William’s Softer Side

I am privileged to have a close relationship with all of my grandchildren.  Years ago, I told them they could describe me as “old and crazy”, but they better include “crazy” in the description, or they would be in a world of hurt.  I can be meaner than a junkyard dog. 

My primary purpose for writing today’s blog is to tell you about a telephone call I received from William this past Monday. I did have the presence of mind to ask his permission last night before I took it upon myself broadcast information this morning that he might want to keep confidential.

 William, who is routinely calm and collected, was uncharacteristically excited when he called to talk Monday evening. Since his telephone call to me was the first of many he made, it made me feel good that he chose to reach out to me first.

Before I share William’s news, let me make some observations about William. My oldest grandson is named after my dad.  It may be strictly coincidental, but William often reminds me of Dad.

My dad was a black and white thinker. He never colored outside the lines and always followed the rules to the letter of the law. With him there were no shades of gray. It was a choice between doing what is right and refraining from doing what is wrong.  That is the same pathway William has chosen to follow.

Another similarity they share is their use of humor. William’s sense of humor is always unexpected, but hilariously funny in a dry sort-of-way. It was years ago, but I was with William when we saw a tall skinny [6’10” to 7′] guy and a very short not-so skinny woman get out of a Volkswagen Beetle along with their Great Dane that filled the back seat space. As the three made their way off into the distance, William remarked: “Now that’s not something you see every day.” It was simply a statement of fact, and William probably didn’t even intend for it to be funny. 

In addition, I never understood how Dad could do it, but the computer in his head processed numbers easily. William has that same gift. He is numbers guy, and he doesn’t even have to think about it.

My dad was always frugal. He preferred to save a dollar rather than spend it. William is pretty much the same way.

When my son got out of the military and the family made plans to have a new home built, William, at the age of about 10 was very uncomfortable when he learned that with the new house came a mortgage. To him, the concept of borrowing money in order to have a place to live was unacceptable. 

How many ten year olds do you know that think that way?  My dad thought that way. The Great Depression forever impacted his life, but William has not had that kind of experience.

To his credit, even as a little kid, William never let a dime burn a hole in his pocket. He would rather save his money than spend it. That is the same thought pattern that defined my dad.

On the football field, William plays defensive end and has the reputation of being made out of steel. William plays football simply for the joy of playing.  Do I need to repeat that? He doesn’t seek out the Sealy News to see what ‘s been written about him in the paper.  Press coverage isn’t of any real significance to him.  He simply doesn’t care.

Despite falling into the category of a jock, he is not self-absorbed with the thought that the world rotates around him. He is a pretty humble kid even though he would probably describe himself as a combination of brains and brawn. 

Of course, to be totally honest, William does sometimes get side tracked when he walks past a full-size mirror and becomes mesmerized by the person looking back at him as he flexes his muscles.

Before I move to Monday night’s telephone call, let me make another couple of observations concerning William.

William has a softer side. He is consistently a kind person. He gets along well with the athletic crowd, and he is equally at home with the geek-squad.  He fits in both circles.

William is a very protective older brother for Jake. The relationship they share is very nurturing.

William also bonds well with dogs.  He was particularly close to Colby, the blond lab that belonged to my daughter and son-in-law.     When Colby died, it was very upsetting to William. 

Of course, I’m bias, but I think of my grandson as one of the good guys.

His telephone call to me on Monday night took me totally by surprise.  He called to tell me that his application for admission in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University for the next school year has been favorably received.  For him, it is a life-long dream come true.

Gig ‘Em

Don

Hurricane Ian

My thoughts and prayers this morning continue to focus on family and friends in Florida.  Hurricane Ian is categorized as a category 4 hurricane, with maximum wind speeds of 150 mph. Reportedly, the hurricane is twice as wide as the state of Florida. The General’s sister and brother-in-law chose not to evacuate. Perhaps their logic is sound? They built their home to withstand a category 5 hurricane.

Just because they can doesn’t necessarily mean they should. Did I really write that?  It sounds like something my sister-in-law would say to me.

On the other hand, their logic seems sound. The traffic jam of folks fleeing Florida could become a person’s worse nightmare.

The General’s sister and brother-in-law have a generator in their home. Consequently, they will not be without electricity.  In addition, most shelters reportedly do not take pets.  As responsible pet owners, they would never leave their cat unattended.

In posting thoughts associated to the storm, my sister-in-law wrote: “We our grateful the storm changed directions; however, there are now people who first believed they were safe but are now in the direct path. I often have the thought that if I pray for the storm nor to hit us am I praying for it to hit someone else?”

The General and I were in Florida five years ago. We flew into Florida for a national conference the same week the Governor of Florida was encouraging people to leave the state.  Fortunately we managed to fly out of Florida a day and a half before Hurricane Irma made landfall.

Two days before Irma arrived, finding gasoline or groceries in Florida was a tough assignment. There is nothing like a pending storm to be a catalyst for empting shelves at the grocery store. 

My biggest surprise five years ago was arriving at the airport and finding a large number of people traveling with their dogs.  Out of curiosity, I went back and pulled a few pictures from my phone to substantiate my memory is accurate.

All My Best!

Don

Posthumous Friendship

Yesterday morning I was privileged to officiate at the funeral service for a former, prominent resident of Johnson City. My only tie to the family was a friendship with the funeral home director. The pastor of the church the family had attended decades ago had plans to be out of town yesterday and was unavailable. 

As a matter of routine, regardless of how well I may know a family, I always ask family members what they value most about their loved one before I conduct a funeral. The way I see it, you only have one chance to get it right, and if you get it wrong, it will forever be a memory you’d prefer be forgotten.

In the case of this family, they had much to share. Both adult children said their mom was like a mom to their friends during their growing up years. She was always a source of encouragement, and if you had a problem, she was a great resource who could help you find a solution.

As a side note, it is always a little awkward when I ask of a family about the things they value most, and they can’t think of anything to mention. It really does happen. I’m not making this up.

It turned out that yesterday’s service proved to be a wonderful celebration of life experience. The woman’s son delivered a heartfelt eulogy and invited anyone else to share any reflections they wanted to add. Four of his cousins, all guys, subsequently came to the microphone to share their memories and sense of gratitude for the investment their aunt had made in their lives. 

Their stories had a universal theme, but they were all a little different and added to the familial sense of continuity and celebration. The last cousin who spoke, perhaps the youngest, said the best way they could all honor their aunt was to be the kind of person she was. They could all be a resource to accept, encourage and love others.

In the course of being invited to speak at funerals, I have met a lot of people posthumously that I would have enjoyed knowing during their lifetime. That certainly proved to be the case yesterday.

All My Best!

Don

“R” Rated Lives

Last week I received a notification from Netflix of a newly released film I might enjoy based on my viewing history. The film was entitled Father Stu and is the story of Father Stuart Long, a Catholic priest, who took the long road to the priesthood. It becomes apparent early in the film that Father Stu had less than an idea childhood or home life. He certainly wasn’t raised in the Christian faith. He was one of those kids that came from a hard place and grew up experiencing a lot of disadvantages that most of us who grew up in a two-parent family take for granted.

The movie reminded me of the concept to lyrics from Johnny Cash’s song, “A Boy Named Sue”. Do you remember the song?

“Well, my daddy left home when I was three
Didn’t leave very much to my mom and me
Except this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze
Now, I don’t blame him ’cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that my daddy ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me Sue

He must’ve thought that it was quite a joke
And I got a lot of laughs from a lots of folk
Seems I had to fight my whole life through
Some gal would giggle and I’d turn red
And some guy’d laugh and I’d bust his head
I tell you, life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue”

I am not a sports enthusiast and have little appreciation for boxing. Seriously, who wants to make a living getting hit in the face and head? I know there will be a number of folks who read my blog that think I’m narrow minded and not looking at the big picture.

I am not one of those people who deprives any kind of pleasure or a sense of accomplishment from pain. That being said, I get the gist of “no pain/no gain”. I also understand the concept that many things are difficult to accomplish until they become easy. Hence – practice makes perfect. That being said, at no time will I ever desire to punch you in the face or be punched in the face to prove a point.

Father Stu eventually turns from boxing to pursuing being an actor. Hence he leaves home and makes his way to Los Angeles. A career in acting was mostly beyond his grasp, but in the pursuit of life, he sees a girl, and from his perspective, it was love at first sight.

The girl, a devout Catholic, knows her family will never approve of Stu without his being baptized into the Catholic church. In the concept of pursuing the girl, he has an experience with God that changes his life.

I’m not recommending the movie because it is rated “R” and the language is more than a little rough around the edges. I wouldn’t describe it as a feel-good movie, but it was one of the most impactful Christian movies that I’ve seen.

I may be soft around the edges, but the movie moved me to tears. It dramatically underscores the dynamic difference God can make in a person’s life. I will even say the film is immensely thought-provoking and moved me closer to God.

As I side note, I had the thought that many of us are in the midst of “R” rated lives. Life isn’t easy, and the difficulties and complexities that come with it can be overwhelming. For example, walk through the waiting room outside the intensive care unit of a hospital, and you’ll have a better understanding of what I’m talking about.

I will even say my life was positively impacted by learning about Father Stu’s faith-walk and devotion to God.

All My Best!
Don

I Went To The Game

It was a late night, and to my surprise, it didn’t prove to be an early morning for me. I didn’t set an alarm and got three hours more sleep than I usually get.

 I returned home from D.C. very late Wednesday night and spent most of Thursday playing catch-up on some work-related issues. Before day’s end on Thursday, I drove by the construction site to see what kind of progress had been made on our house during the week. I would have been better served to forgo the experience.

Thankfully, more rock had finally been delivered to the job site. The masons ran out of stone almost three weeks earlier.  I’m not sure when the rock was delivered this week, but with no intent to throw stones, there wasn’t much to show for their work. 

You can tell from the number of stones around one of the posts on the front porch, that it didn’t reflect a large investment of time. That was the only work done through Thursday of this week.

The General stoically tells me I need to calm down. I am sure it is not her intent to be patronizing, but I tire of good-natured “que sera, sera (whatever will be will be)”persona.  According to the General, if nothing happened, it was simply outside the construction foreman’s control. Perhaps she’s right. 

I did look through an open door of the house under construction next door. That home was started 3-weeks before ours, and they were already putting in the flooring. Wow!  We don’t have sheetrock yet.  Okay, okay, so enough sour grapes.

I hate it when the General is right. If nothing is being done, it has to do with the availability of the workforce. We are still waiting on the plumber and electrician to do additional work. It has been so long since the plumber was last on site that he has probably forgotten the address.  Maybe the General is right, I obviously need to calm down.

On Thursday afternoon Andrea texted me to ask if I’d like to go with them to William’s game? I initially said I didn’t think so. I had no sooner hit the send message, that I modified my response and said I’d like to go and that we could go in my truck.

Hence the late night. Like Cinderella, it was midnight when we returned home.  It was the first district game for Sealy, and the Tigers won 48 to 18 over Columbia Roughnecks.  William plays defensive end, and he had a really good game. He also has incredible familial support.  There were many extended family members at the game including his maternal 90-year old grandfather.

The announcers for the Sealy Sports Network that televise the game often reference William’s fan club. There are probably a dozen or more people from coast to coast who regularly catch the game just to demonstrate support for William.

It was a good day and a good choice for me to be in attendance at the game. Sleeping late was also a feel-good kind of thing.

All My Best!

Don

I Was Lucky To Be In The Middle Seat

As I flew home from D.C. last night, I thought about the wasted anxiety I experienced Tuesday night when I realized that I did not log into Southwest Airlines for my boarding pass for Wednesday’s flight in a timely fashion. There is something about the “C” boarding group classification that indicates your immediate future is left to chance. Okay, I’ll modify that by saying you know your chances aren’t good.

That’s not to say I can’t adapt and be pleasant. After all, it is a gift to be on the plane even though the only seats available when you board are between two other passengers already seated.

It’s not that I’m immobilized by decision-making. Last night when I boarded, I passed up any number of available middle seats because there was absolutely no luggage space in the overhead bin above them. I didn’t need much space; just enough to store by bi-pap machine. I always place my backpack containing my computer under the seat in front of me. Seriously, a six-inch wide space would do it, but row after row the overhead compartments were already shut indicating nothing else could be stuffed inside.

So what do you do if you get to the back of the plane and nothing is available? That was the question rolling around inside my head. There was no way that both my backpack and bi-pap machine would fit under a seat together. At least I thought that was true. Was I going to learn differently?

Fortunately I didn’t find out. To my left was an open bin with just enough space to slide my bi-pap machine inside. Like I said, I had already passed at least a dozen open middle seats that I would have taken had I not needed the overhead compartment.

As they say, there was no turning back. I couldn’t turn back because there were other “C” boarding group stragglers behind me. My seat was in front of me somewhere. I guess you could say that I lucked out. There were two ladies seated on the row that I took. I asked permission to sit with them if I promised not to misbehave.

As it turned out, the ladies were friends flying together, but each was smart enough not to want the middle seat. Consequently, cross conversation was coming my direction from both sides long before the cabin lights were dimmed and the plane began to move.

The lady next to the window dropped something that apparently rolled toward the seat behind her. The next thing I know, she is seated on the floor of the plane looking for the object. That is certainly outside my skillset. My body is not nearly flexible enough to do that.

Her friend questioned her need to be sitting in the floor in recovery mode. Leave it to my to put in my two-cents worth. I asked if her behavior was patterned behavior or if this was something new. She assured me that nothing should come as a surprise.

As it turned out, both ladies proved to be delightful. Though the one to my left dozed part of the way home. I learned that Amber Mitchell, the lady seated on my left is a nurse. She is a graduate of McNeil High School in Austin and the University of Texas. She is passionate about her work. She is also on the board of a Texas organization advocating for more resources for smaller hospitals. Reportedly, the staff and doctors are more content in those settings and the patients receive more individualized care.

Amber was on Capitol Hill Monday through Wednesday by invitation. She was privileged to meet with a host of legislators. She showed me her picture with Congressman Pete Sessions from Waco. Consequently, it shouldn’t surprise you that I asked permission to use the picture for today’s blog.

Amber’s husband was unable to accompany her to D.C., so she invited her best friend. I apologize, but the name excapes me. The friend is a forensic scientist. Both ladies fall into the gifted and talented category. Obviously, the only dull person seated on that roll was the guy in the middle seat.

All My Best!
Don

It Was A First For Me

I don’t remember how old I was when I first heard the expression: “What goes up must come down.” I smiled when I read the remark: “Falling feels like flying until you hit the ground.” The term “what goes up must come down” is a phrase that means things that rise must eventually return to the earth due to gravity.

I am of the opinion that the “what goes up must come down” principle does not apply to the cost of hotel rooms in Washington, D.C.  Historically, I’ve counted on Priceline or Hotels.com to help me frugally travel.  The last several trips, proved to be an exception to that approach. There were no deals to be had from my vantage point.  It’s not just the hotel rate, but the additional service fees added to the room rate can really make costs spiral.

As an alternative, I’ve turned the corner and gone to Airbnb. This week, I figuratively struck gold. The Metro station closest to the place of my lodging is the same one where I get off to keep appointments on Capitol Hill.

The apartment is in the basement of a row house, but it has it’s own private entrance along with a window in the front. It has been in easy walking distance to where I needed to be. The neighborhood is upscale.

The icing on the cake is the discovery that it is a five-minute walk from the Airbnb to Whole Foods.  Had that not been highlighted in the informational booklet on the dining table where I was staying, I would have never figured that out.

So, last night I had the thought, why not just go to Whole Foods and get something already prepared for dinner instead of going to a restaurant.  As my adventure unfolded, I found myself in the midst of what seemed strange and foreign.

So what was a “plnt burger”?  Several people who appeared normal were waiting for their burger to be prepared.  I got in line and asked the man behind the counter when it was my turn: “What is a plnt burger”? When he said: “It is a vegan burger”, I instantly said in my head: “Not no, but absolutely not”. 

I declined and walked away. I then did an about face.  Like I said, the folks who were waiting appeared to be normal. So what was I afraid of?  I asked the man behind the counter which burger he recommended?  I didn’t even flinch when he said “mushroom with cheese”.  I heard myself responding: “That sounds great. I will also have sweet potato fries and a large lemonade.”

I had no idea that I was in for a real treat. The burger and fries were delicious.  I sat at a counter against the outside window of the building.  It was a very different dining experience and one that I would enjoy regularly if accessing it was only a five-minute walk. 

I know what some of your are thinking?  I have never fallen into the “Good Ole Boys” category, but now you think I’m weird as well. Don’t judge me until you try it.

All My Best!

Don

Strange Behavior

Just in case inquiring minds want to know, the General and I are not going through a trial separation, even though she’s been gone for over a week. I had travel plans for a portion of last week and this week, so she opted to stay in Cat Spring Friday before last. That would ensure she didn’t miss any of our grandsons’ football games. The high school games are on Fridays, and the junior high games are on Tuesdays.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I couldn’t believe my eyes! The picture was on Facebook, and it was unmistakably the General. Trust me, after 54 years, I’d know her anywhere. 

I can’t really say that I’ve noticed the General wearing a “smirk-like” smile that goes from ear to ear before. I guess there is a first time for everything.   She was holding a Whataburger while seated inside a vehicle.

My daughter-in-law posted the picture with the caption: “Treva is living her best life”.  Good for her, I said out loud as I looked at her picture. I looked again. She looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. How else would you describe it?

Responding to the posting, my cousin Ranny said: “So many things come to mind seeing this. It puts me in mind of a kid stomping through a mud puddle with church clothes on.”

At the risk of chasing rabbits, I could go on a diatribe about today’s absence of “church clothes” in our culture. Church clothes no longer exist. Perhaps that will be the subject of another blog for another day.

Becky’s aunt responded to the posting by saying: “Bring out the Ketchup and enjoy.”  Becky’s mom thoughtfully added: “Welcome to the real world.” 

My brother in Oklahoma would go on a diatribe if I blogged about the merits of wearing your Sunday’s best to church. He added, good-naturedly of course (I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt): “I hope that is Don’s car.”  For the record, I didn’t think that was funny!

What I did think was funny was the discovery I made on Thursday. It caused me to wonder about the person that I married 54 years ago. The discovery seems out of character for her. Then again, I may not know her at all!  I’m still shaking my head and wondering if she’s been smoking with Willie. 

Of all things, I needed a postage stamp. I telephoned the General to ask where she keeps them?  It was then that I made the discovery that my all-to-predictable wife may not be all that predictable. Who would have thought?

Are you ready for this? Instead of purchasing non-descript postage stamps, the General bought forever collectible stamps featuring Bugs Bunny. You heard me correctly.  I’m not making this up! The General purchased Bugs Bunny stamps.  That begs the question: “What’s Up Doc?”

All My Best!

Don

It Is Not Of My Own Doing, But I Lead A Charmed Life

Okay, so I lead a charmed life. Around mid-day on Saturday, Andrea suggested she prepare dinner for me. She and Kevin would come over for the evening. How could I say no to that? That isn’t to say there wasn’t a caveat attached to the invitation.

I guess you could say I saw it coming. Saturday is game day during the football season and if LSU is playing, Kevin and Andrea are watching. For a brief period of time, I even joined the LSU “must watch” bandwagon. All it took was watching one game when Joe Burrow was quarterback and I zoned in for future games like a hummingbird looking for nectar. The talent that this young man comes with is enough to convert a non-sport enthusiast like me into a “must-watch” fanatic. National football hasn’t had the same appeal for me since Burrow left LSU.

Hey, for one of Andrea’s home-cooked healthy meals, I could watch the game. Somehow the game didn’t carry the same appeal, but it was a good game.

Following dinner and the game, Appalachian State and Troy University were playing. Wouldn’t you know it? Kevin wasn’t ready to turn off the game.

Frankly, I know nothing about football, but I have been to Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. A residential childcare facility in that area hosted a meeting for the organization I now work with on the Appalachian State University campus. I was a board member of the organization at the time. It was many years ago, but the ambiance of a small campus in the Appalachian Mountains made a lasting impression. Trust me, I couldn’t have been more surprised that a school that size would be on national television. It is a really small school.

Years after I had been to the campus, I met a recent college graduate of Appalachian State University on a plane. I can’t remember where the plane connection took place. I’m thinking it was Midway in Chicago. He was flying from North Carolina back to Texas after a delayed Christmas break. He had to work over the Christmas holidays. It was his first trip back home to visit family.

Wanting a taste of a big city environment, he left his home in Chapel Hill, NC where his mother lived, and headed to Austin. He had friends from Appalachian State that relocated to Austin. They extended an invitation for him to come to Austin to look for work.

When we met, he was working as a waiter at a restaurant. It wasn’t the job of a lifetime, but it was a predictable income. He wasn’t in a rush to find a career track.

Over the years, I’ve been surprised by the things that people on planes share with me. I can ask a simple question like “where did you grow up” and I get a synopsis of their childhood. People are sometimes hungry to share their stories.

I’ll never forget the story this young man shared. He said, I don’t know if I’ll ever get married, but if I do and we have children, I will be the world’s best father. I decided a long time ago that I owe that to my children.

He said of his father who divorced his mother when he was a small child, I don’t remember much about him. My memories are very few. He was an airline pilot. I remember sitting in his lap in the cockpit, and that is the only real memory I recall clearly. We were going to South America. After he divorced my mother, he also divorced my brother and me and had nothing more to do with us. I want to be a different kind of dad.

At any rate, in addition to watching LSU beat Mississippi State, I saw the Hail Mary pass and touchdown that Appalachian State University made in the last two seconds of the game to push them in the lead over Troy University. Wow!

It turned out to be a most pleasant evening. Andrea told me I have good stories and that I need to write them down. Consequently, these are the stories that came to me last night.

All My Best!
Don

While The Cat’s Away The Mice Will Play

The General would probably tell you that I am one of those people that waits until the last minute. I’m not sure that is true. She would also tell you that once I start a project, I tend to focus exclusively on what I’m doing and can ignore the need for balance in my life. She occasionally offers unsolicited counsel and tells me to turn off the computer and do x, y, or z.

Sometimes I am slow to understand. She won’t watch HGTV unless I am watching it along with her. My being in the same room on my laptop doesn’t equate to watching it with her.  Consequently, an episode of “Love  It or List It” will go unwatched unless I am seated on the sofa and providing full attention to what is being viewed.

Of course, one of my assigned tasks is to fast-forward through the commercials.  We never watch anything on television unless it is pre-recorded.

The General is also one of those people who will not watch anything twice. It makes me crazy!  Sometimes an episode garners my interest, and because we’ve seen it once, it would be a misuse of precious time to watch it again.

The General has been out of town this week, so I’ve not had the advantage of her thoughtful monitoring of the amount of time I spend on the computer.

Case in point, this week has found me glued to the computer attempting graphic design for a printed program for a conference. Did I mention, graphic design doesn’t fall into my bailiwick of expertise? 

The fact that the conference is less than a month away is now creating a sense of urgency in my world. How did the time move by so quickly?

Okay, so that project is far enough along that I can move on to the next big assignment.  Often, I have no one to blame for my assigned tasks other than myself.  I am scheduled to be in Washington D.C. next week, and I volunteered to a legislative staffer to identify in writing some suggestions for rewriting proposed legislation.

Of course, the person to whom I made the offer didn’t say “yea or nay” to  my providing my two cents worth.  Since the staffer didn’t say nay, I feel obligated to follow through with my offer.

I have an appointment in that office on Tuesday. Consequently, I’ll probably be glued to the computer over the weekend to ensure I have something of value to provide.

I won’t say that I’m on the threshold of a panic attack. That will take place on Monday if I don’t have the task completed by then.  I will cheat sleep if need be to get it done before the weekend is over. The General is still out of town, so while figuratively while the cat’s away the mice will miss HGTV.

All My Best!

Don