Is That All?

I must have the most boring blog on the planet. Now, don't feel like you have to pipe in and say something encouraging. I know the truth. When you reach my age.... and there are no kids at home, and your life consists of going to work, coming home and going to bed, there really isn't much to share. It's almost embarrassing, especially when I read other blogs with such fun and interesting topics. Or blogs of those who are so much more educated than myself, that they sound so intelligent and important.

I was wondering what in the world could possibly be worth spending time reading my blog and decided to delve into the past and share a few memories. Hmmm, let me see...

The first thing that popped into my head was Wayne and Garth....I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!...

Second was my rattlesnake story.
When we lived in the huge metropolis of Rison, our home was deep in the dark woods. Rustic living was quiet, if often lonesome. We had a small, and I mean small front porch that was only two steps off the ground. One summer, I had some potted plants on each side of the steps and one day somehow, I hit one with my foot and knocked it to the ground. At first I thought it would be easy to just reach down and shovel the dirt back into the pot with my hand, and pull it back onto the porch but before I reached out, I changed my mind. (Devine intervention?) I went down the two steps and as I faced the pot, saw a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike had I reached my hand out. I would not be surprised if SR's ears are still ringing at the pitch and volume of my screams.

Third memory is of J and his father's machete. Yes, a child with a machete. Now before you all get upset over a small child using a large dangerous blade, let me say that he wasn't that small, and he was always very very good with knives and hatchets, etc. He never in his young life ever hurt himself using one, mostly due to the diligence and instruction of his father. (an ATV accident is another story) I don't have any one particular episode to share, just that he was such a woodsman/outdoorsman that every afternoon and every weekend would find him in the scrub by our house, chopping down sapplings and bushes. We could see quite far through the woods due to his hobby. And if he had other kids over to play, they all went in search of menacing brush and small trees for him to battle. He works outside now, and in a sense, still tackles trees and overgrowth that get in the way of his work. I never realized that until this moment.

To be fair, I have to add one about LeLe. By the time she was in the second grade, her hair was down to her waist. That was something I'd always wanted as a child and I was able to enjoy it vicariously through her. That year, her school sold chocolate candy to raise money for something or another the school needed. I never liked asking family and friends for money, but I bought some of the candy myself. When it arrived, it tasted funny, but I thought it was just because of the particular brand of candy it was. Unfortunately, there was actually something wrong with it, and it all had to be recalled. It made the state news and the town was in the spotlight for several days. A camera crew arrived in podunk south Arkansas and filmed at the school. The elementary principal was interviewed and some of the children were shown bringing boxes of candy back to the office. In a split second of film, there was my LeLe walking down the hall, carrying an armful of candy boxes, with her long beautiful red hair swaying back and forth as she marched down the hall. I won't ever forget that picture in my mind.