made money
in the stock market
(Xerox on the margin)
I wasn’t attracting my dream

I did run into one cute girl
several times at church meetings
at dances and libraries
But thought I was too old for her
After one contact was over,
I drove along side her at a stop light
and asked if she wanted to stop for coffee
We dated on and off for two years
On one trip to a restaurant
without pre-thinking it, I said
Will you marry me?
I don’t know how it happened but
she said yes



Learning Life

Born in depression family filled with matriarchs
Mom, two grandma's and aunt
Dad the king was seldom seen

Highchair time special shoes for ankles
Then tapdancing lessons

Big brother made me inhale smoke hold mercury in hand
shock me with toy train transformer
Annoying chores were walk and clean dog,
wash dishes and clothes
bank the fire and add coal to the furnace
mow the lawn and help the Victory gardens
OK walking younger sister to school and lunch

We three enlisted in US Army
Bro OCS Korea
Me specialist in air defense
Sis top secret satellite view interpreter
In service I completed my bachelors
the first degree on Dad's side of family
Got engineering job North American Aviation
Three time zones away from home                 
I am inventive other-directed introvert,
slow initiating changes to new departments or products
Also married late but to a decade younger wife
She retired with salary level Library District Director
Dad said not to marry an actress
but she had been in movies and on TV
Now I am content doing dishes, laundry and little lawn
Plus poetry, dancing plus skyping our daughter
a Harvard grad in Scotland family 8 time zones away
My bro and his top sibling wife schemed so
I got no inheritance re: 3 story houses, views, >20 acres
but I forgive my dad who worked hard
He was loyal to his boss –------but not to mom                               
My parents and sibs are all gone now –Someplace       
Maybe waiting for me-----But I haven't grown up yet