One Of The Strangest Things

For all the stories I’ve told on here and circumstances I grew up with, I don’t think my Mother or any of my Grandmother’s ever heard me say a curse word prior to me being grown. This was not because we grew up in a highly religious home. My mother was a spiritual person but she didn’t attend church regularly. I attended church with my Grandmother Leona, but I didn’t exactly fall in line there. It was a different time we lived in. We actually knew how to turn course language on and off. I guess it was more out … Continue reading One Of The Strangest Things

It Just Came Out Of The Blue

I was lying in bed. It was almost 10:00 PM on a Saturday night. My phone rang and it was a number I didn’t recognize, but I decided to answer it. “You still having that Cowboy Rodeo going on out at your place ?” I could tell this fellow had drank bit too much, so I soft pedaled the conversation. The call didn’t seem all that threatening, so I figured he had misdialed my number. Then he went on to call out a name I was familiar with. For the sake of this writing I’ll just call him John Smith. … Continue reading It Just Came Out Of The Blue

When I Was Young, Everyone Looked Really Old

Old Man Cardwell When we were young, preteen years for me, we went all over Smithwick horseback. Mostly it was Kenny, Jimmy Palmer, Glenn Lewis and me, but sometimes others in the community joined in. Everett and Maude Jackson had the little store beside the road just below the cemetery, towards the church house. The store had really limited fare. Mostly snacks and soda pops. I don’t remember them having any perishables. Maybe some soda crackers and Vienna sausages and cans of potted meat. Across the highway from the store and down the creek a little ways was a little … Continue reading When I Was Young, Everyone Looked Really Old

A Horse In The Highway

I was driving my first car, a 1963 Ford Galaxy. Prior to buying that car I had driven whatever vehicle was setting around. In those days there were several to choose from. It looked like a used car lot in front of our house. The year was 1967. I was almost 15. After closing down the Texaco, my first job outside of working for my dad, I drove up and down the street until it appeared everyone had headed home, so I started out for the 9 mile trip to Smithwick. The time was early to be going home, I … Continue reading A Horse In The Highway

More On Being Granddad

January 21, 2023 This is a post from a few years ago when I try my best to describe what being Grandad (after 30 years I’m still conflicted about whether it is Grandad or Granddad) is really like. It’s still the best job I’ve ever had. Thursday night I was in Bryan, Texas watching Will play basketball, spent the night in the motorhome and drove to Waco yesterday where I met up with Madeline for a nice dinner. We spent the night in a wonderful RV Park at Riesel, Texas and we will watch Will and the Flames play in … Continue reading More On Being Granddad

There Really Is No Better Job, Nor A Job As Rewarding As Being A Grandparent.

From November 17, 2018 The following story from last year caused me to swell with pride as I read what one granddaughter said during an interview. Last night I watched as Emma and her Lady Bulldog Teammates took on Georgetown and came out winners. Emma was the high scorer, with 24 points. I think we can look forward to an exciting season of basketball for Burnet. They really have some outstanding girls on that team. I also have grandson Will (Catfish) to watch as he does a season of 8th grade basketball. It would be hard to find anyone with … Continue reading There Really Is No Better Job, Nor A Job As Rewarding As Being A Grandparent.

Never Give Up Hope

Some of you know that I’ve been dealing with severe shoulder pain, under my left shoulder blade. This has been happening since July 2021. It came out of nowhere. I have had ruptured disks in my neck requiring three surgeries thus far, the first being 38 years ago this month. So when this happened I was certain it was another disk that was going to require attention, as it was a similar feeling that I’ve experienced other times. I am probably guilty of leading my spine surgeon to look at that area. Nerve related issues can be very hard to … Continue reading Never Give Up Hope

Kenny And The White Bronco

I have to admit that in my younger years I spoiled myself with buying vehicles. I was doing a lot of driving, bidding on work all around the state. When I say a lot of driving, somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 miles per year. I had a new Buick Rivera that I considered my road car. And it did handle the road very well. We had a project in Kendall County, just north of San Antonio building the Guadalupe River State Park, which was a undeveloped tract of ranch land when we started, so I couldn’t see driving that nice … Continue reading Kenny And The White Bronco

My Corvette Story

I wanted a Corvette almost more than anything in the world. I didn’t get one until about 1985. I drove up to a used truck dealership in Buda, Texas that I’d been doing business with. There set a very nice 1981 Corvette. It belonged to the owners daughter. It really looked classy. I had to have it. I had just sold a prime piece of property and felt rich. Nothing was going to stop me from owning that Vette. Especially if I closed the deal before Madeline found out. That car was brown, a slightly lighter brown than this. I … Continue reading My Corvette Story

A Collection Of Carwash Mishaps

These are actual Carwash happenings, with the first one involving my oldest grandson and me. The other two stories, let me just say happened under everyday circumstances for the two involved. My Carwash Story I had just bought a new 1995 model Oldsmobile 98. A big fancy Olds. It was almost the size of a Abrams Army Tank. A recently remodeled Texaco station at Texas 29 and I-35 in Georgetown had just been reopened for business. Tyler, my first grandson was about 3 year old. He went with me as often as I could take him. We stopped to fill … Continue reading A Collection Of Carwash Mishaps