Poetry: My view (true story)
your wrinkles are deeper
crepe skin on your arms
you stretch and ache
no pills ever work
your eyes of pain
or is that wisdom
a mixture of both
are you content
friendly while out
looking so happy
tucked in at home
you’re sullen and blue
that’s a glass on the wall
that’s my view in the mirror
Taken 6:15 on 9-10-16 throught the mirror
Poetry: Dad (true story)
he was much taller
towering over me
closely behind him
in his foot steps
taught me to work hard
taught me to eat good
taught me to play right
closely behind him
in his foot steps
learned how to drive
at a young age
learned how to drink
like a funnel
closely behind him
in his foot steps
he walked in the garden
slue footed was he
stepping in his foot prints
slue footed would be me
died of liver cancer
drank himself to death
closely behind him
in his foot steps
he never stopped drinking
till it caught up to him
dad died drunk at 58
brother died drunk at 30
my sons started drinking
closely behind me
in my foot steps
stop the bleeding
quit drinking at 35
my own foot steps at 62
Jamie, Bandit and Billy in 2005
Random thoughts: ageless (true story)
My new writing spot is on the lower deck at Port Tobacco Marina Restaurant, known to some as the ‘Port’. I was heading down there to write about an author I had the pleasure of meeting the other day, when I had an unexpected surprise.
First off, I often say, “Where ya goin’?” To people, when they are walking past me. Some will answer and some won’t, but those that do answer, we get to spend a short time together in this large life.
Port Tobacco Marina at night
I was walking over to my new spot, when a man asked me, “Where you going?” I found out later his name is Dave and he was refered to as the leader of the pack of three men and one woman. The average age is seventy six and they were out jet skiing.
I was pointing down to the lower deck, when I decided to chat with them for a while instead. I’m normally not in any hurry anyway, so spending time these friendly people was a delight. I told them, “I was going down there to write.”
Dave asked, “You’re a writer?”
I replied, “I’m trying to be.” And chuckled.
I quickly gave them my life story, “My first wife left me and my two sons, when they were two and four. Now they’re in their forties. I raised them in a drinking and drugging environment, till I quit in their teens. I have a lot to write about, my kids, drinking, drugging and women. I just need to learn how to write, so you will turn to the next page of my story.”
Dave said, “Ummmm.”
“I got sick with COPD and lost my house and bought, that houseboat.” I said while pointing to it. I then said, “I haven’t cut my hair since I moved on the boat. I thought the look went with the whole writing on a houseboat scene.”
That’s when one of them mentioned, “We are jet skiing!”
“Cool! On those?” Pointing to my right across the little channel.
Dave is in the ski to the right
The lady said, “Yes.”
That’s the 81 year old youngster on the left and his 76 year old wife on the right
“WOW! That is so cool.” We talked about that for a while, because I was truly amazed at the vigor in this group. I can barely get out of bed and here they’re playing in the water. They paid their bill, while I advertised my little blog site.
Then they headed across the bridge to their powerful little water machines. The oldest youngster is eighty one. I thought I was doing something special by going back to school and trying to become a writer. These guys are truly ageless.
This is the bridge that connects ‘Port Tobacco Marina’ to the ‘Port Tobacco Restaurant’.
Your three words, my little story
Butch’s words: football, Tennessee & Vols (true story)
Butch has lived most of his life between Maryland and TENNESSEE and is an avid FOOTBALL fan. He roots for the Washington Redskins and his college team is the Tennessee Volunteers.
He has always been interested Davey Crockett, since Crockett was born in eastern Tennessee in 1786.
Crockett led a band of twelve, known as the ‘Tennessee Mounted Volunteers’ and later joined up with Sam Houston. During the battle of the Alamo, Houston led an Army of Tennessee Volunteers fighting for the independence of Texas.
Crockett died at the Alamo on March 6th 1836 at the age of forty nine. Because of him, his men and the rest of Houston’s army, Tennessee became known as the ‘Volunteer State’. Tennessee has always answered the call. That’s why their college team is called the Tennessee VOLS, short for volunteers.
My Tennessee family. Mom and dad are in this picture too and so is Butch.
Random thoughts: Stars and Stripes (true story)
I had no idea, but September 3rd 1777 was the first day our American Flag was flown.
It was flown in battle, at Cooch’s Bridge, Maryland. Patriot General William Maxwell ordered the stars and strips banner raised, but we were defeated and forced to retreat to Pennsylvania.
Six white stripes and seven red stripes signifying the thirteen British colonies seceding from Great Britain’s rule about a year earlier. The thirteen white stars on the blue field are our first thirteen states.
Happy birthday to the flag for the greatest country in the world. My flag.
The Houseboat Poet 