Cranks My Tractor

Memories are the Fabric

The other day I was visiting my in-laws and picked up a little book they had been given years ago called, “The World According to Mister Rogers.” It was simply a collection of Mister Rogers (Fred Rogers) thoughts on “Important Things to Remember.” One of the quotes struck me as quite appropriate. On page 181, Mister Rogers had the following to say, “I find out more and more every day how important it is for people to share their memories.”

That is so very true…

It reminded me of a story “Mr. T” had recently shared regarding his family. No, not the “Mr. T” with the Mohawk haircut and jewelry who rode around with “The-A Team” in the 1980s and fought Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III. My “Mr. T” was my high school history teacher, who everyone loved and still loves years later. He and his wife just had that kind of impact on their students.

Like Eagles Y'all

I’m about four weeks into an empty house… One college graduate out in the workforce and two college students more than a ten-hour drive from home. How am I doing? How are they doing?

I have a little more time on my hands, I’ve gotten into new hobbies and new adventures, but of course, I always miss my children.

While working the left door at church, I’ve had quite a few discussions about being an “empty nester.” When working the left door, I like to think that “my side” of the sanctuary is more occupied than the others. It is a bit vain and I shouldn’t think that… but statistically speaking it is a fact.

Snakeskins and Sticky Pads

The pest control fellow comes to my house every month, doing the outside one month, then the inside the next month. This month was an “inside month.” It drives the dogs crazy, but I guess it is one of those things that just needs to be done. He usually comes when I’m not at home, so it is rare that I get to see him.

The other day I got a desperate message from home, “The Bug Man found a snakeskin in the garage.” We’ve all seen snakeskins before, but this one was in the garage and logically you have to think that a snake left it behind or one of the dogs drug it in there. I don’t have those kind of dogs. They are not much on toting stuff around. They would have probably just eaten it.

The message was desperate and simple, “You (meaning me) have to do something about it right now!” My first response, “Well, where is the snakeskin now?” It seems the Bug Man left the snakeskin in the garage where he found it, either for me to examine or because he was too scared or lazy to pick it up.

My message back, “I will get rid of the snakeskin.”

She had me with the straight razor

When you are caught “running around,” I can only imagine that it is not a very fun experience. As a matter of fact, some folks meet their demise when their significant other finds out that they have been seeing another woman, man or barber…

Therefore, rather than being caught, I have decided to just “fess up.” My barber of many years, “Becca the Barber,” has always been a friend, kind and has wonderful tattoos that she has shown me. I have followed her around to no less than three salons in my hometown. Hairdressers seem to move around a lot, kind of like Methodist preachers. That never bothered me, I was loyal for the most part. There was the one time I cheated with the hairdresser named “Angel.” Being that it was with “an Angel,” I kind of got away with it.

Well, now I’m coming clean…

The Look of the Irish

While driving to work, I had this incredible clean smell and feeling for my 35 minute commute… I just felt like I was still in the shower or something. My senses seemed to be magnified. It was a really good feeling.

I had used some of this green Irish bath soap that I normally do not get to use. The issue is that some people in my house do not want me to smell “lucky” I suppose. Some of this green Irish soap showed up in the guest bathroom in our basement and I decided to go take a shower in the basement on this particular morning.

Naturally, I was happy to find the green Irish soap, which I assume my brother had left from his recent visit. I did a little Irish jig or something and enjoyed the shower in my basement; my basement shower has received many awards (or at least compliments) from guests for water pressure. Never underestimate the value of good water pressure…