The Second Hand Man
November 29th, 1965

When a personloses a limb, say an arm or a leg. There is a strange, and not too uncommon,phenomenon that occurs wherein the afflicted person experiences pain or an itchin the missing appendage; truly an itch that can’t be scratched. In fact, inmedical terms, it is referred to as a phantom limb.

I have theequivalent of such an appendage; and it has a most insatiable itch.

I was a heavysmoker; a twenties-pack-a-day-man before the transference. I also indulgedmyself rather often with a fresh, hand-rolled, Cuban cigar. It was a vice thatI thoroughly relished!

My young bodyhas never partaken of tobacco in any form, and to all intents and purposesshould not have the cravings of a person that has been indulging in that habitfor over 35 years.

And yet, thesmell of my father’s pipe is enough to drive me insane.

Thank God Iwasn’t an alcoholic in my previous life! Having two cravings would beunbearable!

I can onlyhope, and expect that the desire will decrease as I become accustomed to my newbody.

It may bebecause my eyes are young and healthy again, but back here in the sixties, the sky seems bluer, the grass seems greenerand the night sky much clearer.

One thing is for certain though, the Rusky’s have never been redder.

Yep, the cold war is back to the frozen stage!!!