Autumn

Autumn

Monday, June 23, 2014

Tick-Tock

Earlier this evening as I stood in the kitchen I heard a strange sound, steady beat, rhythmic even, and at first had a heck of a time tracing its source. I finally tracked this strangeness to our living room.

We have on the fireplace mantle an old clock, a wedding gift from a relative some thirty odd years ago. Its a Sessions, manufactured early in the twentieth century. Nice old piece, and here's the strange part...it hasn't hit a lick in over thirty years. Hasn't been cleaned nor oiled properly since the day it came into our lives. We'd thought the old girl was just flat-assed broke.

Until late last evening when out of nowhere it began to tick-tock all on its own. 

Yelled for the wife. She freaked, "Why is it working?"

"It's a sign from God."

She didn't like my answer and instead said, "What did you do to it?" I made a few of those spooky noises, then, "Nothing. It's the end times."

She went to bed.

I'm still wide awake. The old clock just chimed 0300. Perhaps I should say a little prayer. Couldn't hurt.

This is indeed spooky stuff.

(Insert Boris Karloff movie soundtrack here.)

*****

Yesterday was her birthday. She's twenty-two. Still cute as a button.

After Sunday services she requested a day in St. Augustine. We arrived and duly paid our ten dollar parking ripoff tax fee and strolled the ancient city.

Since she hadn't eaten all day we hit a local tourist trap for lunch. Took almost three hours...serious here, three hours. Back outside we find severe thunderstorms. Hard rain. Ducked into a store. Rain continues. We wait.

Still, she smiles. Said she was happy. Rain slacks a bit. We hit a coffee shop to wait, and I of course, over indulge with a pecan sticky roll and a mug of java. Outside a lightning strike fries a tourist into ashes. Heavy rain spoils another visitors hundred dollar cigar and the ponies refuse to pull the sunburned down the cobble stoned streets. I just smiled and sipped my coffee.

She took my hand and set a course towards that ten dollar parking spot.

Anyway, it was a nice ride.

I strive to please.

*****

Took me a year but I've finally found the proper cross draw sheath for my favorite knife. A friggin year. The knife was gifted to me by herself upon our last anniversary - a custom hand forged piece and I love it. Anyway, it came with a junky plastic black bit of stuff disguised as a sheath which I promptly discarded.

I like a cross-draw. Wear it slapdap in the middle of my back, right-handed. It too is custom from a nice husband/wife team out of Cajun country. If I had their names (info is at work) I'd give credit. Nice leather, proper fit.

It's the little things,

which create the faintest of smiles.

Stephen


 




  

10 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday, Sweet Wife!
    Someone must have found the key to that marvelous clock.....

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  2. She said thanks...but hates it now that she has finally broken ground in her twenties.

    Nope, the key has been stored in the clock's rear compartment for decades.

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  3. My lovely wife loves St. A. I find that in recent years they've made parking too darn pricey and that alone turns me off.

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    1. I agree and if you can't or will not stand for the ripoff...there are very few others options. You've done some fine writing of late, my friend. Thanks.

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  4. Happy 22nd to the Mrs. The kids like going to the zoo, but parking is always hard to find. Now they have a shuttle that runs for free from the State Fair Grounds makes life EZ. have a great week.

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    1. Thank you, Rob. I haven't visited a zoo in a coon's age. Truthfully, I'm not looking forward to the week.

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  5. The old clock starting up is cool & creepy at the same time. Happy birthday to SW & thanks for the interesting description of the day. Makes me feel like I was there.

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    1. Did a bit of research on the old clock and the experts all agreed it's not a good thing. If it begins to tick it should be stopped until cleaned and oiled...said it was due to a rapid change in humidity. I sticking with the ghost angle....

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  6. Did you guys have an earthquake or something? That's some weird stuff. Glad you had a good time and got a nice sheath for that good looking knife too..

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    Replies
    1. Don't tell her, or share my secret, but late yesterday I removed a handgun from the secret compartment. Placed the clock back on the mantle and it went to work. I ignored it. I'm mean that way...

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