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He sat on the deck on Labor day lamenting another summer that was about over and it was time to get ready for winter. He felt as alone as alone can be. The only sound was a crow complaining high in the deep blue sky and a soft breeze rustling through the trees. It was a time to put the lawn chairs in the shed, a time to pull the boat out of the water and lots of time to think of the summers gone by when he was in the Autumn of his life. He was old now and slowing down faster then a long distance runner forced to walk. The thought of another cold, long winter depressed him but like many things in his life these days, it must be dealt with. Getting old brings back the memories of his youth and the realization that the summers to be were few while aging gracefully was harder to do then to say....

It had been a quiet summer that started with a few friends over for Memorial day weekend. He missed his three grandchildren who he barely knew as well as his son who had other obligations and the father knew what it was like to get caught up in the rat race, a fact his son had mentioned more times then he cared to be reminded that he had neglected them and now his son was doing it to him in a similar but not premeditated fashion. There was no malice involved but just trying to make a living in this strange new world that had passed him by and left him far away from the only family he had left.....

The 4th of July weekend he had been in the hospital diagnosed with Cancer with only his good bud Wally to keep him company. His son had kept in touch and offered to visit but he had told him it was not necessary even though it was. He knew his son had started another job and it was more important then sitting in a hospital room watching his father age before his eyes. The Father was a proud man and only he and Wally knew the end was coming soon. They laughed about it, they cried about it and they remembered the summers in the past like they were yesterday. Old people do much of that...

He remembered the days when the yard was full of kids playing hide and seek or lawn darts, a kitchen full of women cooking the holiday fare of hot dogs, burgers, potato salad with juicy watermelon for dessert. The red, white and blue flag was flying high and it flapped freely in the breeze. The firecrackers popping in machine gun staccato, kids shrieking and falling to cry of grass stained knees. The pick up softball games in the back yard with the kids against the adults when the kids always won. It was lemonade on the deck, ice cream cones and messy faces but overall it was the smiles and laughs of another family time together enjoying the warm weather and a swim in the lake. The Father wished his wife was still alive and he wished he could hear the kids fill the house with laughs again. He had called Wally to invite him over but got no answer and he really wished he wasn't so alone on Labor Day....

He had always been upbeat about life. It was due to the strong faith and a positive attitude that had always kept him going forward. But now, his body ached and felt like crying but held back the tears like he always did. No one likes to be sad alone and he poured the last of his coffee on the lawn and went inside to take a nap. Why not? It was just another day...

He heard a car coming through the woods on the dirt road to his home and a horn was blasting and he wondered who the fool was joy riding and he couldn't have been more wrong. It was Wally in his red pickup and behind him was another car and another car behind that and he watched as his son and his family was last in the long procession looking for a place to park. His grand kids jumped out of the car yelling 'Hi Grampa' and Wally stood there smiling offering his hand saying 'Thought you'd be alone, eh?' A tear came down the old mans face and he wiped it away and replaced it with a smile from ear to ear. He looked up into the clear blue sky and said, "Thank You God' and for now all was right again. We can be our worst enemy at times and a good way to cure that is to never be alone. That is what friends and family are for. Happy holiday to all of you. I need you and you will always be there even when I neglect you or I think you won't. I find much peace in that on this Labor Day....

Gracie and I were sitting on the back deck giggling at 5 this morning while I wrote 'I Love You' in the dew on the glass table. Nope, the honeymoon is not over yet and the best is still to come. Pippen is at our feet and on guard watching my every move in anticipation for another walk to the park. Chicago is waking up, the Cubs are in a pennant race while the White Sox are in last place waiting for Ozzie Guillen to implode. The heat wave is over and the windy city prepares for another Labor Day to bring summer to an end. Life is Good, God is Great and all is well on the Southside.....

Two of our favorite people are in the hospital and I'm talking of WritterDeb and Annie's Angel (LouAnne). We pray that they will be home soon and back on Boomer spreading their good will. When one of us is hurting we all are and that is the way it is and should be. Get well soon, we miss you.....

Gracie and I watched a movie not long ago that we highly recommend you pick up and enjoy like we did. It is called "Finders Fee" and was written and directed in part by Jeff Probst who is the host of the popular TV show 'Survivor'. It is an independent film that went straight ot DVD after winning numerous awards at film festivals. It is about 4 men who meet for their regular poker game which takes an unusual turn when one of them finds a wallet that contains a $6 million dollar winning lotto ticket. Add James Earl Jones to the mix and I guarantee you will be on the edge of your seat following all the twists and turns that has an O'Henryesqe ending. Gracie found it in a DVD bin for $3.99 and from now on I will let her pick the movies we watch....

I'm back to reading books again and it feels real good. My latest is 'The Hot Kid' by Elmore Leonard who you might know from the movie "Get Shorty" that he also wrote and was made into a movie. In the wings is 'Boone's Lick' by Larry McMurtry who wrote 'Lonesome Dove' which was one of the best mini series on TV. I think my writing style reflects both of these excellent authors and reading their stuff is a way for me to get out of my brain freeze putting words on the computer cscreen. This has been one of my worst bouts of not being able to write and I hope this is a harbringer of good writing to come....

It's Friday and another weekend is upon us and I hope it will be a special one for you. Enjoy the last gasps of summer on this Labor Day weekend and please be safe if you are traveling and spread some good cheer to others. Smiles to you and yours....Easy like Friday morning.....

It has been my trademark to offer you a smile and for you to pass it off to someone else. It is a pay it forward smile from me to you. Gracie and I went to a Dentist Tuesday morning and by the end of the day I had a new set of dentures that enables me to truly smile for the first time in years. Dental hygiene was never practiced in my home as a child and after Chemo I had all of my remaining teeth pulled and since then I learned how to smile without opening my mouth. What a glorious ride home it was yesterday as I looked in the passenger side mirror at my pearly whites that filled my face with happiness. What a joy it is to smile without giving it a second thought...

The reality of wearing dentures set in soon after. Saliva in my mouth, talking with a slur of my sss's and finding a place for my tongue. But, overall, it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. I even dug into some Frito's which I have missed dearly and, oh my, did they taste good. I can't wait to buy my first Snickers bar and melt some butter on some corn on the cob.....

Gracie and I are getting ready to hit the road again with a trip to the Detroit area for another 6 month Cancer checkup and to see my Dad and the rest of my family. After that we will head north up I-75 to get the Trout Falls Chronicles caravan going again and to spend a couple weeks at the Penthouse Cabin to see the wonder of the fall colors in Upper Michigan and to close up the place for the winter. Time is flying by at Mach one speed and the honeymoon adventure Janet and I are on keeps rolling on and on in a heaven sent way. Isn't that the way love is supposed to be?

I hope your Wednesday is a good one with happiness and hope. I pray for all of you with health concerns or other things that may be holding you back from being all that you can be. Change the things you can control and keep the faith in things you cannot change. Don't let others steal your happiness, don't let those of little faith cause you to lose yours. We all need something to cling to, to be assured of a better day. And, be a beacon of light to those who are hurting. Lead with a smile and I'll be right up front with my new found smile that won't be stopped. You can count on that like we can count on more rain today, eh? Lots of hugs and prayers to you... my friend....Easy

I've taken to sitting on the porch early in the morning and watching Chicago wake up. Above me, I hear the planes thrusting up into the sky and the whining of the ones coming in for a red eye landing. I can hear the freeway traffic off in the distance and the symphony of the Cicada type bugs rising in a chorus of good morning. A solitary bee clings to the flower in the planter at my feet while sparrows chirp, crows complain and the parrots squak. A train chugs along with its freight as the loud horn alerts the traffic of their passing through the already busy intersections. It's another summer day in the windy city....

The paper carrier bounces the Tribune off porches and doors, solitary men and woman walk by on their way to the bus or their ride. Some see my smile and some don't and that is the way it is. Pickup trucks cruise the alleys in search of discarded scrap metal or junk that will be their treasure. A woman drives by on her motorcycle like clockwork, the orange orb rises above the horizon while the health conscious walkers do their laps as the darkness gives way to the light and the promise of another day....

My sweet Gracie still sleeps, my Father is finally home and adjusting to his disability with a renewed confidence of life in an unexpected manner befitting the strong character I've grown to know and understand. This day is a chance to set things right, to earn a paycheck, feed the family or just to enjoy our golden years when we do what we want to do and not what we must. Either way, Chicago is my kind of town like it says on the clean white tee shirt I proudly wear today.....

I hope your Wednesday is one of promise and pleasure of things to be. A fresh start, a do over or even a chore and it's up to you and me to make it a better day. Together we can make a difference. Keep smiling, savor the coffee and stand tall in the home of the brave and the land of the free. Have a good one, two, three......Easy

Hello from Chicago where it's hotter then hot and I'm glad to be back with my sweet Gracie again. It was a long traveling day on Monday and I picked up a head cold along the way which has left me tired and sniffling. I enjoyed my time up north but it isn't the same without Janet at my side. I also missed Pippen who is laying at my feet as I write this blog and he is quite happy that we are back to our daily walks to the park. I kid Janet that I'm not sure who I missed more, her or the dog. Either way, we are together now and I couldn't be happier...

I thank all of you for the prayers for my Dad who is doing much better and will be going home any day now. They have fitted him with a prosthesis and he is getting around good and amazes all of us with his positive attitude. It doesn't surprise me at all and we will be heading to Detroit soon for a visit. I also have my appt. at the VA in early Sept. to get my blood test and see how I am doing with the Leukemia. I expect another good report as God is great and does answer our prayers...

I'm hoping too get back to Boomer on a regular basis as soon as I feel a little better. I miss all of you and you are a huge part of my life. Book sales are going good and am confident I can sell out this printing. We are mainly trying to get it into the book stores now as I learn the ropes of book distribution and marketing...

I hope your week is going well and you are coping with the heat in your area. We are staying inside the air conditioned house for the most part and back to playing scrabble, laughing and being in love. I am a lucky man to have such a wonderful and caring lady at my side and I don't plan to be away from her again. Keep smiling and talk again soon....Easy

It is time to start packing again and head back to Chicago and my sweet Gracie. It was 48 this morning and I actually turned on the heat. I wanted to climb inside the fridge two days ago and that is the way it is with Upper Michigan and its persnikity weather. The Penthouse Cabin is clean as an off tune whistle but it is the outside that needs some work this weekend. Burner Husqavara'd some 50 trees that block my view of the lake and today we will pull them up with my ATV and clean out the area and then weed wack it to bare ground. We are in a drought here and forest fires are dotted across the area. It is a tinder box and all it takes is one person and a match or tossed cig to start another. So, I will have to wait to burn the trees. Sorry Janet, no marshmellows in the near future but the wood will be stacked. I plan to landscape the hill down to the lake with a spot for a nice swing up top and angled steps down to the dock. I've been wanting to do this for years and already I can see the fruits of my labor as I eat blueberies growing at my feet...

My month here has been dotted with frustration and elation. I miss Gracie very much and more then I thought possible. On the other hand, I am writing good stuff on my second book and it feels real good when the words flow. My mind is with her and my Dad who is battling hard and courageous but the latest news concerning blood transfusions and bone marrow concerns which is what I have dealt with in my own fight with Leukemia. My Dad served in post war Japan after the atom bombs changed the playing field and I wonder if his life and mine are intertwined with the radiation he was exposed to in 1945....

I was sitting in the back seat of my parent's van and I had just told them I had Leukemia and it was Jan of 03. My Mom was crying and my Dad was trying hard not to. He said something I will always remember. "A father isn't supposed to bury his son". I have to tell you, it is no easier the other way. I balance my emotions like a one handed juggler wondering just where I should be. Lately, I seem to want to be somewhere else then where I am....

Have a great weekend and I'll see ya soon from the windy city and Motown won't be far behind. I've talked Janet into taking the grand tour of Michigan in September to see the 'Big Mac' and Autumn in its glory. I try to stay in the day and enjoy it for what it is. Not the mistakes of yesterday nor the fears of next week but the thanks for all I have today..

Smiles and prayers for all in Minnesota.....Easy

Easy told Pete to take the 410 and circle the hill and come up the back side and meet him at the top. Easy would be the decoy and Pete would be the trap. It was a sound plan. It was fitting as Easy was the peace keeper and Pete was the muscle. It was slow going and when Easy got to the top he called out to anyone ho might be listening, "I know your out there. Come on out. Lets talk".....

Hiding behind a tree, Delbert wondered who this fool was and said to Billy Bob, "Who is that fool? This is going to be easy". At least they got his name right and Billy Bob said he was goping to circle around behind him while Delbert would go out and meet the idiot. Idiot is a relative term when it comes to being smart. Delbert nervously walked out from behind the tree and said, "Hello friend. I'm lost and I saw the cabin. I'm wondering if you can help me?" Before Easy could answer they saw Billy Bob coming out of the brush and he was followed by Pete who had the 410 lined up on his back. They all met in a clearing and it was time to sort out who was who. They all could hear dogs barking in the background and it was close. The four stared at each other and Easy asked who they were and what were they doing out here? Delbert was about to tell him a lie when they heard......

"Everybody freeze"....

It came from a bull horn and a few seconds later a posse of cops came out of the woods and all that was missing was that bugle you always heard in the cowboy movies. Right out in front was Bert the cop with his Glock at the ready. In his glory I might add. Behind him was a black Terrier with a long face and a special sniffer. You could hardly see his little feet in the tall grass. His tail was wagging and his ears were up. Pete laid the 410 softly on the ground and it would later be tagged as evidence for the second time in its life. Billy Bob put his his hands up and behind his head and said, "I'm going to jail". Delbert made a mad dash into the pines and was tackled neatly by a state cop who had been a linebacker in college. No gain....

It was over and there were more questions then answers and it took a whole bunch of expaining to sort it all out and 10 cops listened to it intently and then handcuffed the perps who begged for some Avon Skin So Soft and a whopper deluxe with extra salt. They were given some bottled water which they were thankful for. The remains of Smudge and Arne were found and put in body bags and they didn't need two for all that was left. The mystery had been solved in a circular kind of way. Those that were lost had now been found and some just get lost and go to jail....

Easy and Pete followed Bert out of the badlands and this time Pete wasn't blind folded and you will have to read my book to figure that one out. They turned off at Easy's camp on Bockers Lake and they sat in the truck for a minute taking it all in. Pete said. "We have to quit getting lost, Easy". Easy grinned and said, "No way man. Smudges family found out what happened to him and that's a good thing. Besides, that was one great adventure".......

Delbert and Billy Bob were lost too.They were petty criminals who had stolen a car near the Mackinac Bridge and drove it west on US 2 until it hit a tree in the east end of the badlands. They came away with bumps and bruises and after hearing sirens in the distance, they took off on foot into the woods. Since then, they had gone in circles all day but they didn't think or know so. Around here you had to get in line to get lost and go in circles.The state police was close behind because the disabled Cadillac had one of those onstar things. For the boys on the run, the mosquitos were killers, they were hungry, tired and they wanted out. They were taking a break at the top of a hill complaining that if it wasn't for bad luck they wouldn't have any. Criminals say that alot. Delbert turned to Billy Bob and said, "Well. Lookie there. Is that a pick up truck Bee?" It was allright and the boys smiled for the first time since the Cadillac had fired up in the parking lot of McDonalds. Their luck had just changed. All they needed was a plan. Everyone thinks their plan is the best but most times isn't. This plan was to sneak up on the camp at night and find out who was down there and then to steal the truck. It was a sound plan but they forgot how hard it was to walk down a hill at night. It isn't easy to do in the the day time. Anyone knew that. They set off down the hill just before dawn....

They didn't get far on their knees clutching pine tree limbs to keep from sliding all the way down the hill when Delbert grabbed a dead log that was really a decomposed dead arm. When he realized what it was he flat out fainted. He lay face down still clutching the stump and when Billy Bob realized what had happened, he let out a half stifled scream, put his hand over his mouth and sat down next to Delbert who was now waking up. Billy Bob let go of the arm just as dawn was breaking and just off to the right was the skull from the arm. Delbert saw it too and couldn't look, trurned the other way only to see another skull laying in the grass. Book end skulls. Oh my. They retreated back up the hill post haste wondering if their luck would ever change and to come with a new plan. Criminals go through many plans trying to find a good one and never do. Meanwhile, the state police were following with Terrier sniffing but not to be stifled dogs who only had one plan. Follow the scent.....

Just before dawn, Easy came out of the cabin down the hill and was sure that he could hear voices. Maybe a scream. He stood in the yard and looked up the hill behind the cabin. It was as quiet as a silencer. A million stars were in the sky and Easy never tired of staring up at the stark beauty of it. Up there was heaven and he could almost see it and even feel it. He preferred this to any book signing or front page story. He thought the simple life was the best and grinned about him and Pete getting lost again. He wondered if they were the only ones who got lost. He wondered if he had been hearing things. He didn't think so. His gut told him to be ready for anything and anything was just up the hill wondering why they had found a cemetary in the middle of nowhere. The fun was just beginning......





Arne set up on the bluff before dawn and when Smudge came outside and walked to the outhouse, Arne bellowed to him, "Smudge. I'm up here. Come on up if you have the nerve. I have something for you". His voice echoed loudly and the game was on. ""Sure Arne. I do and I'm coming" and Smudge stealthly disappeared into the woods. Arne's plan was obvious, take him out the first chance he had. It wasn't a very good plan. He sat behind a fallen pine tree, even had a mound for him to sit on plus it kept him from falling down the hill. It was a lousy spot for someone to die. Arne didn't plan very well and after he waited awhile and didn't even hear a bird tweet, he began to worry. Hmmm. Where is he?

Smudge was right behind about 20 feet away watching Arne figit. Not the best thing to be when it is him or you. Smudge was methodical, realxed and finding him was easy but that over/under shotgun scared him like it should any man. His plan was to try to talk Arne out of this high noon nonsence and lay down the gun and talk. Smudge was a reasonable, decent man who detested killing but had venison in the freezer. He stood up and said, "Here I am, Arne. Lets talk this out like two grown men, eh?" As Arne turned and swung his shotgun around a mosquito landed on Smudges nose and distracted him just enough skip his last heart beat. Arne pulled the trigger a half second before Smudge followed and the sounds were like thunder, littered the brush with gunpowder and then it was real quiet. It was over and there was no winner. Two miles away campers heard the booms and LL Bean said to Barbie, "Someone's having target practice" and they smiled to each other and went back to breaking down the tent and moving along. He is now a Kirby salesman and she has cancer of the face from too much sun.....

Easy brought Pete's 410 in from the truck and sat it on the table. He had picked a few shells from behind the seat and said to Pete as one rolled on the table. "Is this all the shells you got?" Pete looked surprised, "I only need one". Easy explained that he felt like someone was watching them and was sure he heard talking last night. "I think we should take a walk up that hill". Pete thought it would be tough with his ankle but said, "I'm with ya, bud". As they passed the outhouse they heard barking dogs and Easy thought it odd.........

Delbert and Billy Bob were lost too.They were petty criminals who had stolen a car near the Mackinac Bridge and drove it west on US 2 until it hit a tree in the east end of the badlands. They came away with bumps and bruises and after hearing sirens in the distance, they took off on foot into the woods. Since then, they had gone in circles all day but they didn't think or know so. Around here you had to get in line to get lost and go in circles.The state police was close behind because the disabled Cadillac had one of those onstar things. For the boys on the run, the mosquitos were killers, they were hungry, tired and they wanted out. They were taking a break at the top of a hill complaining that if it wasn't for bad luck they wouldn't have any. Criminals say that alot. Delbert turned to Billy Bob and said, "Well. Lookie there. Is that a pick up truck Bee?" It was allright and the boys smiled for the first time since the Cadillac had fired up in the parking lot of McDonalds. Their luck had just changed. All they needed was a plan. Everyone thinks their plan is the best but most times isn't. This plan was to sneak up on the camp at night and find out who was down there and then to steal the truck. It was a sound plan but they forgot how hard it was to walk down a hill at night. It isn't easy to do in the the day time. Anyone knew that. They set off down the hill just before dawn....

They didn't get far on their knees clutching pine tree limbs to keep from sliding all the way down the hill when Delbert grabbed a dead log that was really a decomposed dead arm. When he realized what it was he flat out fainted. He lay face down still clutching the stump and when Billy Bob realized what had happened, he let out a half stifled scream, put his hand over his mouth and sat down next to Delbert who was now waking up. He let go of the arm just as dawn was breaking and just off to the right was the skull from the arm. Delbert saw it too and couldn't look, trurned the other way only to see another skull laying in the grass. Book end skulls. Oh my. They retreated back up the hill post haste wondering if their luck would ever change and to come with a new plan. Criminals go through many plans trying to find a good one and never do. Meanwhile, the state police were following with Terrier sniffing but not to be stifled dogs who only had one plan. Follow the scent.....

Just before dawn, Easy came out of the cabin down the hill and was sure that he could hear voices. Maybe a scream. He stood in the yard and looked up the hill behind the cabin. It was as quiet as a silencer. A million stars were in the sky and Easy never tired of staring up at the stark beauty of it. Up there was heaven and he could almost see it and even feel it. He preferred this to any book signing or front page story. He thought the simple life was the best and grinned about him and Pete getting lost again. He wondered if they were the only ones who got lost. He wondered if he had been hearing things. He didn't think so. His gut told him to be ready for anything and anything was just up the hill wondering why they had found a cemetary in the middle of nowhere. The fun was just beginning......

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