3/5-3/8/2012 I Don’t Ever Want to Hear the Words

…..DROUGHT and TEXAS in the same sentence again. NEVER! Trust me, after this winter there is no drought in the Rio Grande Valley. I’ve said this before and I say it again!

It’s being said that this is the strangest year for weather. Places that get snow measured in feet only got flurries. Other areas where the average high for February is in the low 40’s are having days in the mid 70’s.

These four days we’re back at work. Our days are overcast and cloudy, chilly, some rain. Oh, this is not what we thought it was going to be. Of course on our days off, the next four, you guessed it, periods of rain. Its like my life is consumed by thinking about water falling from the sky! We have got to move on, that’s all there is to it.

I’ve gotten some things in email that I want to share with you.

With a feline's normal aversion to water, it is surprising that a cat would enjoy being on a small boat, off shore with his owners, particularly hanging around the boat's edge where he could easily fall into the ocean. In this case, however, the cat's natural curiosity wins out as he has "discovered" dolphins alongside the boat, something he's never seen before. The cat is so fascinated with the playful creatures that he invites them to join in his favorite kissing game - and they do! They are just as curious and fascinated as the cat. You can see this remarkable video HERE

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

'One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me,' said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, 'One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me...'

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. 'Come here quick,' said the boy, 'you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls!'

The man said, 'Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk.' When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery.

Standing by the fence they heard, 'One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me.'

The old man whispered, 'Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord...?

Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, 'One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done...!

They say the old man had the lead for a good half-mile before the kid on the bike passed him.

BAGPIPER AT A FUNERAL

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a Funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's' cemetery in the back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic
tanks for twenty years."

And on that note I’ll close this.