Another milestone for Mason.......

Recently, I blogged about my introduction to James Bond some fifty

years ago through the movie, "Goldfinger".

Today, I introduced my 7 year old grandson to 007.

"Goldfinger" was coming on one of the cable channels, and I thought

I would just let it play and see what happened.

Mason was riveted.

"Is he a good guy or a bad guy?" was the repeated question as if

on a playback loop upon the introduction of every new character.

When Oddjob demonstrated his skill with his flying hat, Mason blurted,

"That was very impressive!!!"...

But Bond's car sealed the deal.  Rotating license plates, machine guns,

smoke generator and an EJECTOR SEAT!!!...

When Bond put it to good use on one of the bad guys, Mason shrieked

with delight.  He wanted to know if I could have one installed in my car.

"Don't think I haven't thought of it, Mason..."

He didn't understand any of the sexy stuff. (At least I don't think he did..)

Tonight, as we tucked him in, I said, "Mason, I've had a great day with you.

We had fun at the pool, you made me laugh and I really enjoyed watching

the movie with you..."

He looked up at me with those big blue eyes and replied,

"I think it's so neat that I saw my first Bond movie..."

And there's somethin' in my eye....

Does the name "Pavlov" ring a bell???......

You know, the guy who did experiments where he would ring a bell when

he fed dogs...The dogs would drool over the food. Soon, the dogs associated

the bell with the food and would drool just at the sound of the bell...

"Conditioned reflex" it's called.

Marianne has taught Foxy Roxy to nuzzle a bell hangin' from our front and

back door knobs to let us know when she wants to go outside.

Sophie can't figure it out. Not the brightest bulb.

Instead, she will just stand in front of me. And stare.

I know to let her out. Simple.

Foxy Roxy will bring me a ball. And stare.

I know she wants me to throw the ball for her and we go outside.

When they are outside, a single bark let's me know that

they want in...

Foxy Roxy and Sophie are easy to train.

DING!!!

And apparently so am I......

Now if I could just stop droolin'...

Creature of habits......................

We all are, I suppose...  We have our little ways of doin' things.

Before I go to bed at night, I set up the coffee maker for in the morning,

so that it'll be ready to brew at the touch of the button as I walked by on

the way to let the dogs out. I also savor a teaspoon of peanut butter.

And once I get into bed, and am ready to fall asleep, I position myself

on my back, legs straight with toes up, and my hands folded across my chest.

This used to freak Marianne out a bit because it's tad too "casket ready"...

I also habitually carry things with me during the day. As a fan of CBS' hit show,

"N.C.I.S.", I'm well aware of Leroy Jethro Gibbs Rule #9..."Always carry a knife..."

So I usually carry a small folder with me in case I'm attacked by an emergency letter

 or package, or in case I've got a random thread hangin' from one of my 20 year old

shirts...And I feel absolutely naked without a pen.

I think this was caused by my stint as a bank teller during my summer

between high school and college. Several times a day, customers would ask to

borrow a pen. I'd oblige. And they NEVER gave it back. I'm quite picky

and protective of my pens.

Some things ingrained in me since I was 9 years old.

My third grade teacher, Mrs. Russell, began every morning with an inspection

of sorts. I don't remember to what standard the girls were held, but for the boys,

we had to have a clean handkerchief, clean fingernails and a comb.  Well, I didn't

really have any fingernails as a nervy little boy, and my hair was cut in a very close

crewcut, but I passed muster with a clean hanky everyday.

I've grown up a bit and now can produce clean fingernails.

I still have no use for a comb.

I ALWAYS carry a clean hanky.

And if you need to borrow my pen? No problem.

Don't wanna give it back?

Remember: I have a knife.  ;-)

The classic dilemma......

I had a lot of dilemmas growin' up...

My parents always bought "Neopolitan" ice cream. Chocolate, Vanilla and

Strawberry all in the same container. Not a total dilemma for me.

Chocolate all the way.

Black and white television of the 60's fueled the most internal debates.

Laura Petrie or Samantha Stevens?

Bobbie Jo, Billie Jo or Betty Jo?

Ellie Mae Clampett or Wrangler Jane?

But, by far, the classic dilemma for me and millions of boys like me was...

Ginger or Mary Ann???

One tall and beautiful. One short and super cute. Both WAY overpack

for a three hour cruise.

At first, it was Ginger.

But, there was somethin' about Mary Ann.

Sweet. Unpretentious. And made a mean coconut cream pie.

I decided (at around 11 years old) that Ginger would be a fun date.

But, Mary Ann was a long term deal.

Adult men still have this debate, by the way.

If you doubt me, throw it out for discussion at your next get together...

I've interviewed Dawn Wells several times. By phone, unfortunately.

I thanked her for drop kickin' me through the goalposts of puberty.

It was meant as a compliment, and I think she took it that way.

Goin' crazy with colors......

"The new LL Bean catalog is here!!!  The new LL Bean catalog is here!!!"

Well, maybe I wasn't quite THAT excited, but I enjoy perusing the pages.

Something on the "Footwear" pages caught my eye.

The color choices for a pair of hiking boots I liked were...

Black. Autobahn. Detroit.

Huh?

Autobahn and Detroit are colors???

I had to know, you know?

So, I did the only logical thing.

I called their customer service.

A very friendly lady named Brenda fielded my call.

"Brenda, what color is Autobahn? What color is Detroit?"

As any reasonable human being would do, she LAUGHED.

"Please hold on a minute sir. I want to find that out myself."

After a few seconds, I was speaking with a product expert named Liddy.

She charmingly explained to me that "Detroit" is a light gray, and "Autobahn"

is a dark gray.

Can you imagine that call in reverse?

"What color is dark gray?" "AUTOBAHN!!!"

Anyway, the ladies on the phone were great and lived up to the stellar service

that LL Bean is known for...

But, can't we just keep things simple?

It's all about marketing, I suppose...

But, I do have to wonder.

Would every female I know have been all abuzz about a book entitled,

"Fifty Shades Of Detroit"???

Memorial Day 2014

I don't remember the gentleman's name...

He was one of almost 100 WWII veterans that left Raleigh-Durham Airport

early one morning a couple years ago...

I was humbled to be in their presence for the Triangle Flight Of Honor.

A day in our nation's capital, including a visit to the WWII Memorial.

His escort had stepped away briefly.

I captured the moment.

I wondered, "What is he thinking? What is he seeing in his mind's eye?

What is he smelling, hearing and feeling?"

I imagined he had gone back in time. Perhaps to a firefight at The Bulge.

Maybe to a pitch black jump over Normandy.

 Or the steaming jungles of the Pacific.

I had an overwhelming sense that was recalling his teammates.

His friends. His brothers-in-arms.

The ones that didn't make it back.

His heroes...

I may not remember his name...

But I will always remember this image.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends..."

John 15:13

 

Lincoln's letter to Mrs. Bixby.........

On this Memorial Day weekend, I thought I'd share this letter that I first learned

about in the movie, "Saving Private Ryan"....

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

On this Memorial Day, let us honor the memory of all who have paid the ultimate

price in the service of our Nation, and remember the loved ones they left behind.