Category: Another Daily Happening

Another Daily Happening, The Jollyville Years, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Treehouse Of My Youth

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I was running a little ahead of time for a doctor appointment this morning in Austin. I decided to drive by the place we called home from 1958 until 1965. What was back then a small wooden structure built on uneven ground, up a canyon that was 65 acres comprised of mostly shin oak scrub brush and rocky soil with a scattering of live oaks that has now given way to yet another suburban neighborhood. The street leading off of a then unpaved country lane is now Talleyrand Dr. The rocky little trail up to our house is now Rolling … Continue reading The Treehouse Of My Youth

Another Daily Happening, Cecil Lewis, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

Cecil Lewis Wasn’t Always A Patient Man

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It wouldn’t be hard to take away from my previous stories that Cec wasn’t a perfect man in every way. He was hard on us boys. Not just his sons, but all those that worked for him or even just hung out with us. He wanted stuff done and done then. He didn’t take to a lot of foot dragging. For any of his faults he could fly off the handle at the drop of a hat. But as strange at it may seem, if anything broke or got wrecked, he always kept his cool. It was as if at … Continue reading Cecil Lewis Wasn’t Always A Patient Man

Another Daily Happening, Construction, Crazy Times, On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

A Slight Miscalculation

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We were working in Lakeway laying a wastewater off a really steep hill. This was back in the late 1970’s. I ordered gravel that came all the way from Georgetown. I would place an order for 200 tons, about 10 truckloads, but 2 trucks would show up. The next day the same scenario played out. We were really needing some gravel, if we were ever going to finish that job. I decided I would get that truckers attention so I ordered 1000 tons. I figured that way I may get my 200 tons that I needed. I was a Friday. … Continue reading A Slight Miscalculation

Another Daily Happening, My Friends, On The JobLeave a comment

Big Jimmy Finally Got A Belly Full Of Me

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This is a story I wrote a couple years ago. I know this because it was the 43rd birthday of my oldest son Matthew – August 22, 1974. Sometimes it takes a call from an old friend to stir up memories from the past. Jimmy Palmer called to wish me a happy birthday. He always likes to sing happy birthday to me. I reminded him that 43 years ago today we were working over on Knuckles Crossing Road in Southeast Austin. I remember that because we lived just a very shorty distance from that job while Madeline was really big … Continue reading Big Jimmy Finally Got A Belly Full Of Me

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, My Friends, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Gift

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Some of my best memories growing up was hauling hay and doing the hard work. I’m not sure why those are my best memories, but they are. A few years ago when Madeline and I turned 60, our kids along with Kenny and Carol threw us a grand party out at Kenny’s place on Cow Creek. Jimmy Palmer brought me one of the best gifts I could have received. It was his hay hook that had hung in his barn for all these years. He wanted me to have it to remind me of the time that when he got … Continue reading The Gift

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, My Friends, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Big Jimmy Got An Ear Full

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I told you a story about Big Jimmy Palmer giving the workers Feenamint Gum on the job one day and we lost the whole crew for that day. I’m not sure if anyone around, including those workers knew what had happened or if they thought they’d eaten some bad taco’s for breakfast. Along about that same time period, while on the same job, Jimmy and I drove back and forth Marble Falls to Austin everyday. This was circa 1972. Since I was furnishing the pickup we figured Jimmy could do the driving. An arraignment that worked pretty well, especially for … Continue reading Big Jimmy Got An Ear Full

Another Daily HappeningLeave a comment

I Have Always Been Very Agile (that’s kind of an inside joke)

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I came in Saturday evening knowing I’d put off assembling a huge doll until the last minute for my Granddaughter Sarah’s 5th Birthday today. I flew in on it about 8:00 PM last night doing it on the Brazilian Mahogany Coffee Table in our living room. The boss lady made sure it was covered so I wouldn’t scratch it. But doing it there allowed me to have plenty of light but most importantly it kept me from bending over and sitting in the floor for the 3 hours I worked on it. At least this way I was able to … Continue reading I Have Always Been Very Agile (that’s kind of an inside joke)

Amazing Things, Another Daily Happening, The Early Days2 Comments

It Took Me Weeks To Figure Out Why She Was Upset

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Not long after we married in 1971, I came home with Madeline a brand new 1972 Dodge Demon automobile. It was an absolute beauty. White with a White Pearlescent Vinyl Top and Snowy White Interior. Very sporty but not in a hot rod sort of way. More in a very hot, young chick sort of way. That baby had all the beauty and innocents that my new wife had. My Dad had gone with me to Austin to buy it. I needed him to drive my pickup back. What better thing could a new husband do than go buy the … Continue reading It Took Me Weeks To Figure Out Why She Was Upset