Day 287
Playing poker at
Threlkeld’s---
John walked out
with all our money
Seemed
we could always find entertainment for the group; always a party.
In
Tennessee, we would get a watermelon, lay it in a wash tub and fill the vessel
with chipped ice. Taking the treat to Shelby Park in East Nashville, we would
play some family softball or sit around the pavilion on picnic table or take a
stroll for a few hours while the melon chilled.
When
the ice had about half-way melted surrounding the green-treat with sloshy ice
water, a warm palm applied flat against the cold rind immediately tingled the
hand---it’s ready!
The
clan would gather around for some good eating. Granny! Granddaddy! Mom! Dad!
Sisters! Brothers! Uncles! Aunts! Cousins! Friends! Guests! What a fantastic
party!
We
could muster that same enthusiasm at the farm or Fox Lake or a state or city
park; anywhere we managed to gather for fun and games and entertainment. I
cherished the events.
We
even played a bit of cards, one time or another; I reckon that’s so. Sure
enough!
My
brother and I held all night poker games
in my parents’ kitchen when I was in high school and college; Dad always
managed to stay up until dawn; generally he was in bed by 9:00 pm.
Later,
when we started wheeling and dealing in real estate, just as we were readying
to move to Oregon, we put our 214 acre farm up for sale selling the new house
with some acreage. Needing a place to move, I purchased 73-acres contiguous to
our remaining 200-acre farm property; it had another farmstead with buildings
and a very nice house on it and we moved in. This gave us control over the
entire operation, absent our house we had sold.
Then,
in the spring, quite out of the blue, as we were packing our belongings for the
trek west in August of that same year, I got a late evening call. A man I had
dealt with ten years earlier who had 80-acres for sale had declined my offer to
buy his property---now…he called and wanted me to buy it!? He made me an offer
“I couldn’t refuse” and we closed the deal.
We
had one huge bar-b-que for a number of people there one fine Sunday and
numerous other celebrations for family and friends in the six months we owned
the farm. A real delight!
The
73-acre farm we purchased had a nice house and out buildings on it; we played
poker there; on Thanksgiving night my brother walked away with all the chips; he was always lucky!
Before
we vacated the Midwest for the Pacific Northwest in August of 1989, we had
liquidated all of our real estate
holdings---cashed-out…laughing all the way to the bank! (I spent it---all!)
Maybe
I never had any real plan (I despise rules
where my life is going is concerned), but, I managed to do well-enough, I
reckon, sure enough. Truly had one Great life---still am!
Wonder
what I might have accomplished if I
had followed the procedures?---Hmm!...Nah!!!
“Sweet-life-Crazy-man!”
Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “Daring-life!” Memories!
(Ha! Ha!)
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