There's no replacing John Wayne. The Duke is not replaceable.
Did I make myself perfectly clear? There is absolutely no chance Mr John Wayne will ever be replaced in American history or culture. Not ever going to happen in our lifetimes.
On the other hand, nobody is trying to replace John Wayne either.
We, as a society, are just trying to move on and have a little fun.
I have heard the grumblings about the new movie, True Grit. John Wayne is not in it. Thus, it can't be any good.
I am looking forward to this movie, probably more so than any movies in recent years. I am probably setting myself up for a let down because highly anticipated things are often a disappointment.
But, I am glad they are making the movie and I am glad I will have the opportunity to watch it by around Christmas.
Jeff Bridges is not a bad actor, you have to admit. Actually, he's a really good actor. Now, he's no John Wayne and he probably knows that as well. But, he has the unenviable task of trying to play the Wayne role of Rooster Cogburn. This is probably the part of this new film that worries me the most, but I feel that Bridges can pull it off.
Wayne and film legend Robert Duvall aside, the surrounding cast for this new movie will probably be a major improvement over the last.
Glen Campbell vs Matt Damon? Come on, Damon smashes Glen Campbell. First of all, Campbell was a singer and not a bad one for his time. But, as an actor, he is rather annoying to be perfectly honest. Matt Damon, yes the Good Will Hunting and the Bourne Movies, Matt Damon.
No comparison there. Damon rules.
The Mattie Ross character was played by Kim Darby in the original and she almost ruined the movie for me in all honesty.
I don't know who the new actress is, but she has to be an upgrade over the original. Her name is Hailee Steinfeld, and I am going to give her a chance.
I don't know if the new movies sticks with the original movie as far as plot goes, but with new technology and the addition of Damon and Josh Brolin, I think this movie is a definite must see for me and possibly on Christmas day.
See ya there.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Cute Older Girls,The Coffee House, and Creedence
In the early 70s, when I was a kid, Christian churches tried to give kids an alternative to running around all night out in the wild.
They set up buildings where kids could come and hang out and named them coffee houses.
I don't know if they actually served coffee at these Coffee Houses. I never drank any there.
I feel fairly certain that some kids might have, but not I.
They set up pool tables, ping pong tables, Foosball tables and all sorts of other tables and game boards.
They also had strobe lights set up which were some of the coolest lights of our day and time. Just gave the place a really cool feel.
My favorite memories of all from these early days at Coffee Houses were not of pool tables or any other games.
I liked the games and I liked the lights and all the other goings on in these places.
But, what I liked most of all was the music by Creedence Clearwater Revival and GIRLS.
Honestly, I don't remember listening to any other bands other than Creedence on these weekend nights spent at the Coffee House. They may have played some others, but Creedence or CCR as they are commonly referred to, dominated the scene in those days.
Girls also dominated the scene.
I was only a 12 year old, but, that didn't stop me from wanting to hang out with 14 and 15 year old girls.
I was way too shy to ever actually approach any of them, but its the thought that counts and those were the days of dreams.
It's now been nearly 40 years and those memories of cute older girls, the Coffee House and Creedence still linger and give me the warm fuzzies.
They set up buildings where kids could come and hang out and named them coffee houses.
I don't know if they actually served coffee at these Coffee Houses. I never drank any there.
I feel fairly certain that some kids might have, but not I.
They set up pool tables, ping pong tables, Foosball tables and all sorts of other tables and game boards.
They also had strobe lights set up which were some of the coolest lights of our day and time. Just gave the place a really cool feel.
My favorite memories of all from these early days at Coffee Houses were not of pool tables or any other games.
I liked the games and I liked the lights and all the other goings on in these places.
But, what I liked most of all was the music by Creedence Clearwater Revival and GIRLS.
Honestly, I don't remember listening to any other bands other than Creedence on these weekend nights spent at the Coffee House. They may have played some others, but Creedence or CCR as they are commonly referred to, dominated the scene in those days.
Girls also dominated the scene.
I was only a 12 year old, but, that didn't stop me from wanting to hang out with 14 and 15 year old girls.
I was way too shy to ever actually approach any of them, but its the thought that counts and those were the days of dreams.
It's now been nearly 40 years and those memories of cute older girls, the Coffee House and Creedence still linger and give me the warm fuzzies.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Tyson the Flying Dog
This is a totally true Story.
I have seen with my own eyes a flying dog. Yeah, I know you think I am full of it.
It happened long ago in a neighborhood not far away. We had some neighbors with two of the wildest boys I have ever seen.
Dad was a truck driver and was always gone. Mom was a housewife and raised the boys. The boys were at my house more than their own so I raised them a bit myself and I am afraid I did them no good at all. I saw the younger one years later and he had turned out all right much to my surprise, but even that was many years ago now. I can imagine the other might be in jail somewhere.
That would not surprise me at all.
They had a white boxer with black spots named Tyson. I am sure he was named after the heavyweight boxer who was all the rage back in those days.
As all boxers are, he was a really good dog. Really sweet and loving but he ran wild just like the boys of his family.
If the boys don't have discipline then why should I have expected more for the dog.
We lived in a corner house with one street being somewhat busy and the other not quite as much. They lived right across the street from me on the not so busy street.
The busy street led from one of the local Universities to one of the major town thoroughfares. College kids have been known to drive pretty fast and this street certainly did not miss out on that. It was also on a hill and always an adventure during a snow or ice storm.
This particular day, they were playing across the busy street and sometimes right in the middle of the busy street.
Tyson, the boxer, was everywhere running back and forth and very playful. Thinking back, I probably should have put him in my own back yard and been done with it. But, I didn't and I was very concerned for not only the dog but the boys as well.
I was working in my yard but I was also keeping an eye on what was going on. I stopped several times and yelled at the boys to get out of the street. I yelled at them to get Tyson out of the street.
As was very typical, nobody listened to me at all.
I just happened to be facing the correct way when the inevitable finally happened. A couple of college girls driving something like a Pontiac Fiero came hauling around the corner at seemingly over 50 MPH which is very common.
The car hit Tyson broadside as he just happened to be running back across the street yet again. Imagine that.
What happened next I will never forget as long as I live. I have told the story a million times which probably helps my memory, but this part seems like yesterday. The entire dramatic event also seems like slow motion in my memory.
Instead of going under the car as they often do, Tyson went airborne.
We lived not only on a corner but there was a bridge and a creek right behind our house. Our yard was huge and if you had ever mowed it you would definitely agree.
Tyson got hit at the front of our house area and flew at probably 10 feet in the air from the front area down to almost the creek. As I wrote already, it seemed like slow motion and Tyson spun slowly.
Boys started crying instantly. I started running instantly. Our yard was elevated and was terraced from the street. I jumped down one level and then the other level and by the time I hit the street, here came Mr Tyson running at break neck speed.
He ran past me without even slowing down. Boys ran to their house and I was right behind as the concerned neighbor fatherly figure.
College girls pulled up right behind us all in tears. Family members start appearing from nowhere and everyone extremely concerned.
It was a madhouse.
Strangest and funniest thing of all is that Tyson wasn't even injured at all. Not even a bruise.
Tyson disappeared one day. Boys mother was involved in a horrendous wreck along with one of the boys and was never the same. Dad was off cheating with another woman and was caught during the wreck ordeal. They divorced, moved off, and I have only seen the youngest son since.
We moved off and sold the house and all is water under the bridge now.
Only, I will never forget Tyson the flying dog.
I have seen with my own eyes a flying dog. Yeah, I know you think I am full of it.
It happened long ago in a neighborhood not far away. We had some neighbors with two of the wildest boys I have ever seen.
Dad was a truck driver and was always gone. Mom was a housewife and raised the boys. The boys were at my house more than their own so I raised them a bit myself and I am afraid I did them no good at all. I saw the younger one years later and he had turned out all right much to my surprise, but even that was many years ago now. I can imagine the other might be in jail somewhere.
That would not surprise me at all.
They had a white boxer with black spots named Tyson. I am sure he was named after the heavyweight boxer who was all the rage back in those days.
As all boxers are, he was a really good dog. Really sweet and loving but he ran wild just like the boys of his family.
If the boys don't have discipline then why should I have expected more for the dog.
We lived in a corner house with one street being somewhat busy and the other not quite as much. They lived right across the street from me on the not so busy street.
The busy street led from one of the local Universities to one of the major town thoroughfares. College kids have been known to drive pretty fast and this street certainly did not miss out on that. It was also on a hill and always an adventure during a snow or ice storm.
This particular day, they were playing across the busy street and sometimes right in the middle of the busy street.
Tyson, the boxer, was everywhere running back and forth and very playful. Thinking back, I probably should have put him in my own back yard and been done with it. But, I didn't and I was very concerned for not only the dog but the boys as well.
I was working in my yard but I was also keeping an eye on what was going on. I stopped several times and yelled at the boys to get out of the street. I yelled at them to get Tyson out of the street.
As was very typical, nobody listened to me at all.
I just happened to be facing the correct way when the inevitable finally happened. A couple of college girls driving something like a Pontiac Fiero came hauling around the corner at seemingly over 50 MPH which is very common.
The car hit Tyson broadside as he just happened to be running back across the street yet again. Imagine that.
What happened next I will never forget as long as I live. I have told the story a million times which probably helps my memory, but this part seems like yesterday. The entire dramatic event also seems like slow motion in my memory.
Instead of going under the car as they often do, Tyson went airborne.
We lived not only on a corner but there was a bridge and a creek right behind our house. Our yard was huge and if you had ever mowed it you would definitely agree.
Tyson got hit at the front of our house area and flew at probably 10 feet in the air from the front area down to almost the creek. As I wrote already, it seemed like slow motion and Tyson spun slowly.
Boys started crying instantly. I started running instantly. Our yard was elevated and was terraced from the street. I jumped down one level and then the other level and by the time I hit the street, here came Mr Tyson running at break neck speed.
He ran past me without even slowing down. Boys ran to their house and I was right behind as the concerned neighbor fatherly figure.
College girls pulled up right behind us all in tears. Family members start appearing from nowhere and everyone extremely concerned.
It was a madhouse.
Strangest and funniest thing of all is that Tyson wasn't even injured at all. Not even a bruise.
Tyson disappeared one day. Boys mother was involved in a horrendous wreck along with one of the boys and was never the same. Dad was off cheating with another woman and was caught during the wreck ordeal. They divorced, moved off, and I have only seen the youngest son since.
We moved off and sold the house and all is water under the bridge now.
Only, I will never forget Tyson the flying dog.
Helping People
Seriously, I already have written that I am not going to talk about the past few years and all it's pain and suffering.
But, I feel I must say one more thing. I do so need to move on.
I spent a life time helping other people.
It was actually a daily goal of mine in my written down goals which I have since thrown away, to help at least one person in some way during my day.
I can't tell you the number of times I have jump started a car, or taken out somebody's trash, or secretly mowed somebody's yard and I can go on and on.
Seriously, I never really expected anything in return, just wanted to make a difference in the world and to possibly spurn others on to do the same.
Random acts of kindness, I called them.
A movie was made some time during this process called Pay it Forward and in it a small child was doing what I intended to do every day. I didn't like the movie because in the end the child was murdered.
But, that is the point of my blog as well.
People that spend time helping people are often the ones that get abused or mistreated.
Their hearts are in the right place but instead of making a difference in the world they are torn down or destroyed.
I have to admit now that I don't care anymore. I still have compassion for people, but truthfully, nobody was there for me when I needed it and nobody really cared outside of my family.
I do not help other people anymore. That's not totally true because I occasionally do still but not intentionally.
Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe we are all supposed to go into our own little worlds and be with ourselves and help out number one.
It seems most people would feel that way.
In the end, did I really make a difference at all with anyone?
Don't know that I will ever have an answer to that question. Maybe before my life is done, somebody will step forward and say you were the one guy that helped me out when I needed it.
Time will tell.
But, I feel I must say one more thing. I do so need to move on.
I spent a life time helping other people.
It was actually a daily goal of mine in my written down goals which I have since thrown away, to help at least one person in some way during my day.
I can't tell you the number of times I have jump started a car, or taken out somebody's trash, or secretly mowed somebody's yard and I can go on and on.
Seriously, I never really expected anything in return, just wanted to make a difference in the world and to possibly spurn others on to do the same.
Random acts of kindness, I called them.
A movie was made some time during this process called Pay it Forward and in it a small child was doing what I intended to do every day. I didn't like the movie because in the end the child was murdered.
But, that is the point of my blog as well.
People that spend time helping people are often the ones that get abused or mistreated.
Their hearts are in the right place but instead of making a difference in the world they are torn down or destroyed.
I have to admit now that I don't care anymore. I still have compassion for people, but truthfully, nobody was there for me when I needed it and nobody really cared outside of my family.
I do not help other people anymore. That's not totally true because I occasionally do still but not intentionally.
Maybe that was the way it was supposed to be. Maybe we are all supposed to go into our own little worlds and be with ourselves and help out number one.
It seems most people would feel that way.
In the end, did I really make a difference at all with anyone?
Don't know that I will ever have an answer to that question. Maybe before my life is done, somebody will step forward and say you were the one guy that helped me out when I needed it.
Time will tell.
My Favorite American Cities.
1. Manhattan. Duh.
I think it's the greatest city in the world, although, I haven't been to many outside the USA.
New York City is the melting pot of the world. Culture, museums, parks it's got it all. My favorite city in America hands down.
2. San Francisco, California.
I love the weather here more than any city I have ever been, and I know its not for everybody. But, in the summer, when it's hotter than hell in Texas, the weather is nice and cool in San Fran. I love the fog. I love the hills and the mountains in the background.
I always expect to run into Dirty Harry while walking down the streets of San Fran. That's not going to happen, obviously, but just a great city. Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and so many other things make San Fran my second favorite US city.
3. Seattle, Washington.
I actually had a bad time in Seattle, but that doesn't take away from it's great qualities. The scenery around this city is some of the top on the planet. I love the rain and I love the Space Needle. I love Pike's Market even if it is sort of over popularized by the media. Downtown is pretty cool and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
I don't like the tons of homeless people hanging around, but other than that one of the world's great cities.
If I go to Seattle, I expect to eat some Salmon and I expect it to be the best I have ever eaten.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Historically, Boston is up at the top of my list. There are a lot of old buildings that are interesting to find out about and to view. Close by is New England and all it's scenery.
Paul Revere lives on in my heart.
5. Providence, Rhode Island.
Big enough city to have all the conveniences, but has a smaller town feel to it. Providence is close to New England as well, it's close to New York and it's close to Cape Cod. I love nearby Block Island and Point Judith.
You could probably set the entire state of Rhode Island in the city of Dallas or Houston but I like it there.
6. Chicago
I haven't spent enough time in Chicago. But, like that it sits on Lake Michigan.
Supposedly, the winters are brutal here and I wouldn't know but there are a lot of attractive things for me here.
7. Austin, Texas
Too hot for my taste but a very cool city that is supposed to be the live music capital of the world. Sits right on the edge of the Texas Hill Country and Lake Travis is a nice place to spend your summer. But, wear lots of sun screen.
8. Greenville, South Carolina
Beautiful city sitting right on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It's a half hour drive to the mountains from here. Greenville is really a green village with huge trees everywhere. Downtown is small but that is a good thing sometimes.
9. Denver, Colorado
I don't know that I like the city of Denver all that much, but I do like the setting. Nestled right against the foothills of the Rockies some of the most beautiful mountains and it's high elevation make it definitely appealing to me.
10. Nashville, Tennessee
I am not a big fan of Country music, at least the stuff that comes out of Nashville, but I love this city. Downtown is beautiful nestled among the hills and rivers and has a very modern feel to it.
I am not a big fan of it getting dark at 4:30 during the winter months. But, I am a big fan of the fairly nearby Smokey Mountains and housing here is fairly affordable. I could live here.
Almost made it and other than the top 2, these cities are subject to change, are places like Atlanta, San Diego, Portland, Spokane and quite a few others. Maybe next time on some of them. Thinking more about it, I might want to replace any one of these but the first two with Spokane and Portland.
Bottom of my list:
1. Houston- don't like that place other than Vince Young coming from there. Way too hot and people are way too rude.
2. Miami- Thug, thug, thug. Not my kind of place really.
3. Detroit- Just move out and let the rats have it already.
I think it's the greatest city in the world, although, I haven't been to many outside the USA.
New York City is the melting pot of the world. Culture, museums, parks it's got it all. My favorite city in America hands down.
2. San Francisco, California.
I love the weather here more than any city I have ever been, and I know its not for everybody. But, in the summer, when it's hotter than hell in Texas, the weather is nice and cool in San Fran. I love the fog. I love the hills and the mountains in the background.
I always expect to run into Dirty Harry while walking down the streets of San Fran. That's not going to happen, obviously, but just a great city. Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and so many other things make San Fran my second favorite US city.
3. Seattle, Washington.
I actually had a bad time in Seattle, but that doesn't take away from it's great qualities. The scenery around this city is some of the top on the planet. I love the rain and I love the Space Needle. I love Pike's Market even if it is sort of over popularized by the media. Downtown is pretty cool and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking.
I don't like the tons of homeless people hanging around, but other than that one of the world's great cities.
If I go to Seattle, I expect to eat some Salmon and I expect it to be the best I have ever eaten.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
Historically, Boston is up at the top of my list. There are a lot of old buildings that are interesting to find out about and to view. Close by is New England and all it's scenery.
Paul Revere lives on in my heart.
5. Providence, Rhode Island.
Big enough city to have all the conveniences, but has a smaller town feel to it. Providence is close to New England as well, it's close to New York and it's close to Cape Cod. I love nearby Block Island and Point Judith.
You could probably set the entire state of Rhode Island in the city of Dallas or Houston but I like it there.
6. Chicago
I haven't spent enough time in Chicago. But, like that it sits on Lake Michigan.
Supposedly, the winters are brutal here and I wouldn't know but there are a lot of attractive things for me here.
7. Austin, Texas
Too hot for my taste but a very cool city that is supposed to be the live music capital of the world. Sits right on the edge of the Texas Hill Country and Lake Travis is a nice place to spend your summer. But, wear lots of sun screen.
8. Greenville, South Carolina
Beautiful city sitting right on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It's a half hour drive to the mountains from here. Greenville is really a green village with huge trees everywhere. Downtown is small but that is a good thing sometimes.
9. Denver, Colorado
I don't know that I like the city of Denver all that much, but I do like the setting. Nestled right against the foothills of the Rockies some of the most beautiful mountains and it's high elevation make it definitely appealing to me.
10. Nashville, Tennessee
I am not a big fan of Country music, at least the stuff that comes out of Nashville, but I love this city. Downtown is beautiful nestled among the hills and rivers and has a very modern feel to it.
I am not a big fan of it getting dark at 4:30 during the winter months. But, I am a big fan of the fairly nearby Smokey Mountains and housing here is fairly affordable. I could live here.
Almost made it and other than the top 2, these cities are subject to change, are places like Atlanta, San Diego, Portland, Spokane and quite a few others. Maybe next time on some of them. Thinking more about it, I might want to replace any one of these but the first two with Spokane and Portland.
Bottom of my list:
1. Houston- don't like that place other than Vince Young coming from there. Way too hot and people are way too rude.
2. Miami- Thug, thug, thug. Not my kind of place really.
3. Detroit- Just move out and let the rats have it already.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Eating Humble Pie
I have never eaten poop so I have no idea what it might taste like. But, I can imagine humble pie tastes a lot like dog excrement.
I've had to eat a lot of humble pie in the last few years and let me tell you it does not taste very good at all.
Once, I was a bit of a hero.
I had recently moved to Austin and gotten my real estate license. I then went into the real estate sales business with the largest company in Austin.
I quickly became known as the guy that owned all the apartments and rental property. Of course, I was all too quick to help those rumors and enjoyed the limelight. I am not going to deny I liked being something of a cult figure hero. I kind of had a swagger in my step.
Coming from my background, it felt pretty cool to be the guy.
That didn't last long.
The Outhouse doesn't feel so bad if you've never been to the Penthouse. I went from Outhouse to Penthouse and then back to the Outhouse.
I said I wasn't going to write about that stuff on my blog and this was not my intention.
Just wanted to say that I have eaten a lot of humble pie in the last few years and the aftertaste right now is not so good.
I've had to eat a lot of humble pie in the last few years and let me tell you it does not taste very good at all.
Once, I was a bit of a hero.
I had recently moved to Austin and gotten my real estate license. I then went into the real estate sales business with the largest company in Austin.
I quickly became known as the guy that owned all the apartments and rental property. Of course, I was all too quick to help those rumors and enjoyed the limelight. I am not going to deny I liked being something of a cult figure hero. I kind of had a swagger in my step.
Coming from my background, it felt pretty cool to be the guy.
That didn't last long.
The Outhouse doesn't feel so bad if you've never been to the Penthouse. I went from Outhouse to Penthouse and then back to the Outhouse.
I said I wasn't going to write about that stuff on my blog and this was not my intention.
Just wanted to say that I have eaten a lot of humble pie in the last few years and the aftertaste right now is not so good.
Conquistador
Conquistador means conqueror in Spanish. The actual Conquistadors haven't been around in centuries and they were definitely some of the more controversial figures in the history of the world, but that's not my point in this blog.
Conquistador was also a song by Procol Harum in the late 60s.
Even though it was an anti-war song and I was way too young to get into any of that, I always loved this song.
It brings back a lot of memories for me to this very day.
When I was young, I had a good friend and neighbor, Boyd Baker. Since he lived so near, we were nearly inseparable for a few years.
I think he was probably the best guy friend I ever had which is kind of sad since I haven't really seen him since about 1973.
Recently, after a bunch of internet and phone work, I ran him down and found out he is alive and well in Austin, Texas. He went to the Naval Academy after high school and joined the Marines as a fighter pilot. Now, he flies for Southwest Airlines.
How cool is that?
Glad my old friend is alive and well.
Boyd, besides being a buddy, had a very nice looking older sister named Frances Baker.
She was the talk of the town and really the first extremely good looking woman I had ever seen.
I have no idea what she looks like now, some 40 years later, but I would guess she still looks nice.
She was not the reason why I went to my friend's house, and she was even rude to me at times. Once, she looked into a room when I was in there and said 'I thought I smelled something'. I was crushed and I'll never forget that. It's not like I ever even dreamed I had a shot with her, but it's nice to be liked.
Another thing I will never forget about her is the time she brought her newly purchased Procol Harum Album home. I just happened to be at their house and she came in all excited.
She played Conquistador on her record player and I have been in love with that song ever since.
Lots of great memories.
However, for me, there are a lot of other memories involved with this song and they weren't so great.
I was going to blog about them here but decided not to.
Conquistador was also a song by Procol Harum in the late 60s.
Even though it was an anti-war song and I was way too young to get into any of that, I always loved this song.
It brings back a lot of memories for me to this very day.
When I was young, I had a good friend and neighbor, Boyd Baker. Since he lived so near, we were nearly inseparable for a few years.
I think he was probably the best guy friend I ever had which is kind of sad since I haven't really seen him since about 1973.
Recently, after a bunch of internet and phone work, I ran him down and found out he is alive and well in Austin, Texas. He went to the Naval Academy after high school and joined the Marines as a fighter pilot. Now, he flies for Southwest Airlines.
How cool is that?
Glad my old friend is alive and well.
Boyd, besides being a buddy, had a very nice looking older sister named Frances Baker.
She was the talk of the town and really the first extremely good looking woman I had ever seen.
I have no idea what she looks like now, some 40 years later, but I would guess she still looks nice.
She was not the reason why I went to my friend's house, and she was even rude to me at times. Once, she looked into a room when I was in there and said 'I thought I smelled something'. I was crushed and I'll never forget that. It's not like I ever even dreamed I had a shot with her, but it's nice to be liked.
Another thing I will never forget about her is the time she brought her newly purchased Procol Harum Album home. I just happened to be at their house and she came in all excited.
She played Conquistador on her record player and I have been in love with that song ever since.
Lots of great memories.
However, for me, there are a lot of other memories involved with this song and they weren't so great.
I was going to blog about them here but decided not to.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Scorpion Check
The year was 1972. I had recently moved to a new town and was the new kid on the block.
One of my new friends, young Roy Stephens, had ridden his bike over to my house and we were going to go play some football at the high school football field which was about a stone's throw from my new house.
A stone's throw if you had a cannon for an arm, that is.
Our family had never had much. We were pretty poor back in the day. We had moved from town to town and from house to house and never really had a home that was all that nice.
But, now we had a brand new house.
The amount they paid for the house has dimmed somewhat in my memory but I believe they paid around $25,000 for it.
Wow, how times have changed.
My shoes were muddy from the day before, so I left them outside by the front door. Hey, I was a little kid what did you expect?
Thinking nothing of it, I put on my shoes to ride my bike over to the field.
Of course, as anyone would probably do, I looked a the field as we were riding up to see who our competition was likely to be. Sometimes there were some nice looking high school girls playing and we would mix it up with them.
I was way too shy to say anything to them, but it's the thought that counts, right?
It was empty this one fine day and we would have to throw the ball to one another only.
That was OK, too.
As I got off my bike it suddenly hit me.
A sting in the front of my toes like I had never felt before. I hurriedly pulled off my shoe to see to my complete surprise a big old ugly scorpion fell revealing the sinister cause of my pain.
I have felt much pain worse than that and many, many times since that day. But, at the time, it hurt more than about anything I had ever felt.
The pain, after much yelling, would eventually go away.
But, one thing didn't.
Since that day, almost 40 years ago now, I have never put on a shoe without shaking it violently to check for those hideous scorpions.
I have never found another one, but I will go to my grave never taking the chance that another might be lurking there.
Scorpion check.
One of my new friends, young Roy Stephens, had ridden his bike over to my house and we were going to go play some football at the high school football field which was about a stone's throw from my new house.
A stone's throw if you had a cannon for an arm, that is.
Our family had never had much. We were pretty poor back in the day. We had moved from town to town and from house to house and never really had a home that was all that nice.
But, now we had a brand new house.
The amount they paid for the house has dimmed somewhat in my memory but I believe they paid around $25,000 for it.
Wow, how times have changed.
My shoes were muddy from the day before, so I left them outside by the front door. Hey, I was a little kid what did you expect?
Thinking nothing of it, I put on my shoes to ride my bike over to the field.
Of course, as anyone would probably do, I looked a the field as we were riding up to see who our competition was likely to be. Sometimes there were some nice looking high school girls playing and we would mix it up with them.
I was way too shy to say anything to them, but it's the thought that counts, right?
It was empty this one fine day and we would have to throw the ball to one another only.
That was OK, too.
As I got off my bike it suddenly hit me.
A sting in the front of my toes like I had never felt before. I hurriedly pulled off my shoe to see to my complete surprise a big old ugly scorpion fell revealing the sinister cause of my pain.
I have felt much pain worse than that and many, many times since that day. But, at the time, it hurt more than about anything I had ever felt.
The pain, after much yelling, would eventually go away.
But, one thing didn't.
Since that day, almost 40 years ago now, I have never put on a shoe without shaking it violently to check for those hideous scorpions.
I have never found another one, but I will go to my grave never taking the chance that another might be lurking there.
Scorpion check.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Why are you writing?
I quit writing in my blog last year because nobody was reading it. I have no followers and there are no comments on my blogs now.
Doesn't matter.
I came to realize during my absence that I really enjoy writing and will continue to write even if nobody ever reads any of it again.
I write for me. I don't care if I have any support. I don't care if I get any positive feedback or even any negative feedback.
Because I enjoy writing.
I am not going to go to any trouble to get people to read anything I have written. I don't need to enter popularity contests. I don't need to go on facebook and try and get thousands of friends and try to get them to read my stuff.
I write for me.
If you read my blog and you want to leave a comment, then great.
But, if nobody ever reads it, then that is perfectly fine as well because I enjoy this and will continue.
Doesn't matter.
I came to realize during my absence that I really enjoy writing and will continue to write even if nobody ever reads any of it again.
I write for me. I don't care if I have any support. I don't care if I get any positive feedback or even any negative feedback.
Because I enjoy writing.
I am not going to go to any trouble to get people to read anything I have written. I don't need to enter popularity contests. I don't need to go on facebook and try and get thousands of friends and try to get them to read my stuff.
I write for me.
If you read my blog and you want to leave a comment, then great.
But, if nobody ever reads it, then that is perfectly fine as well because I enjoy this and will continue.
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