Thoughts & Day 152 CJSM

 

Music:

 

Black stain-spots invade five lines or spaces-white to sing the

tale in rhythm-rhyme cadenced-beat---to pause…perplexed!?

“Tis it not the space between notes where music reverberates!?



 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

Day 152

 

 

Candy’s chicken salad on Mother’s Day & her birthday

 

 

Oh! Yeah! This “classy” lovely-lady can cook! Yum! Yum!

I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy; refined lady Candice shows class even in her dining.

I can manage those table utensils, well, sort of, but, I prefer “finger” food! I once smart-ass remarked that fingers came before metal eating ware only to be reminded that metal came first.

Well! Touchet! (I reckon that factoid includes the deadly sword, also!?) Might just try it!?

So? Not to be marginalized with the “facts” focusing my “mis”-speak on creation’s priorities, I snapped back that all I needed to partake of some fancy two-course meal (meat and potatoes) was a butter knife (not that we ever were rich enough to afford butter, anyway).

My protagonist laughed, out loud, and allowed, cynically, “How are you going to eat peas with a knife. Hmm! (“Balance” came to this feeble mind but I shelved the idiocy!?)

“Easy!” I replied to the intended insult, “I just slather some mashed taters onto the blade, stab a piece of yummy meat and dig the knife, taters-side down in the green peas!: Then---I…laughed. And, know what? You may not believe it---it…works! Good! Try it!?

So? I indulge lovely Lady Candice Leah with her chicken salad delicacy---I love…her! Not it!

Oh! And, I don’t eat it with a knife---I make a sandwich and utilize God’s utensils…fingers!

 

Amen!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “finger-lickin’ good!” Memories!



 



Thoughts & Day 151 CJSM

Infinity-of-space:

 

Four long months of monotony alone in semi-conscious

reality-travel en-route to distant Mars---and…What!?

 

 

 

Plus:

Day 151

 

 

Watching “Christmas Vacation” every year.

Anna hated that everyone laughed when the cat gets fried.

 

 

Ah! Tradition! Christmas time: “Christmas story” with Ralphie and “Christmas Vacation”!

Our family knows how to have a good time and we truly appreciate “humor”, especially when the “sad” state of human-kind is depicted in a “reality” of people---just like…us!

“Ralphie” epitomizes the perpetual “12-year old boy” in all males---Yeah!...me, too! Curious!

And, who couldn’t love the ever-foolish bumbling “Clark Griswald”? A reflection—of…me!

So? In the movie, the family cat plays with the electric tree lights plug-in---and…Fried kitty!

Funny!? In a sadistic-sick sort of way!? Everyone laughs at the absurdity---and…Justice!

Some of the P.E.T.A. activists can get pretty upset at such delinquent “humor” at the express expense of one of man’s “friendly” creature pets---our advocate is…Miss Anna Marie!

She will actually go into tears and refuse to talk to the “mentally-ill” protagonists---us!

But, when the poor little innocent squirrel (I like squirrels) gets chased by the dog and Clark describes how he will dispatch the little creature with bloodlust in his eyes, the tribe all laughs---including…Anna Marie! Humph! Now---that’s not…funny! (Not like fried cats are---funny!?)

Anyway, personally, I prefer that shapely Italian (Fragile-y) electric-sex leg Ralphie so admires! (I might sport a “grown-up body-persona, but I know what I appreciate!?)

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Meow!” Memories!

(With condolences to Annie and cudos to Ralphie—and…me!)

 

 

 

 

Thoughts & Day 150 CJSM

Filigree-shade:

 

Stretching legs long seeking muscle relief, pressing spine

bones between wide picket slats chipped white paint,

sipping cold well water allowing summer mid-morning 

cool stirring whisper-wind to wick away brow sweat as I

contemplate the remaining bales waiting in the alfalfa patch  

while absently viewing dancing shadow-filigree of filtered

hot sun through silver maple leaves of ancient shade tree.

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

 

Day 150

 

 

Airboat ride in the Everglades

 

 

A Florida vacation! Wow! Can’t believe that was my “dream” back in the day!?

We had no money to speak of; I had my first “real” job and after six months without getting fired or “quitting”, I got a two week vacation. We loaded up the old chariot and set ’er South!

I dreamed of living in Florida o I could play golf all year long; never happened. I wasn’t ever very good at the “chase” game, anyway; could throw a club in frustration farther than most of my puny drives---still can…I reckon. I don’t “play” any more; lost all my golf balls and bent clubs!?

Beth was about three when we took our first real trip to a far off destination.

She almost got an airboat ride in the Everglades! Wow! Great times!

Saw some good ole southern boys out there in a motor boat pulling their little brother behind them trying, I guessed, trying to teach the urchin to water ski. As they pulled up to the dock where we hired the airboat, I told the boys how heartwarming it was to see “southern hospitality” in action. They seemed confused. I added that teaching their younger brother to water ski was very kind of them and I felt obligated to encourage them. Well! They had a good laugh at the northern boy’s naïveté; said they were just out for a day of sport---trolling…for alligators! HA! Ha! (Thought I ought to clarify “that was a joke” before PETA sends the animal rights people after me---Not to worry…I already know how to water ski and I like Alligator---fried!?)

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “fun adventure” Memories!

 



Thoughts & Day 148 CJSM

 

Sophisticated Idiocy (S. I.):

 

Any self-serving fulfilling “Royal-elite” fiat proscribing

reality superimposed rather with a “sheepskin”-proof of

erudite-sophistication like a “Masser’s” or Ph. D. in hand

as vacant-obvious as all previous yesterdays’ dissipated

early dawn’s cool wraithlike mist evaporated-gone

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

 

Day 148

 

 

Playing Mom’s trolling motor in the pool

 

 

We gave Nanny a floating chair for the pool for her birthday and Mother’s Day one year; she adored that gift. Sitting on her “throne”, she read books, napped, talked, entertained, tanned and let butterflies land on her toes as she basked in the summer sun. Delightful!

And, she had her own, private propulsion system: the girls got behind the chair and pushed her around the pool for hours on end. Then the “white stallion” would come thundering out of the mountains (metaphorically) and give the little girls a rodeo---of sorts. He enjoyed it, too.

We wore out a couple of floating chairs over the years; the fun adventure never died!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “summer-adventure” Memories!

 



Thoughts & Day 149 CJSM

 

Knowledge is supreme!

 

Allow! I pray! Light-of-knowledge illuminate the mind!

Yes! Virginia! There is a Santa Claus!

The world is not flat!

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 149

 

 

The “Sugar Shack” after ball games

 

 

 

When the kids were little, they played summer ball; the “Sugar Shack” ice cream haven served as our “Dairy Queen” in the little town. The “venue” consisted of a tiny (4’ X 8’) portable room with a roof that opened in the summer evening hours; during the school year, it was stored out of the weather awaiting the following summer break.

This “stop” became a habit and a favorite on hot summer evenings after ball games.

They featured: ice cream cones, sundaes and floats, soda and snacks and novelty treats.

It was quite the “big deal” for our family; adventure is fostered by events made celebratory.

Go out and find your “Sugar Shack” and make it a “big deal” of family adventure.

Life is where you choose to find Love! Yeah! I reckon it really is that simple!?

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “ice cream-adventures” Memories!

 



Thoughts & Day 147 CJSM

 

An oldie but a goodie:

 

What any other might think of me---

is…none of my business (James Cavezil)

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

Day 147

 

 

Becky spins in circles & spins in circles until she is so

dizzy she falls down, right onto the lip of a pottery crock

which drives her two front teeth back up inside her gum.

 

 

Becky suffered a seizure at the tender age of three and the medicals put her on phenobarbital.

This halted the seizures, but increased her “activity”-level, something she did not need.

One fine day, Rachel decided to spin in a circle until she got so dizzy that she fell down; great fun and ole Dad encouraged the comedy, enjoying the hijinks as much as Becky did.

Until!?  One of her hilarious stunts” landed her “tender”-mouth on the “hard”-edge of a crock sitting on the floor next to the fireplace hearth. The impact of her two front teeth drove them up into her gum! Fun---over! The dentist said they would grow back down…the did!

We managed a few other scrapes and bumps and bruises, too. All-in-all? We survived! Wow!

 

Really! I never intended to kill anyone! Really!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Never-a-dull-moment” Memories!

 



Thoughts & Day 146 CJSM

 

Redemption/Salvation

 

Transgression-sin stain not pure soul;

I “Grace”-choice refuse to participate

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 146

 

 

Filling 20 “Clorox” bottles from the hose

for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, hands

while living at the “old” house Summer 1979

 

Like I have confessed myriad times: Learn to “make do”!

So? Yeah. I sold our “estate” of ten acres with fabulous view, modern home, stable and swimming pool and “dragged” the family to an 1880’s-type farmstead of 214 acres with an “old” house; it did have electricity and “running” water (You had to “run” down to the creek to get it).

But, I built a “new” house with a pool in a quiet valley on the property. All well and good!?

The three months in the old house certainly “humbled” our modern tribe---somewhat.

We did not have indoor running water; we “made do” with gallon jugs filled with city water.

Trials and tribulations are good for the soul! Maybe not the body, so much, but for the spirit!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “running water” Memories!


Thoughts Plus: Day 145 CJSM

 

Reality:

 

In all our world of prodigious Good

begin “I” to disassociate any evil-wisp

 

 

 

Find: Hope! It's waiting!

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 145

 

 

On long road trips, Becky spent the time

leaning up between the front seats and

Beth slept or read books in the backseat

 

Like our trek to Oregon when Brandy had to take the seat next to me casting ole Ruffian aside, Becky came along and took the center-position between the front seats whenever we went somewhere where she prattled away while older sister Beth was relegated to the rear corner.

Becky’s enthusiasm became so prevalent that I would offer a Quarter if she remained quiet until we got home---alas…I never parted with a quarter on that account! Amen!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Wouldn’t have had it any other way!” Memories!

 



Thoughts Plus Day 144 CJSM

 

People seem: Bored! Lonely! Afraid!

 

It's a choice; I choose  not to participate!

 

 

 

Contemplate:

 

Good misses “comfort’s” mark;

Better initiates ambition-trek;

Best satiates Spirit-Grace!

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 144

 

 

Lauren, Lexi and Anna---

Nanny’s bookshelves at the library

 

 

Lady Candice took a job at the library after my little “medical”-misstep. Thank you!

Just what the lady needed after forty years of mothering “three” kids, working a full-time teacher’s job, housekeeping (immaculate), cooking (gourmet)---and…Perfect! So? I proudly boast that in 60 years, I may have taken a dozen aspirin in all that long span; then, old Mother Nature and evil “time” caught up with “smart”-me and racked my body with a vengeance. Kind Candy took up the slack and doubled-down on keeping things “Perfect”! And, she did!

Our little girls, Lauren, Lexi and Anna have been mature adults from the onset; these fine young ladies are a tribute to our family; each overflowing with Love! Not a selfish bone among them. Z Tyler, Lexi’s older brother, by 17 years, fills the bill, also! What an absolutely delicious family! If I ever did anything “Right” in this life? My family stands testament to that “Good”!

Our daughters get credit for these “angels”---Yeah! I know!...They all take after their Nanny”!  Lovely-sweet with Z. Tyler Me seven “gold crown” sparkling precious gems! Amen!

So? Lovely Lady Candice took a job at the local library (from which she will retire on May 26, 2017) and these darling little girls came to visit her and take out books; in their natural way, each watched and learned how the facility operated. They began checking-in books for patrons in an effort to help their Nanny and soon had all aspects of “running” the library well-in-hand.

All are truly: Amazing! I love them more than life and am so very proud of who they are! Amen!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “My Angels” Memories!

 

 

 

 



Day 143 CJSM

Random Thoughts

 

 

Edification:

 

Beacon-brilliant exemplify

to

Explicate dimension-dark

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

Day 143

 

 

Daisy, Rusty, Ruffian, Brandy I and Brandy II

 

 

Growing up, our family always had a dog, or two, sometimes---three, used for hunting.

And, as an added bonus, they taught kids responsibility and they were good friends.

We would load them in the trunk of the family 4-door sedan and take them on our local trips to my grandparents’ farm or to our fishing club, Fox Lake. I delighted in seeing the dogs swim.

Our first dog was a beagle name of “Poochie”; Beth was just a toddler then.

Daisy–the-Irish-setter got locked in the horse trailer over night when Becky forgot her; she was about three and had been playing “horses” drafting Daisy into the role of “wild-steed”.

One glaring mistake I made (I might even admit it) was the purchase of another setter name of “Rusty”. Oh! My! What a waste! Of---money, and…dog! I reckon you can’t win them all!?

Ruffian-the-Afghan was a beautiful cur; regal (in a k-nine sort of way). My sister brought him to us after rescuing him from the dog pound. He must have originally belonged to a master who had money; his “favorite” place to lounge: stretched out full-length on our living room sofa. He made the trek to the Great Northwest with the family. We had a nice park in the town along the Willamette River where we like to walk. Ole Ruffin had heart trouble, but, his spirit was strong-willed and he always tagged along. One day, he laid in a pool of water and refused to get up. Poor old guy had just exhausted himself; I thought I’d have to carry him out; he recovered.

Brandy I was Becky’s very best friend. What a dog! Becky would ride our steel snow-saucer down the hill in front of our house to the creek below in winter time; subservient Brandy adored Miss Becky and at the end of the snow-run, Brandy would grab a short rope tied to the saucer and pull it back up the slope so Rachel could ride the snow-trail again and again.

When “perfect” Brandy went on to doggy-heaven, I replaced her with Brandy II, another fabulous find! Both were Irish setters and wonderful friends and kids’ pets. Brandy II made the trip to Oregon with us. I drove the U-Haul with all our treasures; Brandy II and Ruffian were my co-pilots. Brandy had to lay on the seat beside me as I drove; Ruffian rode shotgun.

These “pets” added greatly to the Family-style; add the cats, horses and all the rest---Voila!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Bow-wow!” Memories!

 

 

Wind-fire Magic Plus DaY 142 cjsm

 

Wind-fire Magic

 

I have viewed such magic as wind-on-fire;

Deep breathed cool-sweet salty ocean air;

Seen yonder majestic-eagle from above him;

Embrace-kissed often-long delicious spirit-love;

Found solitude within sacred nature-space comfort;

Contemplated Benoit’s fractal geometry conclusion;

Sought peace replace altercation of selfish-symphony;

Enjoyed summer shade-filigree cooling silver maple tree;

Challenged-true held beliefs to weed the garden-fresh;

Confessed-transgress a-purpose against me God and man;

And, freed the baby robin-caught to free-soar his domain;

Encouraged “hopeless” afflicted-patient kind touch-smile;

Joined in collective-communion prayer for soul-spirit peace;

Embrace! Shared! Spread! Consumed! Sweet Love-eternal;

Beheld life sacred-born with pride in hope satiated-song;

Cried for lost chance of innocence for termination-evil lie;

Planted 10,000+ seedlings in honor nature future generations;

Appreciated beauty-offered each new-dawn precious gift;

Gentle-touched thy soft hand to love in liquid pools delight;

On humble bended-knee prayed redemption-absolution-salvation;

Offered roof and clothes and bread; money, too! And---Love!

Denied evil twin step-sisters evil purpose: Fear and Worry-theft;

Sometimes? Did Good! Try Better! Demand of self---only…the Best!

Mis-judged? Maligned? Undermined? Of no concern to me. Alas!

Played seven decades Santa Claus intent on purposed-Love!

Practiced? I pray! Universal-Charity through Christian-generosity!

Never counted shekels nor horded gold; valued only Freedom-Love!

Once saved baby quail ensnared in roadway shoulder summer-hot tar;

Saw Good where evil shadow-hid wraithlike as any coward-bully;

Found!? Pray I! In me: That guy! Whose word be sacred-bond;

And, gave back much more than ever gifted to this unworthy soul;

Sensed heaven-bliss within this heart near each instant time-space;

Through these many days and years and---eon?...no regrets lamented;

Save one? Perhaps? To do Good---Better…always, Best! Tried I!?

 Mountains! Coast! Me loves most: Father! Son! And, Holy Ghost!

Words may be mis-construed, me intent-purpose altruistic remains;

For I have come and am and wide-reach beyond eternal-universe;

An enigma-circle curiosity to glimpse wild “Wind-fire Magic”;

For: I believe enough to care and care enough to righteous-do;

 

Faith! Family! Freedom! Might just be all there really---Is!

In one eternal instant the only mercy-blessing will be…His!

 

Amen!

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

 

Day 142

 

 

Friday night hot ham and cheese at

Hoefft’s with Big Red and Sprite

 

 

We lived about a mile outside the little village of Maeystown, Monroe County, Illinois, for about a dozen years on a fabulous farm/ The old farmstead was a mile off the county road; we had to drive through a rock bottom creek to ingress the “estate”. The old plot was pretty run down and I had vacated the family from a very nice place on the bluff with a pool overlooking the Mississippi River bottoms with a view to rival any nature lover’s finest fantasy. I took myriad shots of the fantastic sunsets from our balcony; I still miss that vista.

My protégé family members were not overly pleased with my latest “gypsy-blood” venture to the “outback” adventure with “Carl-the-farmer” moving from a mansion to a shanty! Just who did “Idiot-boy” think he was, anyway? Oliver Wendell Douglas of “Green Acre” fame?

Anyway, I built the clan a new house, complete with pool, in a little valley on the northeast corner of the farm where two solid rock bottom creeks joined in confluence; this site was only a half mile off the paved roadway.. The natives settled in for eleven-plus years of fun and fantasy---then…”Gypsy-Carl” up and moved to---Oregon!

Our little village had been founded by Lady Candice’ great-great grandfather and she still boasted myriad relatives in the area; that factoid remains incidental to our move to the farm. Her uncle lived nearby and we were friends; we hunted together and I helped him farm.

The small town had a church high on the hill overlooking the berg; it sported a tavern.

Hoefft’s Village Inn became a favorite for our clan. Friday fish my personal delight; the kids chose hot ham and cheese washed down with soda called Big Red and Sprite. The “kid” in the group could never leave well-enough alone; I mixed Big Red and Sprite together for: sparkle! Often, being busy with farm chores, we ordered “carry-out” from Mr. Rick and dined at home.

That “kid”-thing allowed me to teach the “real ”kids” to eat ice cream with chocolate syrup off of a saucer, makes it more enjoyable; also, you can “lick” the platter clean! Cuts down on dishes.

So very blessed! I am. All my seven decades! I am un-deserving---but…I ain’t complaining!

Never had a plan! Just one ambition…Live! So far---70 years!…so good! Amen!

So many people bored, lonely, afraid!? Too little time through space for any of that nonsense.

Whatever is---next…I’m all in! Bring it! Boys! And, Girls! Bring it! Happiness is a choice!

 

Let the good times roll! (I see the dawn and hear sunrise!)

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Life’s ambition” Memories!