Sorry to you early birds that read the blog in the morning. We are rushing around trying to get ready for the big birthday bash in Cali. The misses is getting her toes, nails, hair, etc (don’t know what else, but I’m sure something) all done today before the big trip. Me of course, I’ll pack tomorrow am an hour or so before we go. That there is the difference between men and women!
Boys are in school taking their spelling tests a day early since we’ll be on a plane tomorrow. Aunt B is taking our lab to the vet today for a check up, shots, or something, and is paying for the whole thing! Not sure why except maybe she thinks our poor little dog is neglected. I personally think it’s just cause she’s nice and really cares about our lab. Either way, way cool!
Last night a retired dentist I know down the street (for the past year, we talk occasionally when we see each other on the street) showed up at my door and showed me this old over and under 12 gage shotgun from Brazil. We talk hunting often as he has lots of land in Nebraska and Iowa and hunts every year. His wife has some sort of bad abdominal cancer (just found out a month or so ago) and I don’t think he has many people to talk with. He always jokes that I’m the only one (other than 1 policeman neighbor who’s moving away) that he likes to talk to in the neighborhood. He says everyone else is crazy. I think his kids are all out of state. Anyhow he shows me this old shotgun case and tells me to pull the gun out and take a look at it. While the wood on the stock is a bit beat up, the bores (barrels) are very clean (in good shape). As I’m admiring this, I asked him when he got this and he said he picked it up today. After checking it out and telling him what a nice find I start to hand it back to him and he says “no, that’s for you”! At first I didn’t understand and said “what?”, to which he replied, “I saw it and knew you didn’t have a 12 gage and I just bought it for you, no strings attached”. Obviously I was overwhelmed, I have given him a few bottles of wine here and there but nothing else. My wife says he’s lonely, has no one in the neighborhood to talk to, and really enjoys my company as whenever he sees me, he stops and will talk for hours (if I let him). We’re going to get together in a few weeks for dinner or something, he really is a character., kind of a crazy old coot if you know what I mean. (not crazy in the literal sense, just funny with tons of stories and yes a republican!) He also collects cars, I know he has 4 Jeep Wagoneers from the 80’s, 4 Mercedes, an old Army jeep he restored, and some other cars. He also has a plane or two and a bunch of guns. I always joke and tell him I want to be him when I grow up! Anyhow, what a nice gift, couldn’t have cost more than $300 or so but the gesture means much more than the value of the gun. He says I should join his group when they go turkey hunting over at his place in Nebraska. Also apparently my Mom and his wife have been friends for years as he remembers my Dad well who also drove Jeep Wagoneers (we had a lot of them) so they’ve been in the neighborhood for a long time.
So, what a good day! I’ve got to get going now as I have a few crises at work that need to be handled. I’ll be posting early tomorrow am before heading off to the airport, family in tow. I’ll have to use someone’s computer in CA on Saturday and Sunday to do the blog. Monday’s post will have to be around noon when we get back home.
Take care, stay safe and go out today and buy someone a gun! It’ll really make them happy! If you don’t know someone who’d want one, just send me a check.
p.s. another 7.0 earthquake in Japan, hope it’s not as bad, God bless.