Autumn

Autumn

Friday, August 19, 2011

Bye For The Weekend

I'm leaving town in the morning with my group of friends. We're headed out of state for a while. I'll try and take pictures and post as soon as possible.

I hope all of you out there have a great and safe weekend. Thanks.






Stephen

Defender Model 89

She's a little seven shot chambered in .22. My Blue Book has Nada. Any guess to year of manufacture?

Stuck in the pen and bottle of Rem Oil for scale.










Bet Tam can give me an answer.

Stephen

It's The Little Things

At least two miles had flashed by with me lost in thought before I came to my senses. I'd been lost in troubled waters; a long weary day, the cost of Little Bit's private school and the potential toll on our lives. The deadlines I faced in other areas of my life. My friends and our group activities for the coming weekend, and its success or failure. My son and daughter-in-law; both continuous pains in my butt.

I'm sure you've all had the same foggy brained experience. The fog slowly lifted when I faintly felt Little Bit pull on my arm.

"Papa, Papa, Papa."

"What, Honey."

She kept jerking..."Are you okay, Papa."

I thought about it for a split second then replied, "Yes, Honey, Papa's fine."

"You don't look fine, Papa. You look mad. Are you mad at me Papa?"

Note to self, wake up, smile. So, I smiled and looked her way, reached over and gently stroked her face. This little angle of mine, said, "Sweetheart, Papa isn't mad at you. I love you. Just thinking about tonight and other things."

I'm Little Bit's escort to her new school's orientation. I'd been called by my daughter-in-law at the last possible moment with a request to swing by their home and take her to the school. Sweet Wife and my son would each leave their jobs and meet us. DIL had another one of her 'headaches.' These thoughts flashed through my mind; ping, I'm lost in my fog once more, then.

An urgent, "Papa...please listen to me."

Still in my cloudy funk I wonder if my wife's job is secure; the cost of this school is horrendous and it's our, the grandparents, expense. What else can we do, I cannot allow this child, my heart, to be exposed and subjected to the state's awful socialist curriculum, that and I want her to have a Christian foundation in her education.

Little Bit finally gets my attention. I ask, "What is it, Honey?"

"Papa, I'm so excited," in that little lilting voice.

I smile, "I'm glad, Honey."

"Papa, I gets a new desk, and pencils, and a box to keep my stuff in, and I gets paints and crayons, and guess what, I have a new best friend and her name is Vanessa."

"That's great, Sweetheart. " I just can't seem to get with it....this funk.

We pull into the parking lot. I park and we wait. Little Bit slips out of her seat belt and drifts into my lap. She snuggles into my shoulder and after a few seconds leans in and plants a light kiss on my cheek.

"Papa."

"Yes."

"It's going to be alright, Papa. I'll be good tonight." What is it with little girls and their intuition.

A few seconds later, "And guess what, Papa. when we're in the Sanctuary, I promise I will not pick my nose."






She kept her promise.

Stephen