Today, I am a starter motor

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Tue 8 Dec 2009 23:14
An enigmatic title: Let me explain :)
A few years ago, when I turned 13 (well, it SEEMS like a few years ago) I
had my 'coming of age', my Barmitzvah. At that time, unbelievably
pre-computer, pre- mobile phone, pre-digital 300 channels of crap TV, even
(whisper this) pre-calculator, the traditional present for distant
relatives and friends to give was.....a fountain pen (remember those? A
great advancement on the quill and far 'classier' than a Biro). Well the
standing joke (oh, how we laughed at simple things in those days) was that
a 'barmitzvah boy' would receive so many fountain pens that the
traditional speech that he gave at the 'knees up' (otherwise known as
'good for at least one major family row which lasted at least a
generation') after the service in the synagogue instead of beginning
'today I am a man' began 'Today, I am a fountain pen' (see, I told you we
laughed at simple things in those days.
Well, today, after a lengthy wait and at only a quarter of the price it
would have cost to import a new one and just a couple of (more) grey
hairs.... 'TODAY I AM A STARTER MOTOR'.