August &Day 228 CJSM

 

August

 

Such a quiet month as summer winds down

With hellish heat intensified by relentless humidity

A delightful thunderstorm to cool it now and then

The reality school starts causes many a child to frown

 

Some sky-blue days sport fluffy white clouds

Promise near September offering crisp fresh autumn

Awful temperature highs into the upper nineties they reach

Shortened days, perhaps, yet hotter still makes August proud

 

To survive one year, I at long last traveled west

Across swift rivers, wide plains and so on

To the distant horizon just to see what is next

Over hill, down valley to the majestic Rocky Mountain crest

 

Grandeur reached for heaven still not enough for me

Across the Great Salt Lake on up Idaho-way

To the Great Northwest via the old Oregon Trail

What spectacular wonders these naïve eyes did see

 

So many places ’round this old world I’ve been

Over the ocean to see my ancestral beginnings

In Dallas-town and down old Mexico-way

To the Oregon-coast resplendent, almost a sin

 

August here not like the Midwest weather-horrific

So beautiful as to tempt my love away from my heart

If God lived on earth this He would call home

From coastal mountains I view the grand blue Pacific

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 228

 

 

Dad would “jump” the bump on the levee

on our way to South County & Becky

would yell “Tittle mine beyyeeee!”

 

 

Just seems that I can’t do anything without making a “game” of life---immature?...probably!

I intend “generosity” and purposely practice “Christian generosity”---but…Time is sacred!

I will give you my shirt if you are naked and cold; my last sandwich if you are hungry. But, if you decide to take my possessions uninvited---I’ll hand you…your head! You choose!? Careful.

I simply cannot tolerate (and, refuse to even consider it) any lie! Theivery---is…lying!

One other item of concern is my---precious…time. Tick! Tick! Tick! Another second---gone!

So? Well! I find ways to shorten the necessary “time”-element demanded in this life to accomplish any mission we accept as a challenge from eating and sleeping to work and play. If I can shorten the “time” to reach the destination or objective---Well! Then…I an all-in!

We spent a lot of time traveling to South County in Missouri, our neighboring state. Living in a rural area and being “farmers”-at-heart and by example, the “big” city beckoned, occasionally.

Leaving our property on the bluff, we could drop down to the bottom road, take a back-path and reach the levee that protected the bottom farm land from flooding; saved about 20 minutes.

The ole levee road had a huge “bump” in it that provided an under-the-road flood-pipe for relieving water pressure on the damn when Ole Man River got angry. Perfect! (For a madman!)

Well! Now! With the four of us in our super-chariot on the way to terrorize the “city”-slickers at South County, I took that shortcut to save time. Also, by hitting just the right speed as we approached that “bump” (and, it was sizable) and as we “sailed” over the impediment, the occupants of the vehicle would get that sensation of your “belly-turning-over)!

The “peanut gallery” loved the free circus-ride amusement, none more than I!

Becky was about three years old and she would giggle in anticipation and squeal, “Tittle mine beyyee!” (Tickle my belly!) (She hadn’t yet mastered the human language, yet). She had learned to Enjoy! Life! Yeah! I know! What an idiot daddy!? But, we sure enough had us some fun times.

(Another Transgression-confession: I very often eat dessert before the meal!) Take that!

I won’t tell you the really good stuff---It’s a sacred secret…and, I don’t wanna go to jail!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Bump-in-the-road” Memories!

 



Day 227 CJSM

Day 227

 

 

Becky sitting on the swing for

hours until she’d say “Sorry”

 

 

We all indulge our personal little “quirks”, I reckon. Even---me…more so than others!

My “perfect” spouse and progeny wear no shadow of guilt for such pettiness; Reckon I got enough of the penchant for “annoyance” to compensate for their “angelic” demeanor!? Hmm!

I cannot recall even one little single incident of “trouble” any of my 7 precious gems ever caused me; of course, I refuse to worry or fear---and…that’s a huge big help! I reckon! That these fine, worthy, saintly personages tolerated my shenanigans…? Well! Saints among us!?

Rachel Rebecca just could not bring herself to admit “fault” in any altercation-of-words; she steadfastly refused to say “I’m sorry!” which was the only tenet required for forgiveness and absolution, Lady Candy made the tykes sit on the bed and hold hands until each said “Sorry!” to their nemesis---Beth readily acquiesced…Becky held her ground, for hours! Maybe she was punishing big sis for allowing them to get caught in some fanciful little spat; she never told.

Given a fresh opportunity by the warden every 10 seconds, or sooner, Rachel would stare straight ahead and say not a word, not even divulging: Name, rank and serial number! Wow!

Finally, after coaxing and “good wishes” and vacant threats, when a few “long” hours had passed, Becky would suddenly take a deep breath and blurt out a bellicose “I’m Sorry!” and burst into tears; the warden dutifully granted a “pardon” and all-is-well resumed.

(Personally, I’ll never believe she meant a single word of the apology!) Just like her old man!

Yeah! Another (of many) transgression-confessions. I’d rather be right than popular! Amen!

Fortunately, for the warden and her Captain-of-the-guard, these events were very infrequent!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “I’m sorry! (that I got caught) Memories!

Day 226 CJSM

Day 226

 

 

Dad would stop at a rest area & Mom would let

Becky out of the car and tell her to: “Run! Just run!”

 

 

We began to take “serious” vacations when Beth was 9 and Rachel was 3---Colorado!

Myriad “short” get-a-ways had been indulged, like: Tennessee, Branson, New Orleans…

Our vehicle had barely reached the J.B. Bridge (less than 20 minutes from home) over the mighty Mississippi River than “novice” traveler, Becky, asked, “Are we there yet?”

It’s gonna be a l-o-o-o-n-g! trip.

After several non-stop hours on the road, just so we could get there before our vacation-time had expired and we had to turn around and head home, Candy would suggest that we pull into a Rest-area off the interstate where she would tell Becky to get out---and…”Run! Just run!”

We arrived in the Rocky Mountain state and had a wonderful vacation trekking the Great Divide, visiting Colorado Springs, Divide, Cripple Creek where we rode the small gauge railroad sitting on $20 million worth of Gold, Rocky Mountain National Park (my favorite), Casa Bonita’s in Denver.. We collected souvenirs, rocks, myriad photographs---and…Memories!

Rachel had a tough time walking on the sandstone rocks; I held her hand and we did just fine.

Many subsequent years found us retracing the trace of that first adventure; all pleasurable.

When we later traveled across this wondrous country, we would often stop at Rest-areas and let our Z.. Tyler get out to run-off some pent-up energy and hit some baseball pitches. Candy noticed that the truck driver’s availing themselves of the respite got a big kick out of watching him. He even got into the habit of “befriending” drivers on the road as he would wave to them.

.Our girls were “Great” travelers, always co-operative and open to any of Dad’s crazy ideas.

My seven precious gems make me proud, happy and satiated with the adventure of life-love!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “excess energy” Memories!

 

CJSM-Day episode

Day 221

 

 

5516 Cottonwood Court South, Salem, Oregon

 

 

“Stick with me kid. I’ll take you places you never dreamed of!” (Carl to Candy---1964)

I often wonder if (naw, strike that) how many times she regrets buying that fable?

We sure enough have had us some times---wonderful events…awesome great adventures!

Like, our infamous move to Oregon and the Great Northwest. Fantastic!

My reputation as a Rebel! Rascal! Rogue! Rapscallion! Has been groomed with focused intent for the express purpose of never being confused as “one-of-them”. Congratulations! Good job!

The character-representation seems necessary to stand apart from the mingling-masses.

Like cities, they all begin to look alike; even smell the same. Ugh! Not for me! Intolerable!

Our “delicious” move to the Great Northwest resulted in a situation which left us without a home due to a California lending institution regulation, not disclosed to me until we arrived in our new land with gypsy caravan in tow, which dis-allowed the “approved” loan-commitment they had signed 90-days prior which did not allow them to make a loan on more than 5-acres of land!? Wow! I thought more collateral enhanced the value of a loan!? Silly-me!?

So, with the aid of an angelic real estate lady and some “good” luck, we ended up in Salem, Oregon; not on our 20-acre horse farm we had bartered and been granted, but, in a house in town on a city-lot. We happily moved in and made our stay an awesome adventure. Beth attended Willamette School of Law and we made our “little” site into a wonderful “estate”, of sorts.

When the world serves lemons---make…lemonaide! I reckon that’s true enough!

 

Nobody ever rains on my parade---I refuse to allow it!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Bring-it!” Memories!

CJSM-Day episode

Day 220

 

 

Carl’s High School Graduation from

Sts. Peter & Paul school---1965

 

 

Just recently, I called the cops to our humble abode---Trespassers…they got a warning!

In my typical misdirected-“silly” humor, as the policeman was pulling away to go speak to the delinquents, I said, “You know why I’m not in jail, don’t you?”

Amused at my comment, he smiled and played along. “No! Why aren’t you in jail?”

Laughing, I provided the punch line. “Because you guys haven’t caught me---yet!”

He smiled, slightly shook his head, and pulled away.

Well! Now! High School graduation kind-a felt something like that. It had only been 16 years (not counting my time-confessed with another lame-joke favorite whereby I admit that 3^rd grade was the best 4 years of my life), but it had often felt like 60; the “parole” proved delightful!

After the fact, often the very best way to “see” reality, those eons incarcerated within the stark institutional-walls seem too short and way too long ago. I did enjoy the adventure, though. Not that simple-I will ever attest to the “magic” and “fun” of school-daze! But, I did go to college.

Graduation became the light at the end of the tunnel---silly me…there’s just another tunnel.

Yeah! I went on to college---and despised that inconvenience, also…too soon work very quickly took over the “culprit”-character in a life filled with “necessary” distraction-evil demons.

But, I got that sheepskin, Alleluia!

All-in-all: I reckon I played and beat the system, pretty well. Sure enough enjoyed the adventure-journey---every instant…absolutely no regrets! What an awesome-wonder Life!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Thanks for the memories!” Memory!

 

Amazing Grace confession & Day 225 CJSM-book

 

Of-Love! For-Love! In-Love!

 

Serendipity! A blessing of “chance” findings. Amen!

 

Faith! Family! Freedom! My sacred mantra of: Truth! Love! Honor!

And, I shall intrepid-fly that trinity brilliant-white on a vibrant-red

pennant proud-displayed on a (metaphoric) golden-staff gonfalon

 

Transgression-confession: I have selfish-lived---unashamedly for…Love!

 

Lovely Lady Candice Leah ushered our girls to religion;

Sunday school and church each Sunday; exemplar models

(Pray I the plural be truth!) in a virtual Paradise. Voila!

 

Amazing Grace! Oh! How sweet the sound…

 

Attending the kids’ church program at mid-day,

I took a pew near the back; sinners need not parade;

Noon-sun bathed country farm-fields of my window-view…

 

...that saved a wretch like me…

 

Cherubim & Seraphim-Innocents began their sacred song

which humble-I had not witnessed anywhere before;

mesmerized by green-swaying fields-of-corn---

I fell in love…stirring Holy spirit-Grace refined…

 

…I once was lost but now am found…

 

The Almighty Mother Nature gift-sublime

in sweet-voiced cadenced song-verse

brought this wretch soul-spirit heaven-home!

 

…’Twas Grace that taught my soul to fear…

 

So moved to sacred-find: Love!

Amazing Grace! My now-eternal trace!

 

 

…and Grace my fear relieved.

 

Allow humble-simple I by His-sacred example teach!

 

I humble-pray! Amen!

 

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 225

 

The little girls babysitting Bapa

 

 

I see humor in everything! (Nearly---any way!) Everything has to be a “game”. Wild-fun!

So, our Zachariah Tyler comes along in my fortieth year in this time and space; I celebrate his arrival by quitting my “day”-job so he and I can “grow-up” together. Not the greatest idea.

Listen! I don’t care what he says, throwing a football back and forth to each other in Sports Authority over 4-aisles? Well!? I was just watching; had to be Z.’s idea---I am…the “adult”!?

We sure enough had us some wild times in the following 16 years; I even made a little money!

When the little girls came along, Lauren, Lexi and Anna Marie, I was triple-blessed, again!

As they grew up, I deluded them into thinking that I could neither read nor write; they spent “years” feeling sorry for the Old man and showed Job’s patience trying to “help” me. We sure enough had us some laughs. Now, these “young-ladies” humor the old guy---and…just smile!

One of my “favorite” games is to have these “angels”: Babysit Bapa! They “play” along.

Truth be told: Z. Tyler and the little girls all had better sense than me---Thank God!

I reckon I’ll admit: They did an excellent job with me---Hell!...at least, I ain’t in jail, yet! Hmm! Confessed to a cop recently, “I ain’t in jail ’cause you ain’t caught me---yet!” He smiled!?

But, we still had us some wild times! Thank you! All For the adventures-of-life & Love!

I wouldn’t have missed one single instant of any of the mayhem! Not on your life!

Confession-transgression! They all grew up and left me---I never did…and, never will!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Babysitters” Memories!

 



Just a thought on my mantra & Day 224 Cookie Jar Sweet Memories

 

Trinity!

 

Faith! = Truth!

Family! = Love!

Freedom! = Honor!

 

 

Plus:

 

 

 

 

Day 224

 

About six months after the copperhead in the basement,

Beth finds a baby bird and makes a nest in the retaining

wall by the driveway. She and a friend eat lunch and go

to check on the baby bird only to find it has been eaten

by a copperhead.

 

 

Wild! & Wooly! Yeah! I reckon that’s true enough! Rebel! Rascal! Rogue! Rapscallion!

City-bred and born? Sure enough! But, only until I learned to fly; then, no holds barred!

I just needed some wide-open spaces to stretch my horizons; Boy! I sure enough found ‘em.

Our first house that I constructed set on 10 acres overlooking the Mississippi River bottom.

We added a swimming pool and horse barn; quite a nice spread for a Ne’r-do-well!?

I traveled, occasionally. On one such outing, Candy found a copperhead in the back room of the basement; her dad killed the serpent and they searched everywhere for its mate as they travel in pairs. They took everything out of the storage room---but…no mate! We found it---later!

In the spring of the next year, Beth had a friend over for a play-day; they found a baby bird.

I had utilized railroad ties for a retaining wall and the little girls made a nest for their “find” where they housed the tiny creature while they went inside for lunch (probably Spaghetti-O’s at the little table in front of the T.V.?) They got a real surprise when they came out.

Instead of their rescued “Feathered-friend”, they found a 30” copperhead with a “bulge”!

That serpent had eaten their little pet! I killed the vermin but could not save the fledgling.

We surmised that the serpent was the mate of our previous unwanted basement guest. Hmm!

Anyway, all’s-well-that-ends-well! I sure enough reckon that’s true!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “dead-serpent” Memories!

 

 



Day 223 CJSM

Day 223

 

Eating Spaghetti-O’s at the little wooden

table in the basement at New Hanover

 

 

Faith! Family! Freedom! My sacred mantra seems to be all-inclusive. Hmm! Works for me!

We bought a kid-sized table with two chairs when the girls were young; they enjoyed it.

My Dad would get so agitated with me when I would just have to have the T.V. on; he said I would rather watch that thing than---eat! A parental exaggeration; guess he was frustrated.

Well! Now! When we had kids I let the tots sit in front of the “tube’ while they ate their dinner. I know! Shame! On me---bad parenting skills…or, total lack thereof!?

But, before you judge too harshly---I was right their with them…fighting for the remote!

Maybe they were “short-changed”? I doubt it. Just did the best I knew how. I reckon! Amen!

We managed! We survived! DCFS never took the kids away from us! Put that in your pipe!

If either of them ever ran away for a better life with better “keepers”, I never knew about it. No! Siree! I refuse to worry!

Anyway, where they gonna go that’s better than their own table and chairs eating Spaghetti-O’s in front of the television with an adult? For a playmate!? Umm! Hmm! They’ll be back!

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Dinner? & a Movie?!” Memories!

Happy Birthday! Z. Tyler & Day 222

 

Happy Birthday! Z. Tyler

(July 24, 2017! 30-years! Wow!)

 

Adonis-handsome Z. Tyler---Charmed!

(a loving birthday limerick)

 

How we all sacred-loved thee well-on before thy birth

Joyful-thee blessed-perfect this awesome-wonder earth

Fantastic! Lexi-Anna-Lauren cherish-adore thy being

Soul-mate Jen and Biscuit-“eater” embrace Love-seeing

A Quality man-among-men our exemplar hero-worth

 

Amen!

 

I Love thee more than sweet-satiating sunshine-life!

 

That “humble-simple”-I might love thee blessings!

 

Value-worth & Virtue simple-Truth only ever impresses me;

Non-materialistic by intent; a loving spirit-creature a-purpose;

Satiated Joy exquisite-love at thou bless-ed birth-announcement;

I prayed thee perfect-“health” & one delicious childhood (like---mine);

Then, set about with helping-hand to achieve fruition upon gold-wish;

And---never…did thee disappoint nor offered complete-Love! refuse;

Perfect! Our son; our boy; our adored exemplar just too-Cool hero-man;

Me “shadow”-buddy for eighteen years; we wrote some adventure-tome;

And, laughs and love and happy days and awesome times through space;

I joke “taught thee everything ye knows”; Truth-told: ye be me mentor---

like…”I was just watching!” “Your fault! You shouldn’t have let me do it!”

Ole Santa’s-time be Christmas! Ye know---We have it every blessed day!

Any fortunate to meet thee respects such event with offered comfort-Love!

Adonis-handsome! Intelligent! Humble! Christian-generous! One true-man!

Through any distance-time eternal-space within me loving-heart forever hence;

Thee always makes us glowing-Proud! To simply share thy life exemplar-Love!

Yeah! Sure enough! I be a Rebel! Rascal! Rogue! Rapscallion! Transgress-confessed;

redeemed by Faith! Family! Freedom!-trinity embraced; needed Salvation!-found true;

In this Awesome-wonder time through space life-sublime such family-element refined;

Not one “improvement” fathomed to any of me seven precious-perfect jewels-adored;

That such a “simple-humble” one might love the Cherubim & Seraphim choir-of-family!

And, for sure, include the myriad other sterling-souls who also tender-love thee-dear;

For I have been and loved and conquered-true that secret essence-quintessence;

I Love! thee true-intent a-purpose most sacred-blessed Zachariah Tyler-man!

 

Happy Birthday! Z. Tyler!

Love! Always & forever! Nanny & simple-humble me

 

Plus:

 

 

 

Day 222

 

Special tails on the rear wheels of Beth’s bike

 

 

Our kids had bicycles from little on; I had great fun teaching them to ride.

When Beth was young, I did quite a bit of hunting; she just had to have squirrel tails on her bike. I tied then to the rear fender and away she sped; bushy tails swirling in the wind.

Anything to spice things up; a little “touch” to make---good…better! What fun!

On second thought and in 20/20 hindsight, I reckon the squirrel-victims might disagree!?

But, we all have our little idiosyncrasies, I reckon. Becky used violet wild wood-phlox flowers to decorate---everything! Dogs, cats, horses, bridges, cars, dresses, bouquets. Beautiful!

Reckon she sure enough got that bit of “artistic”-penchant from “Dear ole Dad”! Hmm!

Well? I never said I was any good; just trying! And, most people would heartily---agree!

 

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “tails-in-the-wind” Memories!