A day with Reese...

Hey Papa... let's talk.

Let's have a chat, a conversation, let's have a dialogue.

Let's get together and chat about things.

Well, it kind of worked for Hillary... kind of.

So anyways, where'd you go today Papa? You left me here with Grandma J all day and we had a ball. I showed her a bunch of things.

We visited for a bit and then I took a little nap.

It wasn't all that long... just long enough to recharge my little, new battery and get her to pay attention to me again.

Actually Papa, Grandma is fun to mess with.

Just when she thinks I'm drifting off into slumber land... just when she thinks she might have an hour or two of "quiet time" I let her know I'm awake and ready to chat, talk, have a dialogue.

She makes the funniest faces when she talks.

Come to think of it you do too. All of you do.

Why is it that you "adults" make such fools of yourselves when you interact with us little folks?

I mean, it's not like I'm complaining because I'm not but when I talk to my cousins they all tell me "it's a grown up thing".

I'm guessing you think I can't understand a word you're saying.

Nothing could be farthest from the truth.

You know, us kids... we have our ways of communicating. You all pick up on it pretty fast though, I'll give you that.

Papa, when Grandma sees my face turning red and there's nothing but grunts coming out of me she knows exactly what I'm doing and exactly what to do...

... she gets a dry, non soiled, comfortable thingy and puts it on me after she takes that sticky, wet one off of me. And I get a warm, cleansing, sink bath to boot.

Now that's body language!

You now, you're a bit slow on the uptake. You've gotta pay a bit more attention to Grandma about these things.

Take a few pointers from her.

You can be hilarious sometimes... concocting ways on how to get around the "change poopoo thingy" moment.

But one of these days, ONE OF THESE DAYS it's just going to be you and me...

Grandma's going to be out somewhere, Mommy and Daddy are going to be out doing something, you're going to be alone with me for a bit of time and I'm gonna let one go.

One I've been saving just for you!

And then... and then I'll give Grandpa Jerry the same present. Or maybe he'll get the present first.

I really haven't decided.

You Papa's seem to think you're below the radar... you're not. At least not mine!

It all involves timing, opportunity and... well, you know what else.

I'll see ya' later Papa(s).

things are a changing...

...it's like the roll of the dice! Life throws so many challenges and opportunities at you.

Quite often you have to pick and choose, selecting the most pressing challenge to meet.

Selecting the most rewarding opportunity to chase...

...at the time.

It's life at it's worst and best.

In your mind you can make a house a home. You can claim the only way you're leaving is on a gurney. But, it's not up to you... it's not up to the house, the home.

Whether or not your house is your home depends upon the challenges you face, the opportunities you catch. It depends upon how all of this plays out in your life.

Your family's life.

Every house is a "home", isn't it?

Nah, there has to be a certain feel.

A love... satisfaction, relaxation.

A world of memories... however slight.

When you wake up in bed, in your "home" you feel the warmth, the comfort of that home. A house... well, it's just that, a house.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Without going into detail I just thought I'd share a bit of our most recent challenge. In short, attorneys are nothing more than blood sucking, money grubbing, soul-less beings.

For what it's worth.

The Blog...

...has been officially moved over to Google.

I had no choice. It wouldn't let me logon to the blog this morning until I converted it over.

So, now it's done. A few changes but, for the most part it's a done deal.

Enjoy!

One foggy morning...

...in Olympia, Washington.

This little port is the southernmost port of Puget Sound. Although it gets some commercial traffic it's normally a pretty quiet, uneventful berthing spot for pleasure crafts, live aboards and some fishing vessels.

Any commercial traffic that's going to use Olympia's port facilities has to pass by Everett, Seattle and Tacoma on the way. Once the skippers of those southbound vessels see what those port facilities have to offer and compare them to what Olympia has they normally opt to do business with the others in the future... unless, of course the cargo is truly "Olympia" bound.

Either way, I thought I'd take a little drive the other day just to slow things down a bit. I've had a heckuva lot on my mind and I just wanted to relax the brain.

I bumped around Swan Town, Priest Point Park and eventually dropped down to the West Bay Drive area.

One of my brother's, the next one up in age from me, used to work at a lumber mill along that road back in the 70's and early 80's. The mill has since burned, leaving nothing but a few pilings and a couple of dilapidated docks as a silent memorial to the once bustling business.

He pulled a lot of paychecks out of that place while it was up and running though... good, hard earned money. Blue collar greenbacks, for sure.

It was a bit of an odd, almost eerie feeling I had standing there looking at the pilings, docks and water where the mill used to be.

I remember I would drop by and visit him at night when he was on his break. We'd talk about the day, about getting a beer or two when he "got off" work... simple chat.

Empty headed, no clutter, unassuming...

...mindless.

Two brothers in their late teens, early twenties at the beginning of their adult lives...

willing to take on all challengers... fearless and anxious.

Afraid of no one, nothing... simply anxious to move forward.

Knowing that if all else fails we'll always be brothers, always be family. From the eldest to the youngest, me... always brothers, always family!

Shouldn't that be the family way?

Growing up together. Brothers, sisters, mother, father.

Each supporting the other... sharing, living, helping, protecting, providing... understanding?

We didn't have any "sisters" in our family... all boys, all brothers. Five of us altogether... and Mom and Dad.

We stood back to back on many an occasion and will do it again, I'm sure.

My eldest brother seemed to be that "protector". That person who was there to watch over me when I never knew it... never realized it... during those impressionable years. He never hesitated to intervene on my behalf... NEVER.

And now we have our "own" families, our "own" children, our "own" grandchildren yet, we're still bound by that familial bond. That brotherhood of sorts we've come to realize over the years as we "grew up".

That bond of bonds.

We know we have to fight our own personal battles, live our own lives... slay our own demons!

We realize life is truly like a "box of chocolates" yet, no matter what the odds, what the issues at hand, whatever the situation may be we know we're not alone... if we don't want to be. After all, isn't that what family should be all about?

And life moves on.

Thanks for the invitation

Well well well! I like this. It is a good way to communicate in the family and Dennis, I loved your beach and snow stories and pics! I am going to try to think of a creative story and add pics also. It may take me awhile! But thanks again! Denise