The Ups and Downs of Birthdays

Adrift in the Laguna Madre. That's why I didn't post yesterday. The Laguna Madre is the water between South Padre Island and the Texas mainland. It is part intercoastal waterway, and part tidal flats. My daughter Mandy and a friend, Chris, took Pappy fishing yesterday. I haven't really been fishing in about eight years. I mean in a nice boat with the proper bait , tackle, and a guy who knows fishing. I was up early (I'm always up early) and doing my part for the venture. I brewed coffee and made enough Pappy McMuffins (egg sandwiches with melted cheese) for us all. All I brought otherwise was my cell phone, camera, and knife. Now that's a generous birthday present. We were on the Arroyo Colorado at daylight and headed for the Laguna Madre with a pretty stiff north wind putting a little chop on the water. I chose the front seat so I could have the sea breeze forced into my nostrils with all the attendant particulates present in our air today. I am just a little stuffy and my face is a little flushed from the sun.

This was the view from my perch. Once we located the shallow bays we wanted to fish, Chris skillfully positioned us on the north end and we drifted with the wind while casting. Everyone on board was successful and we brought home some nice fresh Red fish and Speckled trout fillets. My casting arm is sore, and my body is thankful to be seated in a soft office chair, but I am still savoring the experience of yesterday. Many thanks to all who participated in my birthday weekend, and all who came by to say "Howdy" on the blog. Resting on Sunday. That's what it's for and I intend to take full advantage. I was brought back to reality when the little girls (pre-school to early elementary) from across the street (who come by every afternoon for a brief visit) stopped by and wished me happy birthday. The eldest asked how old I was and when I told her sixty one, her mouth fell open, her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "No way". It was as though she was looking at a living fossil. I can remember when forty looked old.

Nature shows us only the tail of the lion. But I do not doubt that the lion belongs to it even though he cannot at once reveal himself because of his enormous size. Albert Einstein

Writer's Block

What to write...what to write? I've been up all night trying to come up with an idea. I just started doing this for relaxation and a way to stimulate my mind everyday. I never knew there would be such notoriety attached. Now they'll be expecting...Hemingway every morning. They have no idea how my limits were stretched during the last few days. First a six hour trip to my mother's house in west Texas to celebrate her 88th birthday. We have to call ahead and plan every minute of the visit with her so she will stay out of the kitchen. We also took her grandchildren and great grandchildren with us. We decided to stay a day and a half so as not to tire her out. When we arrived after lunch the house was filled with the smell of something baking. My wife checked the kitchen and reported that a large peach cobbler was in the oven. We had purchased a small birthday cake at a local bakery before we got there. I said, "Mom, we are taking you out to eat tonight and we brought the cake, why are you baking a cobbler?" To which she replied, "We can eat cobbler now. Would you like coffee with that?" So an hour before dinner we had a large bowl of cobbler with vanilla ice cream melted on top. I told you I would be accountable to you in my program to loose weight and I will. I was worried about going to Sea World San Antonio the next day. I was afraid if I fell in the water, I would not be allowed to leave, but would be included in the Shamu show. I did not sleep well the first night and before noon the next day we broke camp and our caravan moved on. Travelling with a two year old, and a five month old is like moving a carnival.

We arrived in San Antonio as planned, and found that one of the two rooms we booked was not ready according to the front desk. After spending two hours jammed into one room, I roared into the hall and grabbed the first English speaking person in a uniform I could find and asked nicely why the adjoining room had not been cleaned up. The nice lady informed me that it had been cleaned at the same time as ours and it was the fault of the front desk for not knowing it was ready. I was then on a mission to see that justice was served. At two hundred dollars a night per room, I figured I was entitled to an audience with the manager. After a little behind closed doors session, I emerged with the keys to the other room, and free breakfasts for four adults for the duration of our stay. I thought my efforts had been poorly compensated until I went to breakfast the next morning and found that the breakfast buffet was fifteen dollars per person.

The trip to the theme park is rich with observations for another post. The little ones did very well, and I maintained my composure throughout despite the damage done to my teeth and internal organs. I then had to rush home and do my yard so the yard men I fired two weeks ago could see how much better it looked now that I was in charge. I don't know how long to make them suffer before I re-hire them. So you see, the award and all has really come at a time when I was mentally and physically down. I'm afraid to re-cycle older posts because some of you have actually read many of them. As Lone Wadie said in the movie, Outlaw Josey Wales, "I will endeavor to persevere."

About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends. - Herbert Hoover