Richardson, Texas, circa 1955--my hometown!

 

I spent many a Saturday afternoon in the old Ritz theater right there on Main Street in "downtown" Richardson, Texas!  The center of town back then didn't enjoy the benefit of paved streets. 

 

The population wasn't over 2,000, when someone snapped this photo.

 

Everyone knew everyone. 

 

My dad served as City Secretary at the time.  City Hall was a white frame building that co-located with water utilities, police and fire departments. 

 

It was a different time, for sure!  

Willie memories. . .

From Rolling Stone August 13, 2012 9:00 AM

Master storyteller Willie Nelson revisits his past in the video for "A Horse Called Music," a hat tip to his 1989 album A Horse Called Music and a reimagining of its title track.

In the clip, Nelson strides through the countryside, finds the chapel where he was married, rides through the small town center and watches an old film. This version of Wayne Carson's song is warmer than Nelson's original cover, meandering peacefully in place of the earlier version's emotional strain.

Merle Haggard and Willie's son, Lukas, also join in on the track. "A Horse Called Music" is from Nelson's album Heroes, which was released in May.  Read more.

The old tree. . .

The image captures something of the old Bois D'Arc tree standing next to the driveway in the house in Richardson, Texas where I grew up.  So many memories remain etched in my mind about that house and this old tree.  Of course, the tree remains in place beside the drive as I remember it.  The tree is permanent.  It's stood there for a very long time.  It is much, much older than I.  When I was a child, it filled the position of one of the constants of my life.  I climbed in it.  Shot BB guns at it.  Hid behind it.  Studied it.  Spied on my best buddy from a perch up in its substantial limbs.  This tree serves as a reminder that my life is very short and other realities matter as much or more than my concerns.  I love that old tree.  Every time I pass my home place, I look at this tree. 

Toy Story 3

Lessons learned while watching Toy Story 3 with two of my grandsons:

1)  Recognize that what you do today creates memories, important, valuable, precious memories for much later and for everyone involved, including toys!

2)  Fantasy and play are incredibly important to a life.  Worry about a life without fantasy.

3)  As you move forward into a future, don't be afraid to look back.

4)  Pass along what you really treasure to those coming after you.

5)  Take nothing for granted in life.

6)  When it appears that you're headed into a deep, fiery, hell-like hole; when all hope seems lost, reach out to those nearest to you--in short, hold hands tightly with your community.

7)  Don't be surprised if you are "saved" by people not at all like you.  In fact, be looking for rescue by those may consider aliens.  Consider befriending them before you need them.

8)  Don't miss this movie.  Here's just a taste of it.

Daddy

So, I've been thinking about my father today.

Had he lived, we would be celebrating his 90th birthday.

He was a good man.

I miss him a lot.

For some reason I've been thinking about when I was 16-years-old and he handed me the keys to our 1957 Buick Super 4-door hardtop, the family car. It became my car that day.

I painted it maroon, removed the hubcaps and painted the wheel rims black. He never said a word. It was my car. The '57 above is just like the car I first drove, except for the color and less 2 doors.

Great memories.

Life moves on.

Memories remain. . .thankfully.

Just for fun and to remember. . .

I'm a confessed and incurable New York Yankee fan.

Grew up on the team in the 1950s and 60s when they aired every weekend on CBS-TV here in Dallas, back before we had a team of our own.

Mantle was my favorite.

Nothing much better than a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.

Just remembering those good days for baseball and for a kid growing up dreaming of swinging for the fence!

An artist, a little boy and enduring community

It's a long story.

And, it means so much to me.

The story begins with Wyatt Toombs, my 5-year-old grandson.

Wyatt loves sports, all sports. On every team Wyatt wears the number 7.

Rewind to 1956 and forward. Mickey Mantle is my number one favorite baseball player and basic, all-round hero. I remember pulling for the Mick against Roger Maris in 1961 when Maris set the home run record. Both players were New York Yankees. I grew up on baseball in the vacant lot beside my house. I grew up on Yankee baseball on the radio and on television.

Naturally, I tell Wyatt that Mantle wore the number 7, too. Wyatt doesn't know who Mantle is, but the connection to the shared number really gets his attention and we enter one of those wonderful "tell me more, grandad" moments!

Now, to the image here.

Rick Timmons, an artist and a friend, painted this amazing oil portrait of Mantle. Rick's brother, Tim, also one of my dear friends, saw a post here of Wyatt playing soccer on a YouTube cut I posted back in April. Knowing my love for Wyatt and my appreciation for Mantle, Tim suggests that Rick give the painting to Wyatt.

The painting comes with its own story. It was painted almost a decade ago. Rick decided that Tim's idea makes more sense than any other he has encountered when it comes to this particular piece. So, now the portrait belongs to Wyatt!

Number 7. So much more to say. But, I'll let it go for now.

Thanks, Rick and Tim.

I love you, Wyatt.

.

Indulge me. . .

Does anyone ever really know the answer to this question about any TeeBall game that's ever been played:

Who won?

Oh, I know.

Lots of people know exactly who won!

My son-in-law reports that he's even observed parents with official scorebooks keeping score! Hard to believe, huh?

But, I mean, really. The point is not who wins.

The point is the little people playing their hearts out together, all the while not really understanding much, especially as they get started at it. It's about running, yelling, being together, having fun and getting snacks at the end of the deal! Community, pure and simple, including grandparents.

I gotta tell you, I love it!

Take my grandson here, Wyatt. In my book, he is something to behold! Even has Mickey Mantle's number on his shirt!

Who cares who wins? Doesn't get any better than this, I can assure you!