The Meaning of Life

The local pet shop has a parrot in a cage at the front door. There is a hand drawn sign on the cage, it reads 'Master of the Universe'.

Yesterday, as I walked past, I caught the shop owners eye. "What's with the sign?, I queried. "Mate", came the reply, "The only thing between that bird & total world domination is those few thin bars".

With that off-the-cuff remark the owner retreated to the rear of the shop to attend to a customer, leaving his remark dangling in mid air like a suspended exclamation mark. I walked up to the caged bird, and squatted down for some eye-to-eye contact. The creature regarded me casually. "So you're 'Master of the Universe' & would be dominator of planet Earth?" I mused. The animal nodded its head the way parrots sometime do. "So how did you end up in this predicament, eh?" I asked. The bird raised its folded wings in a shrug gesture. "So, Master of the known Universe", I said, "What is the meaning of life?" My captive conversation partner bobbed animatedly up & down on its perch then let out a raucous screech just as the store proprietor returned. "How you two getting on then?", he said addressing the pair of us. "Squawk, is the meaning the life" I replied as I walked off.

I did not really need to ask about the purpose of existence. I already know. Life is a little agile two seat helicopter, the company of some like minded individuals and a warm beach. I say the world has gone to the birds, give me a chopper any day!