Cemetery Tale

Bridget and I lived in Louisville during her earliest years. Money was very tight. As in nonexistent. It was necessary to be creative when it came to taking Bridget on outings around the Derby City. We lived in an area called The Highlands. Among many things, the Highlands is noted for its abundance of and varied parks. Bridget loved nothing better than to be strapped into her baby stroller and off we would go!

On the edge of The Highlands is the most magnificent cemetery imaginable, Cave Hill. In the center is the famous duck pond complete with a Fleur-de-lis fountain. These ducks are among the best fed ducks in the world. It is not unusual to see 25 people standing along the banks trying to lure the indifferent ducks and swans to swim to the edge! Trying to enticed them with the best crackers and freshest bread on the bank!

One winter day when Bridget was around two, I bundled her up in her thick snow pants, heavy duty sweat shirt, mittens, boots and winter coat and knitted fuzzy ball hat and headed to the duck pond. I parked on the other side of the pond than usual. I took Bridget out of the back seat, handed her a mitten full of crackers and then turned to close the car door.

Bridget began to walk down the soft incline towards the ducks when her little snow pant clad legs began to pick up speed. I turned just in time to realize she was out of control! I took off after her! Horror of horrors! As in slow motion I still see it in my mind! Me running down the hill, Bridget with her little hand out outstretched to the ducks with the crackers held tight.  Right over the lip of the pond and straight into the duck lake! I panicked thinking she would go in over her head!

Only a big SPLASH! I will never forget Bridget's little surprised face as she landed in murky green duck water up to her waist! Yuck! I yanked her out and we waddled back up the hill to the car. I was laughing hysterically, one of those giddy moments Mothers sometimes have.

She claims she still remembers that day. Maybe she does! All I know is that it did not dampen our affection for the ducks, the pond and the most beautiful cemetery in Kentucky.   I love cemeteries.  The peace and the beauty.  I could not wait for the leaves to change to a more dramatic display in the Lexington Cemetery....the sun was so beautifulyesterday.  She does look lost, doesn't she?

 

What's old is new again

I woke up late. That was the first indication that this was going to be a great day! Usually my internal alarm clock has me stirring around....well, way too early. I had many plans for today. I decided to blow them all off!

I began by going to an art exhibit at the Lexington Cemetery. Absolutely delightful. When the leaves begin their dramatic picturesque change, I will return to the cemetery and dazzle you all with the beauty of the arboretum.

I then meandered downtown and strolled around the streets with my camera. The downtown area was the heart of this city and in some respects, it still is. Today I pretended I was a stranger to Lexington. I tried to look at the familiar with a foreign eye. It was fun. I felt like a tourist! And I imagine I looked like one snapping pictures of anything and everything.

The trees that lined Main Street have been removed. I have no idea why this happened. The beauty of the area has been marred. It is as if a beautiful woman has been stripped of her petticoats! I know that seems an archaic expression, but description of this atrocity is beyond words.

The only good thing that has occurred from this abomination is that the architecture of the old building has been revealed! When something so outrageous as this occurs, I have to look for the good.
   

That's what I'm talking about!

TOBACCO FIELD SEEN FROM US 62 IN HARRISON CO., KY

MORALS????????????

Yesterday I lost $11. Don't know how....could be in a variety of places. Either left in the money return slot at Walmart, or maybe just dropped on the way to the customer service counter. Heck, I could have even left it at my Mom's. Anyway, it's gone. I hate to loose money. I'd rather give it away than have it blow away.

Which leds me to this...Joe and loosing money. Should I write about it? Should I use some of the crazy stories of the situations that he finds himself in? I would love to and I always have great fun when I write about them to my girlfriend, Deb. He does not like it! And if the shoe were on the other foot, maybe I would feel the same way.

If I were to share some of these zany stories, I'm sure everybody would love it! I do not want to exploit him. (dang it!!!) I do not want to follow him around with a camera and a notebook. I already do with a camera (document for future use). I just don't think he could handle it, the notoriety or celebrity. You all have no idea the amount of material that he hands over to me freely every day...Just being Joe.

Darn my integrity!

 

Beautiful and Deadly

TOBACCO AND FARM BOYS  

While traveling around the beautiful country side last week I noticed the breathtaking golden yellow of the burley tobacco fields. This crop is gorgeous when it is ready for harvest.  Postage stamp acres of vivid colors along side the roads.

I come from a rural community where school could not start until after the season. If you tried to get the kids into class any earlier, you were wasting your time. They were needed at home to cut and house the tobacco, which is accomplished typically end of August till mid-September. When I was young, the kids from the farms all participated in the growing and selling of tobacco...(pronounced tobacca)...and the profits! I was astonished to hear that so and so had made a thousand dollars! He was all of 14! It is hard, back breaking, dirty work any age.

Tobacco is not profitable anymore. The government pays the farmers not to grow it! Those postage stamp fields that dot the countryside are smaller and smaller and more spread out. Efforts have been made to introduce replacement crops such as fruits and more vegetables. Wineries have become very vogue in central Kentucky. Can you think of anything better than your own personal winery?

When I see these tobacco fields my thought wander back to those days and those times that included the farm boys of my youth. The old Ford trucks they drove with the rusted out beds and dented sides. Pitch fork and brooms proudly displayed behind the cab in those little holes. White t-shirts and brown skin. The smell of sweat, bourbon and cigarette smoke.

To this day, when I smell bourbon  I find it terribly erotic.

 

Autumn and Apples in Kentucky

BY REQUEST    PICTURE FOR JUDI

IT JUST GETS BETTER

I came home for the emergency!  I had to get on the computer and set up his Pay Pal account for transfer of funds!

Wake Up Call

When I married I assumed that I would be receiving some fairly significant perks. Perks? What perks? I am experiencing cultural shock. The culture of being a WOMAN in a marriage. Not only am I poorer and broke  several days before payday, but I have transformed into a maid!

Take today, the first thing I did was to go to the Post Office and mail a box for him. He has made his first sale on E-Bay. Thanks to me setting up the account for him, inserting the picture after I scanned the document for him, set up pay pal for him...now I am mailing the sold item for him! Hell,   I am such a silly because I will not receive one red cent of the profit! As a matter of fact, it cost me money to sell his stuff! Agggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I should have seen this coming. But, I was blinded by love and my desire to be married. After all, this is my first time and I had no idea what I was missing. I was like a kid with my face pressed up against the glass candy counter. I only saw the good stuff. I knew bad stuff existed, I knew that sacrifice existed, but I ignored it in pursuit of my happiness.

I am now the Cook, the Maid, the Financial Officer, the Travel Agent, the Entertainment Committee, the Chauffeur, the Gardner, (than God I am not the Grounds Keeper), in charge of all Shopping, and the Miscellaneous Gopher.

How did this happen!!!!!

I love Joe and I love being married. I just wish I had gotten a Wife too.