The flower of Midlife sifted through faith, family and heaping helping of southern fried chicken.

Every first year law student learns the phrase “res ipsa loquitor” in Torts class.

“The thing speaks for itself.”

This is used in cases of negligence. One most famous example being the surgeon who took out the appendix. The patient complained of subsequent abdominal pain. X-Rays showed object in shape of scalpel in body.

Res ipsa. There is nothing else needed to prove the surgeon’s negligence.

Res ipsa and peaches.

I love my peaches. But rarely do I buy a peach that is ready to eat. They must sit out on the counter for a day or so.

Went into see if peaches were ready and saw this…

A hole. A hole in my peach that was not there when I purchased them. A hole the size of a small mouth. A child’s mouth. A 5 year-old child’s mouth. A 5 year-old child I told not to bother the peaches because they were hard as baseballs.

Someone didn’t want to wait. They bit then decided an unripe peach = not so good. Kind of like biting into a baseball. With fuzz.

I asked the would-be perp, “Son, did you take a bite of this peach when I told you to wait?”

No.Vigorous head nodding.

This went on and on till I showed him the peach. He finally agreed. Apologized.

A week later. This is what I found.

Another bite. These are different peaches. I always buy three. Why? No clue.  But the point is my little peach person doesn’t wait for the peaches to ripen and doesn’t mind his mother at all — in matters of peaches.

The fact that a crime has been committed is very obvious.  Sometimes there’s no explaining away the consequences of disobedience.

Whether one denies over and over and over again….The thing does speak for itself.

Guess with peaches not such a big deal. Other areas of disobedience are not so easily overlooked. Or as harmless as a wasted fruit.

No matter the form, the bite remains.

John Hughes died yesterday morning.

Many people commented how his movies were such a part of their 80s experience. I think it was more for me.

So many of the words he wrote play over and over in my head. In some cryptic mental massage.

“Class.. Anyone, Anyone? Something-d-o-o economics. Voodoo economics.” Yes, I often ask myself a question followed by “Anyone? Anyone?” Just wish Ben Stein voice would then tell me the answer. This hasn’t happened much.

Then Vacation. How many times has..

“Roll em’ up”

“But Daddy says I do it best.”

“That hurt, Ellen.”

“That’s nothing to be proud of Russ” ……….”50 yards.”

“After the baby comes, Eddie says I can quit one of my night jobs.”

“I’m not sure of his exact height and weight. All I know is that the man was a saint with children and a genius with food additives ”

“Real tomato ketchup, Eddie? … Oh, nothing but the best.”

“You didn’t order the Metallic Pea?”

And my personal favorite .. though it is usually me who is going away. “Is that a real gun, Mom?  I don’t know, Rusty, but when this is all over, your father may be going away for a little while.”

Last night we pulled out Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I remember watching that movie the first time in a crowded theater and laughing so hard I lost my breath. I started to hyperventilate.

But watching again last night I was caught by the scene when they were in hotel room. First I was dying laughing at Steve Martin’s monologue…

“You know everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting. You’re a miracle! Your stories have NONE of that. They’re not even amusing ACCIDENTALLY! “Honey, I’d like you to meet Del Griffith, he’s got some amusing anecdotes for you. Oh and here’s a gun so you can blow your brains out. You’ll thank me for it.” I could tolerate any insurance seminar. For days I could sit there and listen to them go on and on with a big smile on my face. They’d say, “How can you stand it?” I’d say, “‘Cause I’ve been with Del Griffith. I can take ANYTHING.”You know what they’d say? They’d say, “I know what you mean. The shower curtain ring guy. Woad.” It’s like going on a date with a Chatty Cathy doll. I expect you have a little string on your chest, you know, that I pull out and have to snap back. Except I wouldn’t pull it out and snap it back – you would. Agh! Agh! Agh! Agh! And by the way, you know, when you’re telling these little stories? Here’s a good idea – have a POINT. It makes it SO much more interesting for the listener!” (Emphasis my favorite lines.)

Then in the next moment John Candy standing there in those huge, goofy pajamas..

“You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I’m an easy target. Yeah, you’re right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you… but I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I’m not changing. I like… I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. ‘Cause I’m the real article. What you see is what you get.”

And I have tears in my eyes.

That was when John Hughes was at his best. Turning a mocking laugh into an emotional tear for the brunt of the joke.

Thank for the laughter. Thanks for the humanity. And thanks forever for this….