AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENING

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Spectacular! The only way I can describe last evening.

Larry Smith provided a special jazz night. Well known artists from all over the world came to join Larry in Key West for a show of shows.

The setting was the ever beautiful Wine Galley at the Pier House. Small round tables, white chairs, champagne, wine, excellent food, and a performance to beat all performances.

I met many interesting people. All notables in the jazz world. Like Dan Brubeck. The internationally reknown drummer. What he did with the drums! Dan’s father was the well known jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. Dave spent most of his final years in Key West.

Names escape me. I cannot remember all. One was a lady jazz violinist. Obviously well known. She played at the Obama inaugural and one of Bush 2’s inaugurals. Then there was a guitarist who flew in from some far away place to perform last night. Last but not least, an exceptional trombonist from Boston.

Kathleen Peace and Christine Cordone sang. The two perform so well together. They compliment each other.

I met Noel Paul Stookey. Talked to him a while. Who is Noel? Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary. I was impressed! Songs of my era such as If I Had A Hammer and Puff The Magic Dragon. A tall, bearded, distinguished appearing individual. He sang a duet with Christine.

What made the show even better was the attitude the performers brought with them. They were like a bunch of kids in someone’s garage playing jazz. Having the best time of their lives!

I sat with Don, Stephanie and Erika. Erika was my date. Her husband Herschel could not attend.

Last night was a rare occasion. I hope I am lucky to see more.

Enjoy your day!

 

CHELSEA CLINTON

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The mystery has been solved! Chelsea Clinton was in Key West in recent days. Peter was correct that he saw her jogging at Fort Zach beach.

Key West Golden Girl Jean Thornton is home in Atlanta at the present. She knew. She emailed me yesterday to say Chelsea Clinton was in Key West to interview Judy Blume for NBC.

I believe I was the only one to publicize her presence. The newspapers even did not know. I spoke with one. I was told they could not verify her presence.

Two significant points are to be made. Peter has good eyesight and always believe Peter.

The more interesting question is who is Judy Blume? I never heard of her. I say this with shame. I googled her. She is a big deal. Must be if she was interviewed by the likes of Chelsea Clinton.

Judy Blume has had a home in Key West for years. She is an authoress. She has sold more than 80 million books. Her books have been published in 31 languages. The most famous was Tiger Yes, which also was made into a movie. It reached #3 on the New York Times Best Seller List. She is also a two time cancer survivor.

I asked the Chart Room regulars if they knew or had heard of her. The oracles of Key West lore. None had, except for JJ. He knew who she was and his wife knew her personally.

I felt less ashamed at that point.

It is amazing. You think you know everyone. None of us really do. I would like to meet this woman. I probably will.

It is not strange that another author of prominence would have settled in Key West. The home one time of Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee  Williams.

I walked the seaport yesterday. Bustling with tourists. It is a good season!

Afterwards, I stopped at the Plantation Coffee House. Enjoyed a cup and read the newspapers. The place was crowded. On the porch and inside. Another example of the large number of tourists in town.

Then spent a few hours at home preparing for this morning’s blog talk radio show.

Last night, it was the Chart Room first. Sean, Katherine, Che, Peter and JJ. Katherine and I had an interesting discussion about generations and what each expected from life. The boomers representing the age of entitlement. I enjoyed her perception of her generation’s expectations. I am not sharing them yet. I want to have a further conversation with Katherine on the issue first. I was finishing my second drink and my memory is a bit hazy.

I was hungry. Decided to eat out. A treat! Desired a prime rib. Headed to Outback. Too early. The place was crowded. No seats to be had anywhere, not even the bar.

I walked a 100 feet to the Chinese restaurant. Why not? It had been a long time. I destroyed myself. I could not get enough. My taste buds were alive.

Remember the five weeks I spent in Greece last summer? I visited Athens and four Greek isles. I reported getting stuck 3 extra days on santorini and 6 days on Armogos because the ferrys were not running. The seas were too high.

Today’s news carries a story about the Greek ferry boats. The ferry boat employees have been on strike for six days.

Understand that the ferry boats connect the islands. Most do not have airports. It is the boat or nothing. The ferry boats serve the Greek isles as the subway serves New York City.

The ferry boats also carry necessary supplies such as food, gasoline and other every day necessities. In some instances, even water.

Without the ferry boats, inconvenience and possible disaster.

The employees are on strike for pay arrears and monies they have lost because of austerity measures. It all has to do with the euro and Germany. More than half of Greece is unemployed. Things are tough. Going from bad to worse.

A side observation involves the Greek Nazi party. It is known as the Golden Dawn Party. On the rise in Greece. Won seven per cent of the vote in last November’s elections. It is thought if the elections were held today, a mere three months later, the Nazi party would come in a strong third. In a country where coalition government is the way, such gives the Nazi party big time clout.

The party operates similar to Germany in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Anti-Semitic, anti-immigration, convinces its followers Auschwitz was not a bad place. One of the party’s messages is speak Greek or else. Immigrants are beaten. Their homes and places of business vandalized.

These things bother me. That is why I share them with you. As a people, I believe we must be more aware of what is going on in the world. A global existence today. The problems of a far away nation may be ours tomorrow.

Syracuse beat Notre Dame last night 63-47. I did not watch the game. I did not know it was on.

The new national rankings came out yesterday. Syracuse is still in the top ten. Ninth and 10th in the two polls. I was surprised. I thought surely Syracuse would drop to 12-14. It only means most of the top teams are having problems. Misery loves company.

Verbose today. Sorry. I had much on my mind that I wanted to share.

Enjoy your day!

BLACKBIRDS

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The world is too serious. There is not enough humor. We need to lighten up a bit.

My friend Sukiyong Kim in Soeul, South Korea, emailed me the following which was received this morning.

Once upon a time, blackbirds were white. It was freezing cold outside. To avoid death from the cold, the white birds flew inside a chimney. They came out black and ever since have been black.

The simplicity of the tale. The absurdity. It made me laugh. I hope it did you, also.

I thought the Super Bowl was terrific! Some did not. What more could a fan want. One team goes far ahead, the other catches up, a defensive play with minutes to go.

I was at Lisa’s for dinner. A big deal dinner. Yesterday was Corey’s 50th birthday. Lisa prepared a big meal. We sang Happy Birthday! The cake was delicious.

Ally was especially cute. The event excited her. She took charge of everything. Including running around and turning all the lights off before Corey blew out the candles. Her excitement with each gift opened. The joy of youth!

Corey is a lucky man to have such a loving family. Lisa and Corey are lucky to have each other.

By the time festivities had concluded, it was half time at Super Bowl.  I had intended to watch the game at Don’s Place after dinner. Never made it. Went home to bed instead to watch.

My early morning blog talk radio show tomorrow. Seven in the morning my time. Available world wide.

My friends…..Get up you sleepy heads! Listen in. Call in. It is a talk show. Subjects tomorrow will include the Super Bowl game, whether Mc Cain has had it, the NRA, and whatever you might like to discuss. Call in and let me know.

Listen to the Key West Lou Talk Show at www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

You may call in any time within 15 minutes prior to show time. You will be placed on a list for me to chat with when the show begins.

Enjoy your today!

 

 

SYRACUSE IN TROUBLE

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Good bye Top Ten! Syracuse lost again yesterday. To Pitt. 65-55.

Syracuse is decimating itself. One of its stars has been out for several games for academic reasons. Another had knee surgery this week and is on crutches. Syracuse was only 7 deep at the beginning of the season. It is now 0 deep. Down realistically to 5 active players. The last statement is not precisely correct. Down to 3. Two of the presnt starters are not ready for the big time yet.

I feel sorry for Boeheim and the team. Hopes were bright at the beginning of the season. But a team needs its horses if it is going to win. This year’s scenario is like last year’s when Melo was lost at March Madness time.

It is going to be a long season!

I researched and wrote in the afternoon.

Last night was fun. Jenna and I went out.

The first stop was St. Paul’s Church. Elizabeth von Trapp was performing. Excellent!

Recall Sound of Music. The Captain and wife were her grandparents. Her father the oldest son.

In between songs, she shed some light on the realities of what the family went through when it escaped Austria and Hitler.

One was that her father was not a teen ager at the time. He was 21. When the family arrived in the United States, he was 23.

The family was escaping the Nazis. But it was not as described in the musical or movie. In both instances, the family snuck out of the house in the dark of night. They had to cross the mountains in the distance to get to a safe haven.

Elizabeth said no way! Over the mountains led directly to Germany. Instead, her grandfather locked the door to their home and the family calmly walked to the train station where they took the train to Italy.

The family was singing in the United States. They had two years of performances booked. All of a sudden, the US government feared they might be spies. They were placed on Ellis Island for three days. Three days of hearings.

Grandmother was confident. While the hearing was going on in a room, she had the family in the hall way singing and practicing. Three days later, the family was found sinless and permitted to remain in the United States.

It was an experience hearing Elizabeth. Her family is a part of our memories and history.

The show was over early. Jenna and I headed over to Hot Tin Roof. Last evening at Hot Tin Roof was one of the most enjoyable I have experienced in a long time.

We sat, drank and picked on food. Like sataki, hot shrimp and mashed potatoes. Yes, mashed potatoes. Jenna likes mashed potatoes. Actually, the mashed potatoes were unusually good.

The conversation was pleasant. A multitude of items discussed.

Big day today! Not Super Bowl. It is son in law Corey’s 50th birthday. Happy birthday, Corey! The best son in law a wife’s father could have.

The event is being celebrated with a special dinner this evening. Corey’s parents are in town for the event.

After the Corey festivities have concluded, I plan on stopping at Don’s Place to watch what is left of the Super Bowl game. The place will be crowded.

Was Peter correct in identifying Chelsea Clinton at the beach the other day? I suspect so. Though no one actually seems to know. Some one thought that she was in Key West to interview a Key West figure for NBC. All mysterious and strange. My gut feeling is that she really is in town and is being secreted for some reason. Perhaps privacy?

Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary is in Key West also. He will be attending Larry Smith’s special show tomorrow night at the Wine Galley.

Sloan is due here in an hour. We have work to do.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAVES IN THE POOL

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The sun is shining. There are no clouds in the sky. The temperature is 74 degrees. However, it is cold at my house.

My Key West home sits on open water. Any wind from the north, northwest or northeast hits it head on. Ocean wind is always cold. Even in the humid heat of summer.

The wind is still blowing today. Around 20 miles per hour. It is hitting my pool perfectly. There are waves in the pool.

Did the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday morning. My TV/internet show. There were some technical difficulties at the beginning. The audio was screwed up. No one could hear me. Otherwise, the show went well.

My Mc Cain comments to the effect the once hero was now an arrogant old man initiated quite a deal of comment. Most agreed with me.

The other topic that generated a great deal of interest had to do with the 60 year old woman who just won a $1 million lottery. She wanted to give back, help others. Since 2008, this woman and her mother were financially destitute. They relied on charitable organizations to get along.

One such organization provided toilet paper to her and her mother. One roll per person per month. Apparently not enough. She wanted to send a truck load of toilet paper to the organization.

Visted Tammy for a manicure after the show. Tammy’s company is always a pleasant experience. I could not help wondering what Vietnam has been without her.

Tammy became a US citizen last week. I shook her hand in congratulations. She is proud.

When I returned home, it was time to do next week’s KONK Life column. The publishing deadline was 5 o’clock.

I wrote about China and its one baby per couple rule. China is now considering going to two babies. Together with the reasons therefore. Read the article if you have the opportunity. It is interesting. An eye opener.

Dinner with Jenna was to end my day. I called and canceled. I was tired. I had been tired since the day before. Decided to go to bed instead. I did. Fell asleep early. I feel energized this morning.

Do not think I am letting Jenna get away. In place of dinner last night, we have decided to attend a performance at St. Paul’s Church this evening.

Remember Sound of Music? The story of the von Trapp family escape from Nazi Germany in the late 1930s. Lots of children.

One of the von Trapp granddaughters is singing tonight at St. Paul’s. I am excited. I am sure the program will include songs from Sound of Music.

I saw my first Broadway shows in 1960. The second was Sound of Music.

Syracuse/Pitt basketball at noon. I am concerned. More than ever.Though Syracuse is ranked #6, it is going to be difficult to stay in the top ten. Our sixth man has been benched for academics for several weeks. This week a starter had knee surgery and is on crutches. The team only went 7 deep at the beginning of the season. We are in trouble.

I have decided to watch the game from the comfort of my bed. It is being broadcast on ESPN.

Ed Koch died yesterday. A great New York City Mayor, a respected voice since he left office, and an all around good person. The world has lost a great one.

May he rest in peace.

Enjoy your saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NO ONE SNEEZED

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Once you have lived in Key West a few years, you can pretty well predict the weather. Not just by day. By parts of a day, also.

Yesterday however I was wrong! Way off!

The morning had started warm. Then it suddenly got cold and breezy. I predicted it would shortly turn warm again. The weather would sneeze and the tropical sun return.

No one sneezed.

It was cold all day. High probably 70. During the night, the temperature was 62. At the moment it is 63. The high for today is projected at 72 and the low at 63.

I was out last night. Wore long pants and a sweatshirt.

I spent a couple of hours chatting with friend Captain Peter at the bar of the Chart Room. Sheila was leaving as I arrived. Emily bartending.

Peter and I have become bar buddies. Good! It is always a pleasure to chat with Peter.

Peter shared with me two interesting things he observed on tuesday.

Peter spends his days at Fort Zachrey Taylor beach, assuming the weather is good. Tuesday it was. He always sits in the same spot. Everyone knows him.

From his beach perch, he sees can see the length of the beach.

The jelly fish are in. Peter says they are not jelly fish. They are Portuguese Man of Wars. Who am I to argue with him.

The strong wind coming in off the Atlantic has caused the Man of Wars to be thrown up on the beach. There they lie. Even though dead, their tentacles still sting. A poison shoots out.

A tourist decided to pick up one of the Man of Wars. A mistake. Her finger got stung. Then she committed another error. She put her finger in her mouth and tried to suck the pain out. A no no. The poison will cause the mouth to swell. Followed by difficulty in breathing.

As Peter was running to help the woman, one of the park rangers arrived ahead of him. The ranger had a bottle of vinegar. He quickly had the woman fill her mouth with the vinegar. Vinegar prevents and/or reduces the swelling.

The woman walked away A-OK.

Peter made another observation from his beach chair. He saw a young lady walking and running down the beach. NBC TV cameras filming her. The beach had been cleared ahead of her apparently for safety as well as room reasons. Peter was permitted to remain where he was. Someone said he is here every day and is ok.

Sound mysterious? Not really. Peter claims the young lady was Chelsea Clinton. Makes sense if it was. She is a special correspondent for NBC. The only problem is yesterday’s newspaper and other media made no mention of her presence. I telephoned Key West’s great investigative reporter Sean Kinney to see if he knew. He knows everything. No answer. No call back as yet.

Cindy and Steve came into the Chart Room later. Cindy has been Jimmy Buffet’s Key West secretary for years.

She and Steve have recently adopted a dog from the dog pound. Cindy was carrying the dog. She told us it was a rat terrier. It was bigger than normal. A pleasant contented animal. Cindy says since they got their new friend, she has found a couple of dead rats on  her property.

On the way home, I stopped at Outback. Ate a whole meal again. This time lamb chops. I thought I was going to devour the bones, also. I fear I am pushing my luck food wise.

This morning AT 10, my TV/internet show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I have selected some interesting topics for discussion. Listen in and enjoy.

The show is available via television from Key West through the whole of Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. Available world wide via the internet. www.tvcomcast19.com.

Enjoy your day!

 

 

DON’T SIT UNDER THE APPLE TREE

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Weather change in Key West can be dramatic. Just like that.

I woke two hours ago. The sun was shining. Little breeze. Everything calm. The start of another 80 degree day.

I stayed in bed an additional two hours. Got hooked on an old movie starring Mario Lanza and Katheryn Grayson. Great singing! When I got up again, the weather had changed. Dramatically!

The wind was blowing at least 30 miles per hour. The sky was laden with black clouds. The wind off the ocean was cool and made everything on land cool. White caps on the water.

The surprise will probably have left us in an hour. That is the way it is in the keys. Someone sneezes hard and the weather turns. The weather blows its nose and everything is back to normal.

Patty Andrews died yesterday. Ninety four. She was one of the Andrew Sisters. A singing trio from World War II days. Patty was the last of the Andrew Sisters.

One of their contributions to the war effort was participating in war bond drives. In order to raise money to conduct the war, the US government sold war bonds for $17.50 which were redeemable after 10 years for $25. Everyone purchased war bonds.

It was 1943 or 1944. I was 8 or 9 years old. The Andrew Sisters were appearing in downtown Utica as part of a war bond drive. My friends and I rode our bicycles to the event. The street was mobbed in four directions in front of the Savings Bank. The Andrew Sisters sang. Songs like Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and Rum and Coca Cola. The crowd listened and then many rushed up to purchase war bonds.

The Savings Bank had a huge chain link fence around it. The links were at least 4 inches and thick as your thumb. It was announced as part of the war bond drive that day that the Savings Bank was donating their chain link fence to the war drive. A big deal! The US needed metal from where ever it could get it to make guns and ships, etc.

A passing thought. We used to pay for our wars on a pay as you go basis. Not like the last two wars that were not financed in any fashion. Wars don’t come cheap. The unfinanced two wars are part of today’s national debt.

May Patty Andrews rest in peace.

I had to grocery shop again yesterday. I needed more. I  bought more. More than the day before.

Spent a few hours afterwards at home writing. Finished a short story I have been working on. A Daughter of the American Revolution. I have written several others. I intend at some point this year to publish them. I promise.

I fine tuned tomorrow’s Key West Lou Legal Hour. Added additional topics like the prostitute who was not too bright, the Vienna Museum’s Naked Men show, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a bit about Trygve Lie who was the first Secretary General of the United Nations, and David Letterman.

With all due modesty, it is a good show! Join me. You will find the comments made interesting and in some instances provocative.

The show is aired on television from Key West to Miami-Dade County on Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19. It is also available world wide on the internet. www.tvchannel19.com. Ten in the morning my time.

I babysat at dinner time. Robert and Ally performed for Poppa their parts as munchkins in the coming Wizard of Oz presentation. Ally skipped. Robert recited his 25 lines. He already has them down pat.

Then it was off to Don’s Place. Billy was intensely watching TV at the bar. Don, Tom, David, and Herschel were at the end.

Don’s grandson is in the Wizard, also. He is a clown munchkin. We will be two proud grandfathers at the event.

We talked about our beloved friend Frankie the Plumber. He is still recovering from big time heart surgery.

Larry Smith also occupied our conversation. He is having a terrific show next monday and tuesday at the Pier House’s Wine Galley. Entertainers coming in from all over the United States. I am going with Don, Steph, and Erika. Erika is my date. Her husband Herschel cannot attend.

Enjoy your day!

 

TV / INTERNET SHOW FRIDAY AT 10

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Another magnificent morning! Brilliance everywhere! Key West brilliance!

Friday is two days away. Friday means the Key West Lou Legal Hour. Ten in the morning my time. Available on television and the internet.

For TV viewing, Comcast Channel 87 and U-Verse Channel 19 from Key West northward through Miami-Dade County. Elsewhere and world wide via the internet. www.tvchannel19.com.

Topics include the built in killer to the proposed Senate immigration bill, how DNA exonerated a former Police Chief convicted of murder after spending 15 years in jail, the unsolved  mystery of 30,000 panties found on a highway, another brain dead not so dead story, new husband who took wife’s last name gets all screwed up with Florida’s DMV, Florida’s python problem manifests itself in South Africa’s crocodile problem, and more.

The more includes a trilogy involving toilet paper: puppy poop and newspapers, toilet paper rationed in a Pennsylvania school, and lottery winner who wanted to donate a truck load of toilet paper to a social agency that once helped her.

Join me. Interesting material. Guaranteed to keep your attention the whole hour.

I spent most of yesterday preparing the preceding topics and others for friday’s show. My plan was to follow up those several hours with a shower and trip to the Chart Room. Instead, I cleaned the garage. What possessed me, I do not know!

I avoid servile labor of any kind. Garage cleaning is not one of my talents. Nor desire. I started throwing a few boxes out, moving things around, and all of a sudden it was 7 in the evening.

So much for the Chart Room. I showered, had something to eat, and went to bed. The man was tired.

My refrigerator is empty. I am still not totally back into this eating thing. This morning’s blog is being done a bit early because I have to get to Publix. The cupboard is bare!

Enjoy your day!

MY FIRST MEAL

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It has been ten days since I ended my diet. Since then I have been extremely careful about what I eat. In reality, I have consumed small portions of this and that. Never anything even close to a meal.

Till last night. I did it big!

A prime rib, baked potato (no butter) and steamed vegetables. No bread. Ate it all! My plate was clean at the end. It was as if I had not eaten in ages.

I was at the bar at Outback.

Renee sat next to me. Originally from Ghana, she now lives in Homestead. She went to college here in Key West for two years. Then elsewhere to get her bachelor degree. Now she is working on her masters via the internet. She works with blood donations in the keys. Brings her to Key West once a week.

Interestingly, she has never given blood. Needles scare her.

I started the evening at Don’s Place. Don, Herschel and Mike there. Nancy came in later on. I was happy to see Mike and Nancy again. About two years ago, they pulled up stakes and returned to Pennsylvania. They are back! Everyone is is thrilled they are!

My next stop was the Chart Room. Captain Peter and Charlotte. The lovely Charlotte from North Carolina that I wrote about a couple of days ago. Even more striking last night! Mary was bartending. Business was slow. The four of us chatted a while.

I did my blog talk radio show earlier this morning. My sixth week. It is a talk show. Not enough people are calling in, however. I end up talking with myself. No fun. I have heard myself before and know what I think.

I can tell there are a number of people listening in. From all over. Even one from Italy and one from South Africa this morning. There are stats on the computer screen providing and updating the information during the show.

Call!!! I feel like a woman waiting for a recent date to call back. Not nice.

A tragedy occurred in Key West sunday. Sailboats were engaged in the annual Wreckers Race. The weather was warm. High 70s. However, there was a strong breeze coming in from the north east. The wind at times gushing 30-35 knots.

The Schooner Hindu is a Key West icon. Seventy five feet. Has the highest mast in Key West. Besides racing, it takes tourists out for sunset cruises.

Hindu’s mast snapped. People were injured. Ambulances all over.

The incident occurred off Fort Zach beach. Captain Peter spends his afternoons at the beach sunning and reading. He was watching the race. He saw the mast snap and fall. Peter is an experienced seaman. He said the gusts were too strong for boats to be out there.

Enjoy your day!

A FRIEND IS DEAD

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My friend Jim Van Sickle is dead.

Sorrowful. The knowledge of his death has affected me.

Jim was an up north friend. The Utica area. We first met in the mid 1960s. There was an instantaneous bonding/attraction. We continued to be close till sometime in the early 1980s. Then for whatever reason, we drifted apart. This occurs with relationships.

Jim was 88 at the time of his death. His wife Sara survives, plus a daughter Joyce and some other child/children and grandchildren.

Sara was a charming woman. Lovable. Tough. The stand up type.

I loved them both.

Jim owned a motel at the time we first met. Van’s Motel. In a Utica suburb, New Hartford. Nothing fancy. Sort of a strip building with 4 or 5 units on each side of the office. There was a small apartment upstairs where Jim and Sara lived.

They worked hard at the motel. Did their own washing and cleaning. Both did it. The motel was a shared responsibility.

Sometimes God does good things. Jim experienced one of those things.

A major shopping center was to be built. Jim’s motel sat in the center of one of two main entrances. It was  a natural. Jim scored! Made some money!

Jim and Sara then went into the grocery store business. A neighborhood grocery store. A pound of bologna and loaf of bread type.

The store was part of a two story brick building on a corner in a middle class neighborhood. The store downstairs. Jim and Sara lived in the upstairs apartment.

Jim was a street smart old time business man. The time is around 1980. Newspapers were cheap to buy. A nickel or dime as I recall. Every thursday, Jim would buy an extremely large number of newspapers. Then he and Sara would cut all the grocery coupons out.

The grocery chains at the time were playing games with their vendors. The grocery chain would buy back the coupons at a discounted price and then charge them to the vendor for their true value. Jim might sell a certain brand of coupons back at $ .25 a piece. The grocery chain would receive $ .50 or more from the vendor.

A win/win situation.

Jim did not want the money. He wanted groceries to stock the shelves in his small grocery store. So the grocery chain gave him equal value in can goods, toilet paper, etc. for the coupons.

Time moved on and the grocery business became a bit too much for Jim and Sara. They sold the store and building. They then purchased a lovely one family brick home two blocks away. For the first time in their lives, they had nothing to do. Sara became a house wife and grandmother full time. Jim had a little shack in the back where he puttered around.

For twenty five years Jim and I were close. Talked to each other by phone at least once a day. Visited with each other to sit and talk 3-4 times a week. Then for no reason at all, we drifted. I still loved him and I am sure he loved me. But the communication was gone. Since the 1980s, Jim and I have only visited on two occasions.

Jim and Sara were good parents. Especially as concerned their daughter Joyce. The sun rose and set on her.

Joyce was shot while in the store one evening. Sara was away at the time. The bullet did a number on her. Traveled through several organs. She was on the operating table. It was questionable whether she would survive.

Sara was flying back from a trip. She was in the air. She knew nothing of the shooting. Of course, I was at the hospital with Jim. Jim said you (me) have to go pick Sara up at the airport…..I have to stay here.

I went. I met Sara as she came of the plane. She knew instantaneously something was wrong. Why was I meeting the plane? She thought some thing had happened to Jim.

I sat her down and told her in a calm simple straight forward manner that Joyce had been shot, she was presently being operated on, and there was a quation as to whether she would survive.

Sara looked me in the eye. Stood and calmly said let’s go. There was not another word said between us on the half hour trip to the hospital.

A tough woman.

Joyce survived. Is a mother and I assume a grandmother today.

I do not know if Jim is of any interest to you. He was to me. He was a friend. A true friend.

This is going to sound strange. We talk about meeting our parents and grandparents again when we die. I would want Jim there, also. I would enjoy spending eternity with him.

Enjoy your day!