Passionate People

Some people respond to life in a milk toast, brown shoe fashion, regardless of the occasion. It doesn't matter if they have just come out of a performance at Radio City Hall or the seventh game of the World Series. You ask them, "So how was it?" With the shrug of their shoulders they say "It was ok."
Others, thank God, live life with flair and passion. They have a dream and pursue it. They make a statement about what they view as being important.
Make some time one night soon and get directions from Mapquest to 108 Shearbrook Dr., Mauldin, SC, 29662. Drive over and take a look at a home decorated for Christmas by a guy who is passionate. He has been intrigued by Christmas lights since he was eight years old. He always believed the house that Santa could spot from the sky the easiest, was the first place he stopped. If that's the case, you would like living on Shearbrook Drive. You'll find no less than 68 inflatables. I'm told by a neighbor of his that his goal is to have a 100. He'll give you some popcorn and even let you tour his backyard. It is beautiful in an overstated, Christmassy kind of way. I promise you will love it and so will your children or grandchildren. Ask to see his electric meter (I'm only kidding about that) because it has to be spinning faster than a top. My guess is, he doesn't care. We are all going to spend our money on something. He likes spending his on Christmas. I watched him greet people who stopped by. He is having a blast! I don't know what it is costing him, but I bet it is worth every penny to him. Have a Merry Christmas, and find something about which you can be passionate too.

Cutting your own tree!

I went with Matthew, Carla and Scout this past Saturday to get their Christmas tree. We had a great time. Matthew and Carla started a family tradition the first year they were married. They go every year to a farm off Old White Horse Road and cut their own tree. While they picked the perfect tree, me and Scout played. We rolled around in the grass, peek a boo around the trees, and I gave her a ride in a wagon they provide to haul your tree out of the woods with. She made fast friends with the two bulldogs who live on the farm as well.
I got to tell you, you can spend a lot more money, and have a lot less fun. If there is anything in life better than being a grandpa, I don't know about it.

"Him speak with forked tongue"

When I was a kid I loved cowboy movies, especially if they had Indians in them. I always thought Indians were the coolest people. They rode horses better than the white man, they were craftier, and they always told the truth, not to mention the fact that their broken English was completely acceptable. When I recall those days, I can hear a brave turn to a chief even now and warn him regarding a proposed treaty, "white man speak with forked tongue." Every time he proved right, too. The government official in question always went back on his word.

Of course, that was the movies. It wasn't reflective of real life at all.

Hey, have you been listening to any of the Presidential debates?

A Cool Age

Scout is at a cool age. Everything about her changes almost from day to day. One month she jabbers, then out of nowhere - POW - she talks. It's like having a Parrot. I say it, and she repeats it. And what a vocabulary she is developing: bye, cheese, pleeze, eye, nose, and my two favorites, Papa and "I love you". She has been saying "Papa" for a month or longer, but this last week I became convinced she really does know it is me. You talk about a great feeling. To know your granddaughter knows you - it doesn't get any better than this! She might as well have memorized the PIN number to my bank account. I am Play-Doh, and I kinda think she knows it!

who would have ever thought...

I remember a line from the old Ray Stevens song, "When You Get A Haircut". It went, "I'm a logger. Just up from Coos Bay, Oregon. Quite possibly the toughest man in the world." It was a song about a man who needed a haircut and went into a pretty weird barber shop, where suddenly he felt a little insecure about his manhood, so he came out with those words. I can identify with ole Ray. I don't feel insecure about my manhood, but I do feel insecure. Why? As of today... I'm a blogger! Just up from Atari and Texas Instruments. Quite possibly the most computer illiterate human to ever blog! But hey, I'm game if you are.