NEW SERIES STARTING---LETTERS TO EDITOR

Over the years, I have sent many letters to the editors of several newspapers. This is the first of many that I'll be posting:

                                      Reverse Political Alchemy

In the Middle Ages, alchemists vainly sought to turn lead into gold. Today, in my opinion, socialist alchemists are vigorously attempting to turn our Representative Republic (gold) into Utopian Socialism (lead).The names of the new champions for a government-commanded economy are well known; consequently, this letter focuses upon the “Why Now?”

1.     The American public has been bludgeoned into near unconsciousness by daily accounts of Special Counsels, North Korea, Russia, Iran, Tariffs, Border Security, Fake News, November Elections and a multitude of other lead stories. As a result, the startling rise of socialist activity fails to move the public attention needle.

2.     Another benefit of socialists hiding in the weeds of public indifference is the historic failures of socialism that somehow is conveniently omitted from the discussion.

3.     While President Trump has many economic and international achievements to herald, he continually diverts the political radar sensitivity of Republicans that support him and Democrats that want to impeach him. These “neutered” professional political gurus have neither strength nor resolve to confront and counter the fast-growing dangers of the socialist agenda.

4.     Social media and the atrophied legacy media are fertile soil to sow the socialist dogma. While it is an unfair stretch to suggest the media is pro socialist, it is certain socialist headlines trump (pun intended) the bleeding away of advertisers and readers/viewers.

5.     Free Medical Care, Free University Education, and Free Housing resonant with younger voters raised on the Pablum of entitlement. Socialism to these voters is an adult “binky” that just keeps on giving.  Socialism has immediate appeal to those who lack a strong work ethic, understanding of American history and a desire to make the future better for their children.  Socialists smoothly veneer the cold hard truth----in life, there are really no free pizzas! 

6.     Socialists are always primed for the K.O. punch to their position: “Sure, it hasn’t worked anywhere else; but this is America, we are smarter, richer, and better educated than those other socialists, and besides, we are really just Socialist Democrats. Who can be against poor people, old people, and children?” Fear and emotional appeal are options the socialists use for both offense and defense.

Perhaps the late “Iron Lady”, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher uttered the single best line against socialism, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.”

Glenn <><

ONCE MORE MY FRIEND ASKS.....

I COULDN'T REFUSE HIS REQUEST. SO......

"Please ask that special someone to just remember me----that's all!"

OK......I'VE DONE MY JOB. NOW BACK TO MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED BLOG ALREADY IN PROGRESS.

GLENN <><

WELCOME NEW BLOG VISITORS.....

I provided the following to our 2018 PCHS Alumni Meeting. Most of those attending are over 70 years of age. This seems appropriate:

COULD IT BE YOU……..

1.   Attend so many funerals, the funeral homes award you frequent viewer miles?

2.   Have more doctor appointments on your calendar than all of the family birthdays and holidays combined?

3.   Know more first names of Walmart associates than the names of your neighbors?

4.   Purchase each year more Christmas gift cards than actual presents?

5.   Know the title(s) to your car(s) is in the house somewhere, but where?

6.   Watch more Old Western reruns than modern Sitcoms?

7.   Have worn out a couple of pair of good scissors cutting open packaging that Houdini couldn’t get into?

8.   Think students in High School lie about their age, they look more like new Jr. High students?

9.   Have difficulty understanding teenager’s language, music, dress and cell phone addiction?

10.    Need to improve relationships with some family members and Almighty God?

       To paraphrase Willie Nelson, “PCHS you are on my mind”

               Glenn <><  Class of 1959---email: ke5gk@sbcglobal.net

Roy and Joni (Concluding Chapter)

                                           Roy and Joni –Concluding Chapter

                                                      (Please read previous chapters)

Roy was upset at Larry for not coming clean with him about the awful Joni incident.

Joni was angry at Larry for his failure to express genuine regret and sorrow for the way he treated her.

Larry was very upset at Joni for not accepting his lukewarm apology. After all, she was in on the initial planning of their cancelled motel evening of bliss.

This trio of angry and upset former close friends simmered and stewed for a couple of weeks. Roy took the lead in an attempt to break the log jam of hurt feelings.

“Larry, how long have we been best friends?”

“A long, long time. Why do you asked?”

“Close friends tell the truth to each other. The truth is, Joni shared every detail about the planned motel escapade that went astray”. 

“Hey man, it was her idea too. And besides that, I told her I was sorry.

”Larry, I don’t think she believes your sincerity.”

“What then am I supposed to do?”

“We are not school yard kids anymore. We are young adults that need to own up to our mistakes.”

“Roy, I did a real stupid thing when she pulled the plug on our motel romp. I am  really, really sorry.”

“As your best friend, I urge you to tell that, exactly like that to Joni. Use the same honesty with her as you have with me. She’ll be able to sense the difference.”

“I’ll pray for guts to do that.”

“Larry, I’ll be praying for both of you.”

Larry did follow through and Joni was somewhat reluctant to accept his new apology; however, a few days afterwards, she called him and accepted his truthful apology.

Over the months, Roy and Joni’s relation grew and strengthened. Until one summer night, as they were parked at the bottom of her drive way, Roy asked the love of his life to marry him.

Her immediate and jubilant answer was “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Roy gave her the biggest kiss ever. And he said, “I guess I need to ask your mother if she will give us her blessings.”

Joni’s mother was happy for them and happy she would be gaining another bedroom and freer access to her bathroom.

Larry was Roy’s best man and paid for three nights at Branson, MO. Joni’s mother made the down payment on a new car for the newlyweds. Roy’s mother and father gave them the keys to a new double-wide mobile home and 20 acres to put it on. A pickup truck full of wedding gifts was unloaded at Roy’s parent's house.

As the smiling couple cut the wedding cake, Joni said to her husband of less than an hour, “I’ll always love you my Country Bumpkin.”

“And I’ll always love you my city girl.”

Glenn <><

Just West of yesterday

Tom and Huck Never Had It So Good

ONE MORE INTERRUPTION BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THE                                        STORY OF ROY AND JONI

                       Tom and Huck Never Had It So Good

This letter (Sent to North Vernon, IN Letters to Editor at Plain Dealer-Sun) has a rather long preamble and a clarion call for continued action. 

There are 22 creeks in Jennings County (according to Bridgehunter.com); however, there is only one that nurtured me to adulthood---Graham Creek. Only a handful of surviving close friends and family understand my historical and emotional attachment to this distant tributary of the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1948, my folks were part of the exodus from Kentucky to Indiana. From age 6 until I left home for an Air Force career at age 21, the Graham Creek and immediate environs, were part and particle of who I was and what I would become. My cousins, my brother and I were founding members of the Graham Creek College of Advanced Piscatorial Studies. If it swam, we caught it. We gigged suckers, seined for minnows and crawdads, broke open muscle shells for bait, and had secret names for our best fishing spots: The riffles, the rocks, and the roots. Interestingly, our biggest challenge was getting fishing hooks. Sure, we did the ubiquitous safety pin routine and I developed a decent skill at fashioning a hook from a paperclip. A small box of 10 hooks cost 12 cents and that was eye-watering finance for young farm boys. A couple of events I clearly recall:

When I was 12, I knew of President Eisenhower's love for fly fishing (I later learned Camp David was created for him in the Maryland mountains for him to trout fish) and I would day dream of finding Ike fishing alone on the Graham Creek and he asking me to fish with him. My biggest concern was how could I ever get the dirt, blisters, and brier scratches off to be clean enough for the president. My only imagined solution was for my mother to simply remove my top layer of skin!

A few years later, I went to the area we called the rocks and there were a half dozen gents surrounding a honey hole of rock bass (aka goggle eye) and the strongest fish on earth—smallmouth bass. An older fellow in overalls was standing on the bank with a cane pole and a small rubber spider attached to his line. The other fisherman were wading, using closed face spinning reels and having little or no luck. The “Spiderman” was catching fish on almost every cast. He was very loud in his celebration of his fishing skills.

Two or three weeks later I returned to this can't miss fishing spot. The same guys were fishing, minus the “Spiderman.” One of the men said to another, “You know if we will be real quiet, we just might hear (name withheld) down there in Texas where he is visiting some kinfolks!”

As I daily feel the increasingly moist wind from River Jordan, I have some concerns about the future of Graham Creek for coming generations. Specifically:

1. The continued preservation of the James Covered Bridge over the Graham Creek. I am over 800 miles away, out on the southern Great Plains; consequently, I do not know of the current efforts underway to continue to save this treasured bridge. I do know the late Mary Ann Keller and her brother Bobby Keller were the champions who turned back a major assault from bright young road planners and the mega farmers who own large heavy equipment. I say to all in the current vanguard, 'Do not grow weary in well-doing.' Save Our Bridge!
2.  Several years ago when I purchased an out-of-state Indiana fishing license, I noted the warnings in the book of regulations against eating fish from Graham Creek that were contaminated from herbicide and fertilizer runoff. Hopefully, this is no longer the situation; however, if it is still going on, clean water advocates expand your base of support, find some pro bono environmental lawyers and use every print, broadcast and social media outlet to make the case for the preservation of our precious waterways. To see the scope of the situation impacting our streams in Jennings County, go to the Google Maps satellite view of the fields near the Graham Creek and you will discover, acre after acre after acre of land planted in what looks like corn.
3. It is on Google maps that I found the Graham Creek miss-identified as the Muscatatuck River. The Muscatatuck River is indeed in Jennings County; however, it is not the Graham Creek. I call upon conservationist groups, computer geeks, and concerned citizens to please voice your concern to Google. It is never too late to correct a needless error. There is only one stream in Jennings County that flows through my life, and it is Graham Creek.

I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to fish in lakes and streams in Alaska and Canada and 15 other states, in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But only one small, sometimes flooded, sometimes almost dry, sometimes covered with leaves, sometimes frozen over, sometimes muddy, and sometimes almost clear stream in Jennings County, Indiana called Graham Creek,that forged and molded my memory of a real childhood that Mark Twain could never create for Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn.

Glenn <><

Just West of Yesterday

Roy and Joni (Chapter 16)

                                           (Please read previous chapters first)

Sometimes the fear of the answers prevents asking the right people the right questions. Such was the case while Larry pondered calling Joni to find out what she had told Roy about their relationship that ended with heartache on both sides.

For Larry, there was the regret he had placed himself and Joni in such a horrible situation at the motel. He knew what the two of them had agreed to was wrong and he was ashamed of his childish behavior he displayed when Joni had the courage and moral sense to say No. He also had much fear about what she might have told Roy about the two of them. He was fearful too of how his relationship with Roy might be permanently damaged.  He remembered what his grandpa often said, “Two wrongs never made a right.” After several hours of unease, he called Joni because Roy had not sufficiently answered his admittedly prying questions.

Finally, he called Joni. After the predictable pleasantries, Larry started his questioning.

“Joni, Roy told me you had mentioned to him we had once dated.”

“Yes, I did. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I was just curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“You know, how we got along and stuff like that.”

“Larry, it is very impolite and most dishonest to play mind games. What do you really want to know?”

“Joni, did you tell him about our motel incident?”

“Larry, it is none of your business if I did or didn’t.”

“Joni, I told you I was sorry about that.

“I sure do not remember anything other than you saying you wished the whole sad event hadn’t happened. I did not hear much sorrow or regret in that. I was wrong to even agree to go with you knowing what was planned. And you sure were wrong in calling me names that hurt me, hurt me real bad. And if that was not enough, you would not lend me the money to get a separate room which made me spend a night in the same room with you. “

“Joni…I’m…”

With voice breaking and sobbing just a couple of seconds away, Joni spoke very loudly, “Mr. Larry, you shouldn’t worry about what I may have told Roy as much as you should worry about what you never told me!” 

“Joni…” The phone went dead.

Larry thought to himself how he really messed that call up. But he also knew, for the very first time, he had not ever really been sorry for the way he had treated Joni.

                                       To be continued……

Roy and Joni (Chapter 15)

                                              (Please previous chapters first)

 

While Roy’s Sunday was filled with poetry, Larry’s was filled with panic.

 

“I wonder what Joni may have told Roy about our motel saga?”

 

Larry soon started to rationalize in high gear: “That was some time ago---I was young and foolish—I was letting hormones rule my brain---Besides she initially agreed to do it---I had already paid for the motel room---Joni is messed up because of the wild life of her crazy mother---Any boy would get mad if a girl changed her mind at the last minute---Maybe she didn’t tell Roy all of the details---Maybe I am just letting my mind get out of control---After all, I did sorta tell her I was sorry, sorta. I did call her and read Roy’s “Love at first sight letter.””

 

It is strange how the mind works. Larry suddenly decided he needed to take a Sunday afternoon nap, only his parents did stuff like that. When he awoke, he stopped making excuses and started to think of how to make his guilt and shame go away. This not knowing was driving him nuts.

 

“I guess  I could just tell Roy the whole story.Or maybe I should just nibble around the edges and stop when Roy has heard enough. Maybe I shouldn’t mention it unless Roy brings it up.”

 

Meanwhile, back on the Wilson farm, Roy had the strongest of desires to just hold Joni and he also wanted to have his friend Larry do some confessing.

 

Roy went to Sunday evening services with his family per normal; however, Larry did not come. Roy had no way of knowing that at the start of Sunday night worship, Larry was on the telephone talking to Joni.

 

                               To be continued…….

Roy and Joni (Chapter 14)

                                       Please read previous chapters first

Love can do strange things to a man. It can inspire ordinary men to do extraordinary feats. Roy, not known for poetry, book reports or FFA essays wrote the following Sunday afternoon after he came home from church:

                                            Captivating Beauty

                             (Written for Joni after our first date)

Her incomparable beauty redirected swarms of honey bees toward her

Forget ‘launching a thousand ships, her smile caused ten times that many to remain in port in  hopes of just getting a glimpse of her smile

Sun flowers preferred her radiance rather than timeless old Sol

Zephyrs and wisps serve as anointed messengers of her alluring scent

Teenage boys ceased dreaming of homers and touchdowns and wondered if she had any head-turning sisters at home

The faltering eyes of old men rapidly flipped old calendars when she passed

Moms worried their sons would think of her as an angel that fell from heaven

Her hypnotic beautiful essence made dictionaries and thesauruses obsolete

Greeks never met her yet fashioned her perfectly in smooth Aegean marble

Bible scholars reexamined re-incarnation when they saw her---Eve alive again

To see her arresting summation of all things perfect brought a serene peace

She was indeed the model of all things profoundly heart-stopping in the flesh

Some women start fights, her beauty sheathed the swords of all combatants

                                     ---An Unapologetic Smitten Roy Wilson

He read and re-read his poem about Joni. He said out loud, "Did I really write that?"

Now, he had to figure out the time and place to give it to the most wonderful woman in all of the world.

Roy and Joni (Chapter 13)

                               

Please Read Previous Chapters First (Especially Chapters 10, 11, &12

                Sharing a common stressful event serves to strengthen the bond between the participants. Not much was said on the way to Joni’s house. As the car stopped, Roy said, “Miss Joni, I sure would like to see you again next Friday night.”

               Joni immediately, with a joyful voice replied, “I’ll be ready and waiting Mr. Roy.”

               The good night kiss at the door was filled with an extra measure of tenderness and understanding. Their prolonged hug said what words and even kisses could not utter. The hug is the most underrated expression of human love. Roy and Joni both appreciated it---a whole lot.

               Driving home, Roy started thinking about his relationship with Larry. Should he stop talking to him? If Larry asked about Joni should he lie? What was the Christian way to handle this?

               On Saturday, Roy and his Dad had an extra-heavy duty amount of farm work that had to be done. After showering that late afternoon and eating his mother’s blue ribbon winning chicken and noodles he lay on his bed thinking of Joni and how he would respond to Larry. Just before the last sprinkle of sand from the man carrying a sack of it, he felt the best answer would be to see how Larry would approach him. Roy said a quick “Thank You Lord” for the answer and he feel asleep remembering a girl named Joni.

                The next morning, Roy rode with his family to church. Between the Sunday School and worship service, Larry placed an arm around Roy and asked in a low manly voice, “How was the date with Joni?”

                “Larry, it was great. Joni is a very special young woman.”

                “I agree Roy. I dated her for a while. Did you know that?”

                “Yes, she mentioned that."

                "What did she tell you about me?”

                Thankfully, the music for worship service started and Roy and Larry found their regular seats toward the back. After the morning worship, Larry suggested to Roy that they catch a sandwich and talk some more. Roy said, “No can do, Mom is cooking a big lunch and it is an all hands, make that mouths, on deck.”

                “One quick question Roy; are you going to go out with her again?”

                “Larry, yes sir: Same time, same girl and same station next Friday night.”

                 Roy left a somewhat puzzled Larry standing at the edge of the church parking lot.

                                                    To Be Continued…..

Roy and Joni (Chapter 12)

Please Read Previous Chapters First (Especially Chapter 10 & 11)

Sometimes eyes and touch are all the words that need be spoken. Roy and Joni clutched both their hands tightly together. Their eyes reflected the different types of pain---Joni for reliving the nightmare and Roy because of his hurt for Joni and his explosive anger toward Larry.

Roy broke his clasp of Joni’s hands to take a quick sip of root beer, “I am absolutely shocked that Larry would do that to you. That is not the Larry I’ve known for several years. But I know you are telling me the truth. Joni, I don’t think less of you; but I sure think a lot less of Larry.”

Roy stopped talking, took another long sip of his root beer, and restarted, “Joni, your story about the horrible time with Larry made me very, very mad, at Larry that is. I sensed in your voice and eyes it was difficult for you to revisit that painful part of your life. You may have felt like it scrapped the scab off of your emotional wound. I wonder how many couples with such a limited knowledge of each other could do what you did. “

“Thanks Roy, I sure needed to hear that from you.”

Roy sought to refocus Joni’s pain and his anger back to their date by shifting to a brief statement about his life.

“Joni,“Your courage inspires me to say some things about relationships in my life. Want to hear them?”

“Sure,” as she wiped her eyes with the “Drink Coca Cola napkin.

“As I told you, and you probably guessed, I am something of an amateur kisser. Is kisser really a word? I played Spin the Bottle at a birthday party when I was 16. One of the girls wanted me to stay with her in the hallway after our mandatory kiss was complete. I walked pretty fast back into the living room. Why are you smiling?

“I am smiling because of your innocence and open air honesty, that’s all.”

“If you thought that account was humorous, get a load of this.”

“My Senior Prom date was like somebody in the movies with a split personality. At school, on the way to the Prom, and while we were at the Prom, she was mild mannered and soft-spoken. Because the gravel road to her house was at the bottom of her front yard, we actually parked within maybe a hundred feet of her front door; however, because of the up and down landscape of her front yard, a car parked in front of her house could not be seen from the first floor of her house. When I turned the car off, she came at me like a tiger set free. She proceeded to put her hands on each side of my face and literally pull my head to her lips. She started kissing me like a long-lost rich uncle with a suitcase of money to save the family farm.”

“Roy, what happened next?”

“I finally broke her grasp on my head and got out of the car and walked her to the door and kissed her on the cheek, quickly said good night and drove home. How many seniors get home from their Senior Prom at 11:30pm? You are talking to one right now.”

Joni sought to lighten the conversation by saying, “You will probably hate me forever for this; but, I have to ask you a question. OK?”

“Go right ahead.”

Joni started to smile, then laugh, then laugh some more and finally with a straight face asked Roy, “Do you believe 7-Up is green?”

“Of course not!”

Before Roy continued, the full meaning of Joni’s question hit him head-on and at full speed. His face became very red and his cheeks felt like they did when he had the mumps.

Joni bowed her head and felt a shame that nearly produced tears. “Roy, I’m so, so sorry. Will you please, please forgive me?”

“Joni, I am just a plain vanilla country boy that has not had much experience with girls. You told me the truth about your painful experience with Larry and I told you the truth about my limited, maybe not so exciting, experience with girls.”

“Roy, what I said was mean and out of place. I would take it all back if I could. Are we still friends?”

“Joni, I would like to be more than just a friend. As a matter of fact, I am proud of my so-so dating track record,” referring again to his lack of experience with girls.

“Roy, I like you all the more because of it. What I’d give to have your record.”

“You really would?”

“Absolutely, cross my heart and hope to die if I’m lying.”

“I forgive you—sure—I forgive you. We need to start home.”

“OK, let’s go my very, very special friend,” as she firmly placed her arm under the elbow angle of the Roy’s arm.   

                                        To be continued…….

Roy and Joni (Chapter 11)

                      NOTICE: Mild Sexual Reference in This Chapter                       

                              Please Read Previous Chapters First

When their order came, Joni picked at her food and thought and rethought how to best tell some very personal and unpleasant things to Roy. Joni didn’t know exactly how to tell Roy about her painful past experiences. Besides, no one on the first date ever does that---but she felt she had to make sure Roy knew some very important things about her. She really liked this country bumpkin.

“Roy, I must tell you some things about my background and what I have experienced.”

“Sure, I’ll just be a good listener.”

Joni thought to herself how naive Roy was. He might stop her before she finished. He might just take her home and never date her again. He might do a lot of things; however, she felt compelled to tell him the truth.

“My mother is on husband number four and she has had more “uncles” spend a night or two with us than I care to remember. I don’t like the things my mother has done; but I still love her and guess I will always love her.”

“Joni, how does that affect us?”

“Well, most of the boys I grew up with knew about my home life and figured ‘like mother, like daughter’ and some tried to push me to do things I didn’t want to do.”

“What do mean Joni?”

“I have had many dates and a few of the boys wanted me to go all the way with them. I swear Roy I never did. I must be honest and tell you I was close, very close on one occasion. This is hard for me tell you about it and maybe even harder for you to hear.”

“I promise not to interrupt, go on Joni.”

“After high school, a very close classmate married and moved away and a year later had a baby and she invited me to come visit her and see her baby. I was dating a boy then who was more than just a friend. I thought I really loved him. Anyway, I told him about the trip and he and I cooked up a plan to make the trip a very, very special trip.”

“How?”

“I told my mother and he told his parents I would stay overnight at my classmate’s home and my boyfriend would stay at a nearby motel. It was a big lie. We planned to spend the night together at the motel. Please Roy, you’ve got to hear the rest.”

“Go on, I guess.”

“We stayed the afternoon at my friend’s home, had supper, and started for the motel he had earlier arranged while I went shopping for a baby gift with my friend. On the way to the motel, I just couldn’t go through with it and told my boyfriend I did not want to turn out like my mother. He became very mad and called me some very bad names. I asked him to loan me some money to rent a separate room because I had spent all of my money on a nice gift for the baby. He refused and said I could sleep in the car or in his motel room. It was very cold and I asked if his room had two beds. He said it did. Once in the room, he tried again to convince me to stick with our original plan. I refused. I slept in one of the beds by myself with my clothes on. He got super mad because I cried for a long, long time. The next morning we drove home without saying a word to each other. We never dated again.  Roy, I saved the worst for the last. Sure you want to hear it?”

“How could it be any worse? Go ahead.”

“The boyfriend was your close friend, Larry.”

Silence comes in various types and sizes. There is a temporary silence experienced by a child who discovers his favorite toy has been left in the backyard overnight and mom was certain to get mad. There is silence produced when a high school teenager is asked to name three of our country’s major Founders. There is special silence when a new father holds his infant son for the first time.

The silence that followed Joni’s painful account was filled with Roy’s non-verbal shock, anger and disbelief. Joni’s silence was a mixture of fear for what Roy might think and do; however, there was a certain relief because her emotional cyst had been finally lanced. She had never told anyone about her nightmare before tonight.

Roy started slowly shaking his head and opened his mouth and nothing came out. Joni grabbed his right hand and squeezed it like she was about to fall from the roof of a very tall building.

Roy started, “I…. I…. I’m not… I’m not sure what I am supposed to say.”

“Roy, just say something, anything, just say something, please!”

“I feel like I’ve been…. I’ve been shot in my guts with a shotgun, a double barrel shotgun!”

“Roy, I’m so sorry. Please believe me, I’m very, very sorry,” cried the sobbing Joni.

“I’ll worry about Larry later; right now I’m hurting for you,” as Roy squeezed Joni’s hand to emphasize the depth of his concern.

More silence followed---a meditative kind of silence engulfed both of these hurting young adults.

                                            To be continued………

Roy and Joni (Chapter 10)

                  (PLEASE READ PREVIOUS CHAPTERS FIRST)

The next kiss was much, much different. Both had an unspoken understanding of the impending difference. Roy moved his face a few inches in front of Joni’s face and stopped to survey, like an artist, the many beautiful and splendidly inviting features. Both of their eyes spoke volumes without saying a word.

Their lips joined together in purposeful slow motion. The kiss was long, deep, and intense. Joni’s tongue was joined by a new combatant and the match was declared a satisfying draw!

Joni caught her breath and struggled to utter, “Wow! Roy you are one fast learner.”

Roy, in a low, yet complimentary matter of fact manner replied, “I owe it all to my wonderful teacher.”

Several seconds evaporated before Joni spoke, “Roy, have you ever wondered just how crazy all of this is?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, we’ve maybe been in each other’s presence for maybe an hour total. You don’t really know me----who I am, where I’ve been and what I’ve done.”

“OK, I guess that is all true. However, I do know I like you a lot, a whole lot.”

“Roy, maybe we need to slow down and get to know each other better.”

“Let’s talk about that after the movie; which theater, Savoy or Bijou? Will it be Tracey and Hepburn or Roy and Dale? You choose.”

Joni pretended to be in a closed consultation with her innermost being when she replied, “Hmm, since we are rational adults…., However, I’m a sucker for Singing Cowboys. Let’s saddle up and ride over and spend an evening with the singing Roy Rogers and his duet partner---Dale Evans.”

“Well, pardner, they went that’a way sheriff, “ as Roy shifted the car into gear and headed toward the Bijou.

Joni stole a look at her compact mirror, smiled, and gave Roy an innocent cousin-like peck on his right cheek.

After an hour and a half singing saga of “The Cowboy and the Senorita” and another half hour of Coming Attractions and a Buggs Bunny cartoon, the pair of first time daters squinted their eyes as they emerged from the dark theater onto the sidewalk illuminated by the fast blinking marquee white light bulbs.

They walked hand in hand about three-quarters of a block to Sammy’s---a sweet shop with hamburgers and hot dogs. Joni knew the next part of their very pleasant first date would be hard for her, very, very hard.

                                 To be continued……    

Roy and Joni (Chapter 9)

                  PLEASE READ OTHER CHAPTERS FIRST

For the first few blocks, a mutually acceptable study hall-like silence spoke with deafening force. At the first Stop sign, Joni took a nervous big breath and slowly exhaled through her Revlon-shuttered mouth. This nonverbal cue signaled Joni's next intentions. She lifted her left hand to the elevation of Roy’s right shoulder and with the index finger of her left hand, she made a couple of upward gentle strokes that started at the base of Roy’s hairline on his neck.

When she returned her hand to its original location, Roy said in a voice much lower than normal volume, “What would you think if I said I wanted to stop this car and kiss you right now?” Before she could answer, he continued, “Joni, I’ve been held captive by the memory of our first kiss after the party. I’ve never had anything like that happen to me before.”

“Roy you really are a rare human being----you just don’t know any better than to say what you think. I like that, I like it a lot,” she said in an approving voice, buttressed by a toothy smile.

Now, it was Roy’s non-spoken turn to perform the big inhale-exhale exercise through his green coated month. “Do you remember what I asked you,” Roy inquired? Joni quickly responded with a studied, yet happy voice, “I would say, find the next place to park this car and I’ll give you my answer.”

Beckham’s Donut Shop’s parking lot had been empty since noon. With soldier- like precision, Roy rolled his window down and stuck his left arm out in a right turn inclination. The car stopped in the welcoming parking lot after only about 20 feet from the street.

 He left the motor running and turned his face and attention to look into her cosmetically finely-tuned cover girl face. “My goodness, you are so beautiful.” Joni had been complimented many times before about her stunning beauty; however, none had the simple honesty of Roy’s observation.

He scooted a few inches closer to Joni and kissed her. By a comparison to a car race, the first kiss was just a practice lap. The next kiss was somewhat more intense and it could be called the parade lap. He could not help but think in a micro-second intermission before the third kiss, “I wonder if she’ll use her tongue on the next kiss?” Meanwhile, Joni was thinking, “I don’t want to appear to be a love-starved female, yet that kiss after the party meant so much to this good-looking farm boy and it meant a lot to me as well. Should I kiss him like I did before?”

                                               To Be Continued…….    

Glenn <><                      

"I GOT A THINKIN' PROBLEM"

I INTERRUPT THIS BLOG !!!

I have mentioned before, I love old classic Country music. In fact, I can go way, way back to the original Jimmy Rogers, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, etc. For me, most modern Country music is Rock and Roll with boots on!

However, I introduce to Blog readers one of the modern Country singers (David Ball) that had a hit from a few years ago that says something to me and maybe, just maybe, someone I can't ever forget!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUqXWWb_ifA

Just West of Yesterday,

Glenn <><

Roy and Joni ( Chapter 8 )

                          PLEASE READ EARLIER CHAPTERS FIRST

Friday night finally arrived. Roy took a shower in the morning and another one late Friday afternoon---Ditto on two shaves (He really didn’t need either one.) Joni settled for one 2 hour long tub bath, with several ounces of “Summer Evening” bubble bath. This date for both Joni and Roy was wrapped in mystery and tied with a multi-colored cord of anticipation. For Joni, several dates were part of her social history. Roy, on the other hand, could count his special dates on one hand---really three fingers. On the surface, and to an outsider, this was a classic case of a seasoned veteran dating a rookie. This was not going to be a boxing match; however, each could easily envision some “clenching.”  

Roy had unfolded and refolded Larry’s hand drawn map to Joni’s home so many times, a couple of the sections looked as if they had been cut with a sharp knife. The “Lewis and Clark” map to future adventure and delightful discovery rested securely next to Roy in the passenger’s empty seat. He was surprised, and a tad disappointed, he was not more anxious.  He knew that when he saw Joni again all bets were off. He had started for her house several minutes earlier than necessary and he slowed way down about five miles from her house. The closer he came to her house, the more times he looked into the rear view to check his front teeth and hair. This was going to be a big, big evening  so he put two chlorophyll breath mints in his mouth, without thinking his tongue turned green—that’s just great! He quickly used his tongue to rubber around his mouth in a desperate attempt to dislodge the green stain. The main advantage of his double dose of breath control is that it worked like a champ. Maybe a little green in the mouth is not all that bad. Fresh breath trumps a green tongue---at least in Roy’s book.

Meanwhile in Joni’s home she gargled Listerine so many times her tongue was practically numb. Hair check number three confirmed that she was mission ready. Ditto her white blouse with the almost obligatory gold mustard seed necklace around her well-scrubbed, elegant neck. Joni was indeed a beautiful young woman. Tonight she was nervous. She really wanted to get to know this country boy who cannot fast dance. She liked him for that reason alone.

Roy parked on the street in front of Joni’s house.  He bravely walked onto a small cement landing in front of an aluminum storm door and rang the doorbell---now it was nervous time. Joni’s mother answered the door and welcomed Roy into the living room. His introduction of himself was not Fuller Brush greeting material, but it got the info across. Joni’s mom looked as if she was on some undisclosed road to recovery. She walked to the stairs, lifted her voice  and announced to her daughter that her date was there. Joni slowly walked down the dozen or so steps and gave Roy the biggest smile she had. Roy was overwhelmed by her beauty, her hair, her smell, and her clothes which did ample justice to her shapely figure.

Roy stuck out his right hand toward Joni. She preempted the handshake and without warning gave him a polite grade school kiss on his cheek. This innocent kiss prompted Joni's mother to look down and attempt to wipe a non-existent piece of lint from her dress.He could feel the warm color rising and he swallowed hard and said, “Gee, Joni you look great.” Joni’s mom viewed his comment as an opportunity to exit stage left into the dining room.

Joni simply replied, “Thanks, I’m ready to go if you are.”

“Sure thing Joni.”

“Mom, we’re leaving now.”

“Fine, Roy it was good to meet you. Enjoy the movie”

“Nice to meet you also.”

Roy opened the varnished front door and the  storm door for the prettiest girl he had ever seen.Outside, Joni grasped his hand and they glided to the car. Passenger door opened, Joni slides in and Roy confidentially walks around the front of the car and took a couple of deep breaths before opening the driver’s side door. So far so good. This was exactly what he had hoped the first date would be.

Without any attempt at etiquette, both spoke exactly at the same time, “I didn’t think Friday night would ever get here.” They both laughed as she slide over next to her first date with this real farm boy who looked like he was no stranger to the sun and heavy, hard farm work.

Off to the movie.

                                    To be continued…….