Circle of Life

Now, I'm borrowing the title from a more recent Disney film, but it does tie in to this post. (Kind of)
I just finished reading a 1929 copy of Bambi, by Felix Salten.  This particular volume is the first edition of the book in English. (as translated by Whittaker Chambers).  The original first edition was published in 1923 in Austria, under the title, "Bambi: A Life in the Woods").  If you've never read it, I can recommend that you do so.  Be warned though, except for all the animals talking to each other, it has very, very little in common with the Disney version.  There is no character named Thumper.  There is a "Flower", but she is not a skunk, but a butterfly, and appears only very briefly.  There is not great forest fire, and Bambi's mother (and father) is with him only a very short time.  (As in nature.)  I won't give too much more away, except in this dark version of events, Bambi actually gets shot.  He survives, and later meets a couple of fawns which the text implies (but never actually states), are his children.  While this version was written as a children's book, it is more realistic.   Its worth the read, if for nothing more than perspective on how the passage of time affects family values.  Read and enjoy!

Spinning a Yarn!

Not to blow my own horn.....eh, who am I kidding, I'm tooting it like Satchmo in his prime!  I think its been a good week for the C.H., building up lots of brownie points with my sweetie.  Friday, I went to an estate sale over in Columbus and scored almost 80 skeins of high quality yarn for a really good price (for example, DKW told that three of the skeins usually retailed for $10 each- I paid a buck each.)  Then on Saturday, for no reason other than I wanted to, I got her a beautiful bunch of fresh pink carnations. - And they smell good too!  So my Sweetie is happy, and that makes me happy.

Now, let me back up a bit.  I'm not the yarn afficianado that Debra is, but I do know her tastes and some of the brands she usually purchases.  So I was pretty sure that if I purchased anything, it would be stuff she would like in use.  But I was relieved when I found out "I DID GOOD!".  Not so much what she said, but the smile on her face as she looked over the haul make me think of a delighted child on Christmas morning!  She looked so happy.  Now, once I had secured the yarn and stowed it safely in my car, (priorities - ya know)  I did take time to walk thru the house and secured a couple of items for myself.  I snagged a 1929 edition of "Bambi" in its dust jacket.  Now like most folks, I've seen the Disney movie and even read a Disney-fied version of the book, but I've never read the original, unabridged version of the tale.  Once I finish the library books I have checked out, I look forward to doing just that.  I've heard that while fundamentally the same, the story is much darker than the Disney version.  I also got a big box of cedar discs (various sizes, 6 to 12 inches in diameter).  I can think of all sorts of crafty things to do with them.
And I'm still loving my birthday present.  Got new tires all around and still getting lots of looks driving the "hippie bug" all around Stark-Vegas!
Peace! Out!

All's Well That Ends Well

Me and my traffic stopper

I almost titled this "The Birthday from H**L"!!!   Read on!

My birthday is on Monday, April 3rd.  Since the forecast for Monday is 100% chance of rain.  I thought I would celebrate it a couple of days early and take a trip an hour south to the Choctaw Indian Casino in Philadelphia, MS.  So, around 10:00 AM this morning, I said goodbye to my wife, headed into town for a quick errand.  Well, some road work was going on in town and as I was approaching the first officer on Hwy 12 (I thought) he was waving at me (my car gets a lot of that).  It turns out he was trying to flag me down.  In my rear view mirror I saw him jump in his car and turn on his lights.  Evidently he had radioed ahead to the intersection being worked on because the police officer there flagged me down and had me stop behind his car as the other officer pulled up behind.   So there I am in my "Hippie Bug" between two city cop cars with lights flashing.  When the first officer came up I jokingly asked, "should I get out and spread 'em"?  He laughed and said, "no, when I first tried to flag you down, I just wanted a picture of your car.  Then after you kept going, I saw you didn't have a tag, so I had a legitimate reason to follow you and I called ahead."  I explained about getting the car this week and showed my receipt for the ordered tag, posed for some pics for both officers, and then headed south (in my new OLD car).  Tooling most of the way 5 miles below the speed limit.  No problems going down, so I decided I would do the same and take my time coming back from the casino (as I'm still getting used to the car).  (Not sure of exact time - took no watch.) Well, a little over half way back (2 or 3 miles north of Louisville, MS) I ran over something and my rear, passenger side tire shredded.  No problem, that's why I have AAA.  But no phone.  Again no problem - lots of traffic on Miss. Hwy. 25.   Within 5 minutes a good Samaritan had stopped and let me call AAA.  AAA told me that someone would be there in 45 minutes to an hour.  90 minutes later the truck showed and the guy changed my tire. (My back and leg aren't great - that's why I didn't do it myself - in case you wondered.) Before he put the spare on, he pointed out that the spare was worn uneven and it should probably be replaced soon.  At this time, thanks to him, I knew it was around 4:45.  So I said, :thanks, I'm headed straight to Wal-Mart: (only 20 or so miles away).  I pulled around the repair truck as he finished the paperwork and headed north at 55 MPH (in a 65 zone).  Ten minutes later the repair truck passed me.  Five  minutes after that - you guessed it - my spare shredded. Took a little longer to get someone to stop this time.  The guy that did stop actually drove past me, did two u-turns and came over so I could use his phone.  So I again called AAA, explained that this was a 2nd call, and my spare had shredded, so I would need a tow truck.  I was told (again) 45 minutes to an hour.  Don't know how long it was, but it was longer than that - I was listening to the MSU-Ole Miss baseball game.  Anyway around 6:30 the tow truck arrived, but it would not work for my car.  They needed one with a flat bed to carry it.  So off they went to get a different truck.  He got back with the truck, loaded my car, and off we went.  My sweetie picked me up (tire and auto was closed by now) and I arrived back home after being gone approximately 11 hours.  A much longer day  than I anticipated.  But, remember the title of this post!  Turns out that the second good Samaritan is also an independent film producer.  He asked if I would be interested in allowing him to use my car in a film.  He said something about writing a script about a man and an old car.  He then stopped, said  "Oh, Hey!  -  I could write something about an old hippie.  Would you be interested?  With that beard, you look the part."  So, as stated, "All's well that ends well" and  at 62, I may be starting my acting career!
And a couple of points before wrapping up, (1) Really glad I didn't do this Monday, and (2) State beat Ole Miss 5-4.  April Fool's tomorrow!  Be Alert!

It's Good to be the Husband.....

.......(paraphrasing Mel Brooks - as the King - in "History of the World, Part I")

Hey, I'm so excited I have to sit on my hands to keep from clapping and doing the Happy Dance.   This has to be one of the coolest birthday presents ever.  My wife gave it to me.  So I must be doing something right.  Eat your hearts out!

1975 VW Beetle

Okay -  I have 5 adult children - all with kids of their own.  So I think this little bit of wisdom might help them out more than me.  (But it is funny.)

Live!

I've been sitting here a bit, wondering what to write, and got to pondering that I have a birthday in a couple of weeks.  I'll be 62.  Wow!  My children are all adults, most, in their 30's.  Which in my mind, is kind of where I always picture myself.  And no, I don't know why.  Other than my youngest child being born, the only other big event I had in my 30's was retiring from the U.S. Coast Guard. (I joined at 17).  I'm actually in better physical condition than I was when my 30's ended.     Well, enough mental meandering.
I can say that at 62, I have a pretty good life.  I've retired from 2 careers, and other than a 6 month part-time job, I haven't worked since age 60.  And at this point, I feel no need to.  I'm not rich, but my wife and I are comfortable and our house is ours.  We enjoy just being us and spending time with our (canine) girls.    I read, watch TV, and putter around the house and yard, when- and if - I want.  DKW and I make no demands on each other, and when we do have the rare disagreement, we get it smoothed out pretty quickly.  Life IS good!

Carpe Diem -If ya up to it!

Getting old is not for the weak and faint-hearted.  Yesterday, after a rainy couple of days, was a really nice day.  Sun was shining, temp was high 60s/low 70s, and I decided to do a little yard work.  I only worked 2 or 2 1/2 hours, and accomplished one large-ish and several small tasks.  The large-ish task was taking down a dying flower bed around a dead tree stump and removing the brick border.  I had to use a shovel, hoe, and rake to do this.  I'm happy the job is done, cause when I start mowing, there's one less then to have to go around. (At least once I get the stump out or leveled with the ground.)  That's the good news, the bad news is that I'm paying the price today.  My back is sore and my (bad) knee is aching, soooo............  Guess I'm back to taking it easy today, maybe I'll feel up to doing a bit more on Saturday.  Today though, I'll do the laundry, a little cooking, but nothing too strenuous.  Spend a little time with my sweetie and let her take care of me.

Spring Forward!