09-15-23

My path of Education…

As I sit here this mornin’ enjoyin my mornin’ Java & ponderin’ the view from our Sun Room my mind decided, on it’s own, to take a trip down memory lane.
Recently I was attendin’ a social gatherin’ & was asked (again) by someone “where did you go to school”? I hope the followin’ clears this up for others that have asked before or were too embarrassed to ask.

During my (early) Elementary educational years I attended two (2) different Elementary Schools. I can only remember two (2) Teachers & one (1) Principal durin’ that time, in my life, that were able to keep me focused on their subjects & my path in life. At Barrett School (1st thru the 5th grade) it was Mrs. Howell-Geography (& a very Lovin’ Lady). She instilled a love of maps & the outdoors in me. At Curry School (5th grade [again] thru 7th [x2] & skipped the 8th grade) it was Mrs. Pledger-Auditorium/Speech Arts (Nice Lady). I learned a lot about Public Speakin’ from her. I learned to speak in front of people assembled & not be uncomfortable. Mr. Herbert (Herby) Haynes-Principal (“High School Ahead” thank you sir!).

In High School I was more into a Social Life than Academics. And it showed. I was enrolled @ Banks High School (BHS) for four (4) years. All-though many of my friends thought I was enrolled @ Woodlawn High School (WHS) simply because I spent a lot of time there. Yeah…I SKIPPED School a lot from BHS. Although “the Summer of 69” I WAS enrolled @ WHS for Summer School to take Government & Economists (Mr. Kitchens-Assistant Coach @ BHS, thank you sir) to get ahead. Imagine that! 

Durin’ my four (4) years at BHS there were just a few Teachers/Staff there that could actually hold my attention (Mr. Johnny Howell-Principal, Mrs. Alice Laurendine-English & a wonderful lady, Mrs. Sue Cambell-Girls Assistant PE/Study Hall (Confidante), Mrs. Jill Ferrell Watson-Art (Confidante), Mr. Jim Currier-Track Coach (Believer), Mr. Bill Jenkins-Counselor (helped me to get qualified to enlist in the USAF in 1971 vs gettin’ Drafted), Mrs. Brown-“Lunchroom Lady”.

After my four (4) year stent in The USAF I felt the need to attend College. I enrolled at Jefferson State Jr College. (Remedial) English #095 just kicked my ass! I spent two (2) semesters there I realized College just wasn’t for me.

To the folks I have named (above) I am & forever will be grateful. Thank you all!…..BG>

…Fifty (50) Years Ago Today…

FIFTY (50) YEARS AGO TODAY!

Three (3) Friends & I (all 4 of us went to Banks High School together in B’ham, AL) were Discharged from The United States Air Force Reserve (Inactive “Delayed Enlistment Program”) that we had been “Sworn Into” in March, 1971. We entered the DEP so the others could Graduate from High School with our “Class Of 71” @ BHS. As for me well that’s a Long Story for another time. BUT I WAS QUALIFIED! That’s ALL that mattered.

Then, We were Immediately, like in just Minutes, “SWORN-IN” to The United States Air Force (Active Duty) at the Induction Center in Montgomery, AL.  We were immediately lead/escorted  to the Montgomery Airport for a flight, “with connections”, deliverin’ us to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio,TX. This began the First (1st) day of my Four (4) Year Adventure (71′ thru 75′) in The USAF! And the truth is “It was the best thing that ever happened to me”.

About Seven & a half (7 1/2) or Eight (8) weeks we were all fortunate enough to graduate from Basic Trainin’ together & on schedule. Next we all departed for our different Technical Schools. Two (2) of us were lucky enough to be sent to Keesler AFB in Biloxi, Miss. That was a LONG Fifteen (15) Hour Bus Ride I’ll never forget! We attended different Career Field Tech Schools but we were allowed to Room together while there. After completin’ my Tech School, ACW Operator #27600, I received orders for Germany, Ramstein AFB, where I spent my one & only Permanent Duty Assignment (of 3 yrs & 8 mos).

After separating from The USAF I tried myself at College. I should’ve thought more about my Educational Past. It didn’t take me Too Long to realize “I wasn’t cut out for College”. For those that know me I put THAT in for YOU! I was fortunate enough to find a Job & A Paycheck at the local (family owned franchise) Caterpillar Equipment Co that lead to a Thirty Three (33) Year Career from which I have now been Retired from for the past twelve (12) years. That was, for me, a wonderful thing. It afforded me & my family many opportunities we might not have been able to experience otherwise.

I sit here this mornin’ “Thinkin’ & Reminiscin’ ” on how those  four (4) years changed my life. Yes…For The Best! Traveled a lot the first year & a half. I met & Married my (Military Brat) Bride & Married Her Twice! That’s another Story also. Happily Married now for 46 yrs & 5 mos we have two (2) wonderful & successful Adult Children (an RN & an Attorney), One Wonderful Daughter-In Love, & three (3) adorable Grandchildren. I’m now 69 yrs of age & “Livin’ The Life”…”Hold ‘Em Hook!……BG>

“HAPPY FATHERS DAY”

“HAPPY FATHERS DAY”As a young Child there were things I didn’t learn at home. My Grandfather taught me to Fish & Fear him! To all of The 4th Avenue Neighborhood Fathers, Wahouma Park Coaches/Fathers, Match Box Estates Dads, Coach Jim Currier, Uncles Pete & Buddy, My Step-Father (even thru our years of turmoil) & Yes Mr. (“Mr.Jimmy”) Dickson from Cascade I want to say “THANK YOU” for Your Time, Kindness, & Leadership you all shared with me as a growin’ young Boy/Child who’s Father Passed (I was only 20 mo’s old) before I ever knew Him. You all made an impression on me in many/your own different ways. To You/Them ALL “HAPPY FATHERS DAY”…Hold ‘Em!……BG>

…”Mr. Albert”…

Today’s been “One Of Those Days”. Started out gettin’ my ole peepers dilated & The Eye Doc spyin’ deep into my eyes. Yeah, there’s work to be done in there. Got home & settled in for the day. Then…

 

I received some sad news about an Ole Customer, no Ole Friend, NO Ole Fatherly Image. He was “One Of The Greatest Generation”! I was fortunate enough to spend time in his shadow & to learn from his experiences. We exchanged ideas, knowledge, & secrets together. Thru the yrs he shared his wisdom with me as well. And surprisingly much of it stuck! In the end it was that Damned COVID 19 Virus that took him from this world. I know he is now with “Our Lord & Savior”. I know his Bride (a Lady I have come to Love thru the yrs as well), his two (2) Sons & their families will miss the Leadership & Love he gave his family. May The Spirit Of Our Lord & Savior be with them thru these tryin’ times.

 

“Mr. Albert”…Thank you!…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

…”SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY”…

This past Saturday evenin’ My Bride, a Dear Friend (female), & I decided to go to dinner at one of the Restaurants on the Water, here on the Lake. I can’t actually remember if we were finished eatin’ or not. The trauma still has me rather uneasy. {{{{{ I WAS ALMOST BLINDED ! }}}}}.

 

If this event had happened earlier in my life, oh say 50 years ago, I might have considered myself LUCKY to have been so near yet so far away. I may had even reacted totally different. I mean not so defensively but have “Attacked that Thang Vigorously”!

 

It had been such a wonderful day up until this POINT! My Bride & I had really enjoyed a casual day together. We had seen many Beautiful Old Cars in a Car Show at The City Park, here in The Big Pell. We had experienced the frustrations of Shoppers @ Wally World with the “Self Checkout Lines” overflowin’ Five (5) & Six (6) deep out into the main aisle, at both ends of Checkout Row due only havin’ Four (4) Regular Checkout Lines open thus forcin’ customers toward the “Self Checkout Lines! But NOT ME! I refuse to work @ Wally World for free! I’ll use “The Snail Checkout”!

 

This mornin’ my Left eye is still seein’ things a little blurry, but slowly gettin’ better. If I thought Drinkin’ would help my vision I would’ve started early this mornin’ but I know it wouldn’t have. I’ll just stick to sippin’  My-Joe! On Mug #2 at this time.

We decided to drive to the Restaurant this evenin’. We had invited a Dear Friend to join us earlier in the day so we swung by & picked her up along the way. The scenery & conversations were relaxin’ & entertainin’. We arrive at the Restaurant about 5:30 pm. It was crowded to say the least. Boats arrivin’ & leavin’ in mass with folks. Cars circlin’ the parkin’ area huntin’ for a spot to park.

 

I let My Bride & friend out at the front so they could get us on the waitin’ list & then started my search for a parkin’ spot. As I walked/headed toward the area where I knew My Bride & friend would be I caught a glimpse of some Harley-Davidson Bikes, in my peripheral vision, parked off to my right & eased over to look at ’em. They were impressive I must say.

 

I caught up with My Bride & friend, got my friend & I a Cold Beer. My Bride passed on one but did seem to drink part of mine. I’m just glad I didn’t see any back wash, if ya know what I mean, in it! Our party was called, we headed in. Damn! The place was full! “Packed in like Sardines”! Had to be careful passin’ by folks. The Waiters & Waitresses were hustlin’ to assist folks to tables & the Bus Boy was workin’ in High Gear. I’m sure you’ve all seen like situations before at popular places.

 

We finally got seated, ordered our Appetizers, Drinks, Meals & were just conversin’ as folks do waitin’ on our meals. Now for those of you that know me you KNOW that “I’m a People Watcher”! As does My Bride & she’s OK with it. There were some sights in there “to be seen” that’s for sure. Some dressed Sporty, some Causal, & many in Bathin’ Suits. Some ladies with Cover-Ups & Some Without. Yep! Sights to be seen!

 

Again, I can’t actually remember if we were finished eatin’ or not”. And then “It Happened”! From behind me, comin’ up on my Left side “THERE IT WAS”! Now I’m not in ANY way or manner bein’ rude but facts are facts.

 

Ya know the dynamics of a planes wing cuttin’ thru the air pushes up a wave of air as it moves forward to help give the plane LIFT & then it divides/cuts through the air forcin’ it both over & under it at the same time, Right? Well it happened in a FLASH! I felt this slight push/burst of air on the left side of my neck, makin’ the hair on my neck stand up, comin’ from behind me. I know you’ve all experienced things that seem like they were in “SLOW MOTION” right? Well there IT was! IT wasn’t an Airplane Wing pushin’ that burst of air either!

 

As I, in “SLOW MOTION”, quickly whipped my head around to my left, I catch the figure of a lady in a {{{ BLUR }}}!  Ok, keep in mind this restaurant is packed! Aisles are narrow to allow as many tables in a given space as possible. People would have to sorta squeeze thru as not to disturb diners as they were eatin’ in fear of makin’ someone spill their meal or drink on themselves. Especially those in their Bathin’ Suits (without a cover-up on). Oh what a sight THAT might have caused! Now don’t misunderstand me. I’m not makin’ light of the lady’s  size. I’ll just call her Bertha. No…”BIG BERTHA”! In relationship to that plane & it’s wing “She was a Jumbo 747” & that Thang was movin’ some air as it approached me from the rear. She bumped & knocked her way up that aisle as though she owned it. I could hear her comin’ but hadn’t yet laid eyes on IT!

 

As my neck was strainin’ at the speed of light, as to which I was whoopin’ it around, I was under a terrible physical strain & all of a sudden there IT was! I had to truly strain to bring my head to “a Screeching Halt & Reverse Direction” IMMEDIATELY (if not sooner)! DAMN that hurt! Then, as I said above, there IT was! Ole Big Bertha’s RIGHT BREAST, with her Mammary Gland in full Erection (from my view), & movin’ at the speed of light! Yet In SLOW MOTION! I could see/make out the Lace Patterns on her “Maidenform Cross Your Living Heart Bra (Size 54D-Cup Size DDDD)” thru her Tee Shirt! That’s how close that THANG was to my Left eye! The only thing that separated ME from IT was that thin vale of air, my eye lashes, & eyebrow. And even with those protectin’ me I think I suffered some damage! Yep…WIND BURN, if you will, to my left eye. “SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY”! As I finally got my complete head out of the Danger Zone I could see the look of {{{ FEAR ! }}} & Concern for me on My Brides & our Friends faces turn to complete laughter! Yeah…Ha Damn HA!  After that the rest of the evenin’ was mostly a blurr…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

…”Ole Charlie…Who knew?”…

This is for & about friends of mine…

A dear friend of mine’s Father passed away few months ago, March 2019.

 

Ben Charles Hendrix: Born 4-19-1931 Departed this world 3-24-2019.  Now Charles, or Charlie as he was refereed to by many, was from Flat Top, AL.  Charles met & married Juanita Smith (lovingly refereed to as “Ebbe”) who was “The Queen of Praco Hill, AL” on April 18, 1953.  Both communities, aren’t too far from ole Punkin Center, AL, you know out in an area referred to as West Jefferson.They were happily married for 66 years.

 

Mr. Hendrix/Ole Charlie was a beloved Husband to Ebbe, Father of Four (1 girl & 3 boys) , Grandfather of four (4), & Great Grandfather of two (2).. He was like a Grandfather, image, to several other kids he & Ebbe allowed into their home as well. He was retired from Hayes Aircraft Corporation in “The Ham” where he was a Hydraulics Mechanic. Now days they would call ’em Tech…”Naw”…Mechanic fit Ole Charlie much better.

 

Now Ole Charlie was about as plain of an individual, to the naked eye, as you would ever see. I never heard of him gettin’ excited over much & when he did it wasn’t long lastin’. And trust me it wasn’t cause ’em four (4) kids didn’t provide him with the opportunities to. Ole Charlie just seemed to let it slide off of him. Now I learned sompin’ about Ole Charlie after his passin’ I’d never known about him before. I’d known Ole Charlie & his family since my several years from “Curry Tech” Elementary School. Especially the last two (2) of the nine (9) I did attend. I just skipped the last one all together. That’s a longer story for another time. It made me think about him in a totally different light.

 

Now I had never really stopped to think about his age, 88 years of age at his passin’. He was just another “Dad”. But I learned he was a Veteran of The US Military. Specifically The US Army. He was a Veteran of the Korean War. Known to some as a “Policing Action” because of our Lame Ass Politicians of The Period! Now Ole Charlie wasn’t just a Veteran but he was “A Decorated Veteran”! He had been decorated multiple times for valor. Wounded a couple of times & awarded two (2) Purple Hearts.

 

After Ole Charlie’s passin’ the family members had to sift thru his personal affects. As many of us have had to do. That is when they were privy to some History of their Dad they never knew. This is when many of them found out about his Military Career. He, like many, who have/had experienced War never spoke much about it. My Step-Father was the same way. Those folks mostly wanted to just put it behind ’em & move on to a normal life. What ever Normal is/was.That is when many of his family found out “their Father was a Decorated Soldier”! Hell… in some of his files they found out he went missing! There is a telegram to his Parents announcin’ he was missin’. No not Missin’ In Action (MIA)!  But from the Hospital. HELL!…he was missin’ from the Damn Hospital! I wonder what “Acronym” would be used for THAT? I don’t know the severity of his wounds either but he decided he needed to be back with his Friends/Buddies. It’s a Military thing. He decided to leave & made his way back to his Company/Unit & back into action. Now ask yourself “Would I have done THAT? In my opinion that takes “One Hell Of A Man”! That’s what our society is lacking these days.

 

Now, Ole Charlie liked a Good Ole Cold Beer! But he only bought one kind to my knowledge. “Pabst Blue Ribbon”!… Yep Ole “PBR”!  Now after his passin’ I learned the reason why he bought Ole PBR. It wasn’t because of Taste or Price! Hell…I guess you can get accustom to anything after a while. But Ole Charlie bought & drank Ole PBR to keep his sons & their friends from stealin’ his stash of beer in the Basement Fridge & leavin’ him High & Dry with a Parched Throat & nothin’ to quench it with. Yep…they quit stealin’ it right away. Kids are picky ya know. After he changed to The Big Blue Ribbon Ole Charlie always seemed to have a Stash of Cold Beer ( “PBR”) when he wanted one (1), two (2), three (3), etc .

 

Ole Charlie, in his spare time was a Painter. He painted houses or what ever needed it. He was Ole School though. SLOW! But thorough. We, my Bride & I, were in need of a Painter to paint our house. I spoke to one of Ole Charlie’s boys about linin’ him up for us. Ole Charlie named his price, with me supplyin’ the paint & a Case of PBR! I was also FORE WARNED to hold the PBR until the End Of The Day or The Day Would End Early! Nuff said about that…

 

The day came that Ole Charlie was suppose to arrive & get started. Well gettin’ started He Did!…My Bride & I were awaken by this loud {{{{{ Bangin’ & Clankin’ }}}}} racket! What the Hell! We were still in Bed! Hell Ole Charlie was slingin’ a ladder up against the house & it fell over! I guess he didn’t believe in Door Bells. But I must admit after about two & a half (2 1/2) days he completed the job accepted his payment & Case of Ole PBR.

 

The day of Ole Charlie’s Grave Side Service I was there among the others in attendance. I spoke with ole friends there about Him as well as his Bride, Children & other family members. It’s what we do I guess. It’s how we relive our relationships about our families & friends in those times of grief & loss. I made it thru the stories, the huggin’ of family/friends, all the “Fairy Lies” as well as truths bein’ told, & the Pastor’s portion of The Service. But when Those Two (2) Solders showed up, “in Full Dress with a Bugle”, to perform the Military portion of the service. I got choked up (I always do). I had a hard time swollin’. Had to work hard to hold back the tears but some leaked out anyway. I guess my Military Pride (USAF ’71 – ’75) gets the best of me “& I’m not ashamed to show it”. To anyone that has ever served in the Military, I don’t care what Branch, when TAPS starts playin’, The Flag starts gettin’ Folded, & Presented to The Family YOU Stand TALL! TAPS IS FINAL! God Bless You Ben Charles Hendrix…{{{{{ SALUTE ! }}}}}. Ole Charlie…Who knew?…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

…”3rd Tuesday Of The Month Luncheon”…

Today I had lunch with a group of Sixteen (16) guys. All Retirees that I was fortunate enough to work with at Thompson Tractor Company, in one way or another. It isn’t the same ones every month. But if someone from a previous get-together is missin’ someone seems to notice and asks the others if they might know if that individual is OK. After short discussions then the topics move on. There were many conversations takin’ place at the same time. There was a lot of laughter as stories were told.

 

As I sat there eatin’ & listenin’ I would catch myself lookin’ to my left & then my right & thinkin’ about all the knowledge about Caterpillar Products there was sittin’ at that table. There was a lot! I was truly in awe.

 

There were Service Techs (both Shop & Field) there. These are guys that knew equipment inside & out & got the job done daily, what ever it took. Guys that started at the lowest levels & over the years rose to be “Masters” in their areas. There were Parts guys that took care of our Customers & Service Personnel with the thousands of Parts required to keep all of those products up & runnin’ on a daily basis. There were Delivery Personnel that were tasked with loadin’, transportin’, un-loadin’ New, Used, & Rental equipment to Company Customers. There were Product Support guys that assisted customers after The Sale or Service Work to make sure The Customers was receivin’ the most from their equipment. There were Trainin’ Personnel with years of experience & knowledge from Hands On to Factory Trainin’. They were tasked to teach & share this knowledge not only to Our Service Personnel but Customers as well when requested. There were Sales Representatives from various departs who assisted our Customers in their requirements to Purchase, Trade-In or Rent as required to meet their needs. There was an Engineer there who assisted other Project & Buildin’ Engineers in New Businesses & Auxiliary  requirements for Stand-By Power Systems. Be they New, Re-powerin’ or Rental needs. There were Department Managers as from all of the departments discussed above. There was even a former Vice President there.

 

Now to be honest many of the guys sittin’ around this lunch table have, in fact, held several of the positions described through out their individual careers. Careers that ranged from 25 years to some as long as 40 (plus) years. Yeah…A LOT OF PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE!

 

And now we’re all there on equal ground. We’re there simply for the fellowship & reminiscin’ of days gone by. As for me well I may have been one of the youngest ones there, at age 67, if not THE youngest. I consider myself fortunate to be asked to attend this gatherin’ once a month. I have now attended four (4) of these “3rd Tuesday Of The Month Luncheon” get-together’s & look forward to attendin’ many more…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

…” My game is FAR from over”…

Most all of today I’ve found myself down in “The Cave” enjoyin’ some things on TV. Man shows while my Bride is upstairs watchin’ “Chick Flicks”. I can hear the “Cold Beer over in the Mini Frig” wishin’ me a “Happy Birthday”. Before too long I’m sure I’ll enjoy a few of’em, cause I wouldn’t want to hurt their feelin’s, as I reminisce the path in life that has lead me to where I am. I can feel the English Teachers I’ve known thru the years cringin’ over my choice of words knowin’ they tried but I failed to learn properly. Oh well such is life…

Today I have been overwhelmed by “Well Wishers” on line & phone calls. It really makes me feel good knowin’ I hasn’t Pissed Off as many folks as I thought I may have over the past year. Or else they just hide it well. Anyway, thank you ALL for your thoughts (good, bad, sarcastic, or otherwise). They do mean a lot to this NOW Sixty Seven (67) Year Old Man/Boy! Some of you/we have even recalled some past experiences we shared, many of which need to be kept on “The Down Low” & laughin’ the whole time, through the Decades/Ages/Years. Y’all share a part of my heart & mind as they continue to beat & recall life. Some more than others! Yeah, you know who you are…

 

Last night there were Twelve (12) of us, Family & Extended Family, who went out to an early Dinner/Supper. We do it annually to celebrate December Birthdays. There are Four (4) among us born in December. Last night we went to Costa’s Mediterranean on Lorna Rd in Hoover, AL. Thank-goodness “The Protesters” weren’t out. We enjoyed a wonderful meal together, shared stories & “Fairy Lies”, & then exchanged some Birthday Presents. All in just two (2) hours time. My how it flew by…It’s always good to be with Family at such celebrations.

 

I hope for all of you, out there readin’ this, that you too are as happy as I am for where your path has taken YOU. Some I’m sure were rougher that others. I hope My game is FAR from over cause I’m enjoyin’ life, each day differently, what ever it brings. As I say so often “I’m truly a Blessed Man”!…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

…”Indian cigar tree”…

Us kids, back in my years of early youth, were somewhat like animals. What I mean by that is that we were always patrollin’ “our territory”. You know, lookin’ for new experiences. Sometimes we found somethin’  but most times we didn’t. I remember there was a yard down on 3rd Ave South that had several Catawba Trees growin’ in it. Now Catawba Trees were good, to us kids for two (2) things. #1) Catawba Worms which were a free & abundant Fish Bait if you could climb a tree to pick’em. They were always available durin’ early summer months. For me they were most effective with the heads pinched off, turned inside out with a match stick, & used on a long shank Bream hook. Bream, Bass & Cat Fish could all be caught with’em. Some of us also learned we could sell’em to local Bait Shops, across from East Lake Park for pocket money. #2) Later in the Summer months the Catawba Worms would play out by the Birds that fed on’em, spinnin’ their cocoons to transform into butterflies, & of course us catchin’em for our use. The Catwaba Trees had “long green bean pods” on them that would eventually start turnin’ brown as they were gettin’ ready to split open & distribute their seeds & then fall to the ground or scatter in the winds. We always heard’em called “Indian Cigars”! I don’t remember where that came from but we did… Well guess what? Some one always seemed to have a couple of matches with’em. Now, never really knowin’ for a fact I did some research on the “Indian Cigar” this very mornin’. Here is a quote I found in an article, about the “Catawba Tree”, by Taylor Wilson from April 28, 2005 …that the Native Americans smoked the bean pods of the tree for questionable “medicinal” or hallucinogenic purposes. Therefore, the tree has also been called “smoking bean,” “Indian bean” and (yep!) “Indian cigar tree.” Damn, ya just never know what you’ll find when you’re out on the prowl as a kid. We never really knew what we had, but we either puked or we were feelin’ good!…”Hold’em Hook”!…..BG>

Neighborhood Fruits #3…”{{{ Shew-wee ! }}}”…

Growin’ up on 4th Ave South, from a young boy’s view, we were blessed to have so many different types of Fruits & Nuts growin’ around us. No, I mean The REAL Kind! Usually in other folks yards. But the good part of bein’ a young child was we rarely recognized property lines! Now if there was a Fence there, well ya just looked around, to make sure no one was lookin’. Then climbed it! Across the street from our house were two houses/yards with Big Ole Plum Trees in’em. One was “Child Friendly” & the other wasn’t. The “Child Friendly” yard had seven (7) kids in it’s family. The other yard was owned by a “Crotchety Old Woman” who wasn’t “Child Friendly”. Now to many of us this Crotchety Ole Lady’s Plumb Trees became Targets! The first ones to be pillaged when the plums came into season. And we all knew she couldn’t get out there, in time, to us to catch us but we still “Scattered Like Rats” when we heard her {{{{{ SCREECHIN’ }}}}} voice as she’d yell “Who’s that out there in my plum tree”? AS if she thought we’d yell back our names! Ahh-hahaha…Hey, we were “young & dumb – but we weren’t STUPID”! But we still hit the ground a runnin’ & climbin’ fences as fast as we could. Yeah, this went on year after year. Now the family next door, with seven (7) kids, had a big plum tree as well. We were allowed to gather the ones off of the ground first, as we dodged the Bees & Ants for possession, & yeah every now & then {{{{{ Yeeeow ! }}}}} someone would get stung! I think that was a plan to see who wanted’em the most cause as the Bees started flyin’ some in the crowd would back off to a safe distance.   Then we were allowed to climb the tree & eat pretty much as much as we wanted. Then you’d hear a meek “hey man toss me a couple”! Yeah, like that was gonna happen. But then again, on occasion, someone, I would’t know who, would rear back & let one fly! {{{{{ WHACK ! }}}}}…then the threats would start about what was gonna happen when the thrower came down! After awhile, just short time later & it was kind of funny, because you’d catch someone hit the ground on the fly, I mean “a full-bore run for their life”! Their stomach would start grumblin’ or crampin’ & they were “on the fly” tryin’ to find a toilet? Bein’ young we never made that connection. But it seemed to happen no matter what fruit we were over indulgin’ in. Yeah you know what I mean. Some would make it & {{{ Shew-wee ! }}} some wouldn’t! It’s kinda funny lookin’ back on it now. The lesson here was “Moderation”. We all learned it too late in life..”Hold’em Hook”…..BG>