rbwalton

I call shotgun!!!- Then

I steer my small Ford pickup to the side of the road and shut off the motor. I open the door and stand up. As I do, my border collie, Scooter, jumps down next to me, panting with tail wagging, ready to run. I bend down to remove the leash, and she is off. AtContinue reading “I call shotgun!!!- Then”

Goodbye old friends, revisited- Now

I walk out towards the end of our back yard, past our small pond, which, until the last hard freeze, still was home to a few wild guppies. These are also known as mosquito fish, and they do a surprisingly effective job of controlling the local mosquito population. During a hard freeze in December, theContinue reading “Goodbye old friends, revisited- Now”

My Best Man, wasn’t one at all- Then

When I met Linda back in high school, I never would have guessed that she would be my best “man” at my wedding. I brought a small tenor banjo to school one day, which had belonged to my father when he was a kid. I had just refurbished and rebuilt it, and was learning toContinue reading “My Best Man, wasn’t one at all- Then”

Twenty-Thirteen? Be gone!- Now

I am not one to make resolutions at the New Year. I figure, if a change is worth making at all, it might be better to make it while the reason is still fresh in your mind. If you wait until an arbitrary date to start, even if it is a special date, why botherContinue reading “Twenty-Thirteen? Be gone!- Now”

On writing now vs. then- Now and Then

I remember from my school days, both high school and college, all of the time starting writing assignments, having to face that empty page. That empty page has so much promise; if I can only find the right words to fulfill that potential. Usually, back then, I failed miserably. I would try. And I wouldContinue reading “On writing now vs. then- Now and Then”

Re-established Interests- Amateur radio

Saturday, June 6, 2020 Somewhere back in time, shortly after meeting my wife Judy, I told her that I had always wanted to be an amateur radio operator. This was in part due to one present from “Santa” when I was a kid, a cheap pair of walkie-talkies that worked fine if the two usersContinue reading “Re-established Interests- Amateur radio”

Surprise ! (or not)- Now

I am not sure how the hat fits into my growing suspicion that a surprise party is planned for my next birthday. Maybe it is just a classic use of misdirection on Judy’s part. Or maybe it is a poltergeist. Maybe I am just crazy. And it could be a combination of the three. HowContinue reading “Surprise ! (or not)- Now”

Birthdays- Now

Most people who know me, even my friends, have no idea what day my birthday is. It is not like I have not told them before. They just have other things on their minds when I tell them. Or other things on their minds on the day. To be fair, I rarely do much, if anything, forContinue reading “Birthdays- Now”

11/22/63- Now and Then

11/22/1963 I can’t believe we are coming up on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. Well, maybe I believe that much. I just find it difficult to believe that I am old enough to remember this date. As a class, we had all gathered with everyone else in front of our school’sContinue reading “11/22/63- Now and Then”

Goodbye old friends- Now

You were right. The chainsaws have not stopped yet. I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you. They are taking down the pecan now. At least you are not here to see it go, but you will no doubt see its end. It was the poplar they destroyed earlier. Now theContinue reading “Goodbye old friends- Now”