Hi, My name is Wayne. I know you're probably thinking, Wayne. Wayne is a weird name for a monkey. But, actually, I was made in the United States so why not a name like Wayne? I was made in 1956 by a company that was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the time.
One day I was purchased by a lady named Peggy Hull. She took me home and mostly just sat me on the shelf. Same as happens to most ceramic banks, I suppose. I wasn't used much. Oh, now and then someone would put a few coins in me but they didn't stay long before they would be shaken out again. Peggy, my owner, had two children and whenever my coins were removed they would try to shake them out through the slot in the back of my head where they had been inserted. Peggy didn't want me broken, you see.
In time, Peggy passed and I fell into the hands of her son, Richard. He has tried to take care of me and make sure nothing happened to me over the years. Again, mostly I have just sat on the shelf. Once in a while he looks at me and thinks about his mom, Peggy.
Richard just recently realized that, since I am almost as old as him, just two years younger in fact. That I might just have a couple of lessons he could learn from me. So he decided a good place to put them would be here in his blog so that maybe someone else could, also, benefit from them.
I was thrilled the day Peggy brought me home. And even more thrilled to meet "Richard" and his sister, Pam. I put Richard in quotes there because that is not what his family calls him but he doesn't like anyone but his family calling him by that name so out of respect for his wishes I will not tell you what it is. Just know that I very much consider "Richard" family and would call him by the family name if I could talk. But, wait, I do talk! Oh, not with words but with those life lessons that one can only learn by paying attention. You see, some things that never use words speak the loudest if we listen.
The first lesson that I have to share is that I have been a part of "Richard's" family for sixty years and I have never told anything about what I have seen. I wouldn't even if I could talk. You see, that's the way it is with close friends and family. They see things, they know things, but they don't share things. They don't gossip, spread rumors, or reveal secrets. Perhaps sometimes it would be better if humans didn't talk. A lot of pain is sometimes caused by people who talk too much. I know that often times it is not intentional but it hurts just the same. I have known "Richard" and his family all this time and have sat on the shelf and seen and heard things but you'll never get them out of me. I know how to be a close friend and a good family member. Not that my family has any deep, dark secrets. No, I don't mean anything like that! But they are family and their business is private business only to be shared with whomever they decide to share it with. Same as your business should be.
In the old days, remember I am sixty years old, people just didn't put their family business out there for all to know about it. That's just that way it was. Now, with the invention of "social media" it seems like others know more about someone than they know about themselves. At least that's my opinion.
Well, part of being wise, and I hope I've learned some things over the years, is knowing when to shut up. I think now is that time for me. You have my first lesson. If "Richard" allows there may be more to come but that is for another day. I sure hope I can be of help to some of you. I hope to talk to all of you again, soon.
For now I'll just sign off. Have a great day, or night wherever you may be.
Lovingly,
Wayne
