A lesson that I learned as a child is that if I was dependent on something having the Wow Factor happening to me each day to generate my happiness…I was going to be unhappy a lot. Being one with your surroundings and your life is important. The excitement of life is in the little things. Fall excites me. Autumn has a distinct smell. The cool breeze has a voice that says get up and get going or you may miss the beauty.

As MJ and I have taken membership in the senior citizen clan I appreciate every day that our medical maladies are better or at least not getting worse. Today she was told that she did not need to come back to one of her physicians…and she was relieved and so was I. Life is a precious gift and when you set your sail to enjoy its many facets…you will find happiness each day.

Tight Rope is the balancing act of enjoying life. It is easy to fall off if you take your eye off of the Rope. We came into this world with the wonder and amazement and joy of new life. The smiles of our mothers and fathers and the joy of a good poop and a clean diaper warmed our hearts. The first Christmas captivated our imaginations. Santa Claus was indeed coming to our home and he was entering by way of the chimney. Mom and Dad were into us. Man were they in to us… We knew that we must be better than sliced bread.

It smelled fresh and new and wholesome at Grandma Askews. She had the coldest of milk in her large porcelain coffee cups. Grandma A had chickens in her backyard. You had to be mindful to not step in chicken shit. But, it was all good…in fact it was amazing! Aunt Guelda lived with Grandma A. She had an ancient peddle organ in her room that she played for me. It had an etheral sound… Aunt Guelda sang while she played… The sound was angelic.

Christmas was at Grandma A’s. All of the family was there. Grandma A was the Matriarch and the Oracle of our family. At times life seemed complicated until you were at Grandma A’s. Life was simple there. Grandma A did not have a television. She read her Bible daily and prayed throughout the day. She loved Nugget who she later named Narky. Every time Narky saw me he bore his teeth and snarled. His life was wrapped up in Grandma A. We had turkey and dressing and sweet potatoes for Christmas. There was pumpkin pie and fudge and divinity for dessert. We told tales and swapped stories and looked to the new year…