Best Friends

Best Friends, inseparable since we got here.

OK Lisa is smoking but it's outside.

   

    Five hundred mile drive from Idaho to Hawthorne yesterday.  This is the last Go-To destination and one most looked forward to.  We beat the weather that was supposed to be winds up to sixty and who knows how much rain.  Me a bundle of Nerves, but Lisa along the way she just kept singing "Going to see my Girls".

    Once here, I got to catch up with my Daughter who I haven't seen for a year and Hermit out and enjoy Lasgna from Cody and Enchiladas Leya made.  Meanwhile Lisa and Piffy fall into the same routines they get so much enjoyment from.  I can't even remember when it all  started.  When Apiphany was born I suspect.  However, the things they do and extract so much enjoyment from involves making my Coffee, spritzing my bed for may nap and bringing me all kinds of treats like Cookies and toast.  And  like women everywhere, they also accompany one another to the John.  Each and every time during our stay here.  Lord knows one doesn't want to get accused of interference here with that.

    But they watch movies together, and  must dress for the theme such as Elsa in Frozen and of course the ever popular Easter Egg Hunt that occurs every visit despite the month. 

  There's much more but that's all I can think of just right now.   It's just the way it is.  And will be with, God willing, any other Grandbaby's she's so wanting to happen.

     But aside from the obvious smiles on their faces.  There is something else there that I just love.  Because with Lisa there's never enough.  Never too much dealing with a four year old's tempermental fits. Changing Diapers or wiping snot away.  She's a hands on Grandma. It's never time for somebody to come pick her up.  She enjoys it all.   They both do.  And that says something about the Woman I married.  Such a smooth transition from Mother to Grandmother. One of the best in my opinion.  A Grandma like this is a force of Nature that it's a Crime to deprive a child of.  I hope that never happens.

     Lisa says to me that she thinks wherever we've visited, We've improved things somewhat.  If not just with our company.  I think she's right. But once again it's difficult to accept credit for something I'm only maybe ten percent of.  

     Tuesday we're out of here.  Off to Arizona.  Trying to stall in order to give the temps a chance to cool off some.  Guess we'll figure it out Tuesday.

My People

        We've been travelling about two months now.  Spent what I previously would have thought too much time in driveways as well as a smattering of nights in Walmart's.  Now I wouldn't trade it for the world.  We started off at Carl and Loris's.  An immensely pleasurable couple of weeks in Austin.  Then spent a couple of weeks in the Colorado Rocky mountains,waking up to the Arkansas River each morning. Then off to more relatives.  Linda and Summer in Wyoming.  Couple of days in Saratogs soaking in Hot sprngs. Then Dad's, then the rental in Twin. where we had an excellent visit with Jeff and the neighbor Lady Tiffany.  Got the place rented and then off to Farfield and three days there.  One at Soldier Mountain, and another in James Driveway.  Dinner with Matt, excellent conversations with James and Michelle and, as in every stop along the way, Lisa just needs a kid fix.  Eloise fit the bill.  We even ran into Ernie along the way.

Got to Boise and a fast trip to Moscow for Lisa to see Shannon.  A visit ten years overdue.  Grand views of the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers.  Fall foliage and awesome mountains.

                                    Could I get him to even give me a look.  Hell No.

And now we are in Boise parked, well not really on the driveway, looks more like a lawn. I'll see Mom this week but last night an absolute hoot with Lisa's sisters Sheila and Dana.  And it was good to See Scooter.  One of the little ones now Thirty years old.  Wow!  
     

   But the real standout here is these have been meaningful visits.  Not just the pleasant conversations and short visits I'd sort of envisioned, but honest to God, meaty get togethers consisting of mutual "damn I've missed your ugly face". Beers have been quaffed and Mattini's drunk.  Lies have been told  and decades old memorable life forming times unearthed that had been previously tucked into dusty drawers in the back of my mind.   Make no mistake, those were good times but also evidence of the character of ourselves.  Me in the company I kept and visibly observing with pride how these old friends have turned out. I certainly haven't been able to visit everybody I'd like to.  And along with that I also have the best of intentions to visit those I've missed.  Constraints of a mostly financial nature.  But, then I'm no spring chicken and a realist and life happens.  And some doors close.  But I gotta say, the last couple of months have been a good ride.

    I could kick myself the lack of pictures.   I've sure missed the clear streams, turning leaves and frosty temps.  It really is the best time of year best spent in this neck of the country.

               And Lastly, it looks like Trump has finally provided the "TRUMPGATE I'd predicted.  Yeah I'll take credit, er not really.  The real credit goes to the UNTAMED RANGTANG.  Like it was not going to happen.

  But I gotta say.  Was it the words Fuck and Pussy that turned it around.  Or was it the rightful images of economic crash.  Advent of major war against some other World Power and untold numbers of dead kids.  A government plunged into Dictatorship.  Not the imaginary one as described by  the ever present victim stance of  right ring Foxlings (You know, War on Christmas and What), But a real one. With real Martial Law.  A Militarized Police and loss of freedom and privancy and all the good stuff with having a unhinged leader who goes by the name of Mussolini.  Papa and Baby Doc, Vladimir Putin, Prez Assad and some INMAN named EYE A TOLLA.  So if we missed the bullet, AWESOME! (I appear to be shouting, sorry).  And I hope, nay pray the election is all but over and the Rangtang won't be able to buy a cup o coffee in a few months.  If not, then well, ......., then Fuck.  But damn it was good to see all my old friends.

   RangTang at his best in 2005

     Fuck Pussy and yknow, well I'm rich

Twin Falls from then til now

  After Dad's, we headed to Twin Falls in order to inspect the rental and make preparations for the new Renter's .  The last renter didn't trash the place.  But like a lot of them we've determined over the last several years, he treated living in it like a Motel.  Maybe a little worse.  It's unlikely a Motel would allow a ghetto television Antenna be mounted on the roof and wire strung through an open window.  That's class I tell you.  Also, to allow the total demise of a ceiling fan when all it required were the tightening of a few screws. So on top of the few improvements I'd decided on, once again we found ourselves cleaning somebody else's crap.  Literally. And after a few weeks on nonstop working on houses, I'm getting a bit burned out.

   So when the new renter's (supplied by the crafty next door neighbor  lady Tiffany who likes to choose who lives next door.  Lady Tiffany that's probably about right.) agreed to do the remaining work for a week of free rent, Let me think YES.YES YES (too many yes'sss?)  We are outta here day after tomorrow.  Heading to the mountains North of Fairfield.  But it make's me wonder how many more times I'll be here as life continues it's unstoppable course.  That's just an elegant way of saying, well the family one way or another is moving on and away from the old digs.

 

Camping out in the front yard.  Literally.

But really, that's not a bad thing.  We've hopefully encouraged them to go elsewhere.  Living in one spot one's entire life is just too limiting.

Not even going to stick around to paint this new railing I built.  That crooked part, just goes to show y'all I recycle.  Note the old woodpile next to it encompassing the old rail, or what was left of it..  We don't even have to clean up.  Looks like it'll be burned up in one of the local watering holes after the guy comes and gets it next weekend..

So now maybe it's the ambience of arriving here just as the leaves are turning but my mind has been awash with the clearest of memories of this place that I have been connected to now for more than a half a century.  Really awash. To the 5000 yard empty stare point awash.

That was probably only bad when passing the high school and observing the  footbal team out practicing.  The very same place we practiced some forty five years ago. Jesus, even the Coaches looked little older than the students now. Little more than children.

  

Still, the concept of thinking the monumental Denny Alquist, Al Busby or Coaches Stands, Burratto or Thomas of my day akin to these young guys in my just turned 62 year old mind is still stunningly incomprehensible. Monsters of my day.  Course it's not like those guys at that time did anything to dispell this notion as to a man they all scared the hell out of us.  And for good reason,  All College level standouts and pro prospects.  God if I could have just a half a cup of the special brew Testosterone that made these guys tick.   But maybe that's all for another day.   Still, I can visualize the yellow color of my practice jersey. Recall the stench of sweat from it after just one day of practice with five to ten to go before it might get washed again. And the clicking of our cleats walking down that long hallway to the field just outside the Stadium.  Where exhausting drills, bonecrushing blocking and endless Windsprints awaited. Nothing like the exhaustion that comes with the tenth fifty yards knowing some five or so hundreds are also coming due course in the ninety plus heat.  Feats of strength and stamina only seventeen year olds realize their body can withstand.    Course the exhaustion and the pain after each practice made one, well hardly be bothered whatsoever by the smell.  Being the least of our at hand issues.  As if yesterday I can feel the envy of looking at the late  Denny Blackwood's multi colred helmet adorned like scalps,  with the paint marks evidence of  the famous Blackwood Crash's  (umm Tackles) I'd witnessed from the sidelines gathered from the Helmets of hapless ball carriers from Schools called Borah, Boise, Minico, IF Poky and on and on. And despite my best,  my own Helmet adorned with less than half the paint of Denny's.  A Fourth quarter Huddle of some game on some weekend night under lights, either their stadium or ours.  QB Jerry Barbour calling some color or other right or left on two or three and the finality of the simutaneous clap with ten voices yelling "Break" as we moved to our positions. The faces of guys now equally as old as myself behind ancient facemasks.   And all these memories accompanied by sight sound and particularly smell, all coursed through my mind in less than a second.  Whew!

   Time to move on...... 

   Here's my daughter now 26 

Leya in front Yard about four