Ahhhh . . . the smell of Spring!

I don't know about the rest of ye socks, but nothing smells better to yours truly than a freshly-mowed lawn.

In a move that may have annoyed a couple of my late-rising neighbors in this little corner of heaven, yardwork at my abode commenced prompty at 8am today.

I wasn't entirely without a conscience. I didn't actually crank-up the mower for a good half hour, as I had to pick up the dozen or so rotten grapefruit that have been moldering since I last had the gumption to attack the back yard.

Then I had to double-check the testy back wheel that has been falling off at inopportune moments since the day I bought this mower. And, finally, the annual checklist I've been following ever since my Uncle Richard gave it to me in 1995. Spark plug? Check. Oil? Check. Blade? Check. Air filter? Check. etc etc

Anyway, now that it's done and I'm sitting here sipping some lemonade and admiring my handwork, I finally feel like Spring has officially sprung.

And, boy am I glad I got this chore done early. I'm beginning to roast out here. Time to retreat to the comfort of climate control . . .

The Buzz Around the Barber Shop

Well, yours truly finally made a trip to ye old barber shop. You know the one around the corner from my office that my Uncle Richard used to own.

Anyway, when I got there the new owner (Terry) was telling all about some recent excitement.

It turns out that Coors has come out with a new line of beer with a label on it that changes color when it reaches the optimum temperature. Who knew?

Well, guess where they filmed their commercial for this new product?

That's right, ye old Conway Barber Shop.

Check it out for yourselves, and you can see where we high falutin' folks get their tresses trimmed.

(But, note, we do not allow the barbers to consume any beer until AFTER they've put down their scissors . . .)

Letting go

We have spent Dad's final hours giving him as joyous a good-bye as we can muster.

It started about 3:30 this morning, when we thought the end was near. My mom, sister, and I gathered around his bed as we played one of his favorite Randy Travis CD's. Great old songs like "I'll Fly Away" and "The Old Rugged Cross." We sang when we could remember the words, and hummed along when we didn't.

But, Dad was an old Cold Warrior, and he battled back. In fact, we've been thru a lot of peaks and valleys today and the last week and a half. Actually, the last five years.

Anyway, we had a few kind visitors stop by including his parents, and his Uncle Richard (who sang him "He Walks With Me" and "Amazing Grace."

Thanks to LeeAnn and Kelly for re-stocking the refrigerator and pantry.

Thanks to Bill. Thanks to Ellen. Thanks to Dwight. Thanks to Deloise. Thanks to Sally. Thanks to Margarita, and everyone at Vitas. And, thanks to everyone whose names are not coming to me now, but whose visits, phone calls, and emails have meant so much to us.