Crazy Times, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Sid and Fay

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When Madeline and I married we moved into a trailer house (we called it a mobile home – but it was a trailer house, I’m pretty sure). It was in Sherwood Shores. Our next door neighbors were Sid and Fay. They were retired. Our place was almost new and was pretty spacious, for a young couple just starting out. Sid and Fay lived in a very small older trailer, but it was immaculate. Everything was pretty and neat. We shared a small pond out back that had ducks swimming around all the time. We would sit out back and visit … Continue reading Sid and Fay

On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Mr. Lawson Gibbs

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Mr. Lawson Gibbs was such a nice man. He was the head of the Water Department in Burnet for many years and was in that position when I worked all over town replacing water lines in the 1971 and 1972. The pipe we used back then was AC (asbestos cement) and was very fragile. Sometimes the pipe would break after being put in service as settling would occur. Most of the time in the middle of the night, it seemed. Madeline and I rented a room at the Arrowhead Motel. (That’s a whole other story) Many times I got a … Continue reading Mr. Lawson Gibbs

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A Look Back

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When a person can look back on their life and say there’s nothing I would change even if I could is someone living in denial. Are there things about my youth I’d like to do differently? Of course, but it is what many may think. I wouldn’t trade the hard times for anything. I don’t want any do-overs for the pranks or nonsense I was a part of. All those things were character builders. As I moved into adulthood and started out in the construction business at a very young age, I somehow knew that honesty and integrity was the … Continue reading A Look Back

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One Of The Most Vile Mass Murders In American History And I Can’t Recall It Happening

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I watched a newly released episode of People Magazine Investigates on ID, Children of Thunder, that happened in the Bay Area of California. It seems worse than the Manson Murders. It involves the murders of the ex-wife and daughter of Blues Musician, Elvin Bishop, as well as 3 others. The song I most remember Elvin Bishop for is; I Fool Around And Fell In Love, which was written about his then wife Jenny. The whole story and the motives behind them are far too difficult to explain here. If you are into this type of thing, you may want to … Continue reading One Of The Most Vile Mass Murders In American History And I Can’t Recall It Happening

Amazing ThingsLeave a comment

You’ve Always Been Told To Not Light A Fire With Gasoline

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We were taking earlier about a boy dropping a match in a dump truck gas tank and how dangerous it was. Well this is something I saw done in Mexico at Kenny Ranch that he used to have before life became so dangerous across the border. Out on the patio at the lodge there was a large fireplace with a grill where they cooked steaks on an open fire. The workers would pile wood in it then get it going with gasoline. Yes gasoline. Here’s what they would do. They would cut the top off of an aluminum beer can, … Continue reading You’ve Always Been Told To Not Light A Fire With Gasoline

Cecil Lewis, Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, The Early DaysLeave a comment

When We First Moved To Jollyville

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We left Smithwick in August of 1956. My brother, Kenny was ready to start to first grade early the next month. I turned 4 years old that month. Our dad, Cecil had just had a career altering run-in with Skinny Childers at Pure Stone, where he had been from the beginning of its existence. I guess Skinny had seen something in Cecil and had hired him as his right hand man to get the plant built and the quarry started. He even allowed Cecil to own and operate the dump trucks that brought the rock from the quarry into the … Continue reading When We First Moved To Jollyville

The Early DaysLeave a comment

Building Campfires

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When we were kids we played outside all year round. Weather didn’t seem to be that big of a deal. When it was real cold we just carried more wood and built our campfires bigger. In the summertime a small fire was built so it wouldn’t give off much heat. But on those cold days we’d take Tar Baby the donkey and pull up cedar stumps and drag fallen trees to the clearing out from the house where we had our fires. I don’t guess we were ever told we couldn’t build a fire. It kept us busy. Out away … Continue reading Building Campfires

Crazy Times, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Excuse Me Officer, But You Are Wrong

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In 1977 I was on my way to Houston from Austin. I was headed to an important meeting in downtown Houston. When I got the Brenham, several cars flashed their lights indicating an officer was up ahead. I slowed and maintained the speed limit. My radar detector went off indicating there was a cop up ahead. We met around on the east side of town and he immediately he whipped around and stopped me. He informed me that he clocked me 15 mph over the limit. I explained to him that he was as full of it as a Christmas … Continue reading Excuse Me Officer, But You Are Wrong

Cecil Lewis, Smithwick, The Early Days2 Comments

My Dad And Melvin Had Been Life Long Friends

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Melvin Heine and my dad, Cecil Lewis were just about as close as friends get. They were at one or the other’s house for coffee almost every morning. Whatever Melvin owned, my Dad was welcome to use and the same the other way. That also went for Cecil’s two sons. Melvin and his wife never had children. When Melvin needed help hauling hay, building fence or whatever, Cecil was more than happy to volunteer my bother and me. That’s the way friends were. It didn’t set right with me that hot summer day that Melvin thought we weren’t working hard … Continue reading My Dad And Melvin Had Been Life Long Friends

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My Food Phobia

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The mind works in mysterious ways. At least I know mine does. I claim to have an eating disorder. No it’s not anorexia. I have a difficult time eating if I don’t know the cleanliness practices that were used while preparing food. I didn’t grow up worrying about such things, but for my adult life I’ve had this fear. I know it’s irrational to go into a fast food place where 12 teenagers, without a care in the world past body piercings and heavy metal music are preparing food that has been handled by who knows what. Those places are … Continue reading My Food Phobia