Another year older

Turned 55 without any major catastrophic events.

A couple of weeks ago, Paul and I attended the ENMU game at the Cowboy Stadium. We were invited to tailgate with some guys that played football at Eastern while I was there. I have to say, I was thrilled to be included. During the course of the day, I had a conversation with Brian B. He mentioned that he was writing short stories. His father is suffering with alsheimers and he sees the handwriting on the wall. He wanted to make sure some of the thing he remembers now, will not be lost. Wow. Wow.. I think about my poor memory a lot... but his fear of loosing it is real. So, I write. Inspired by folks around me.

This summer the grand kids came to stay with us while their momma was attending some training in San Antonio. It was work as usual for me, when I got a message from Michelle Berry Sweat. She had found a little baby duckling in the parking lot of First Baptist Waco. Paul loaded up the kiddos and they went and picked up the itty bitty fluff ball. They stopped and bought food and brought the infamous SWEETIE home.

Sweetie was a black-bellied whistling duck. She spent the first couple of weeks in a cardboard box in the living room. She loved to snuggle up and watch tv with Paul in his big recliner. Daxton proved to be a gentle loving care giver. He is only three, but was so sweet and loving. The two of them swam together in the wading pool and made great friends. She didn't like the water much at first. In fact, if Paul didn't put his feet in the pool. She wouldn't stay in it. But she gradually learned to enjoy it. Even if it was just to cool off.

She lived on the partio, in a wire cage at first... but then when we decided she was able to take care of herself she just slept by the back door. If you went outside she would follow you where ever you went. When she started to experiment with those wings... we would set her on the table, so she would have to fly down. Then she would fly to catch you, if you walked off. Then she would make laps around the house. Paul would be washing dishes, and see her fly past the kitchen window.

I always felt a little guilty that she had imprinted on humans... but I guess we can't pick our family. One  morning, after getting angry with Paul, Sweetie flew around the corner. When we went to look for her, she was standing outside Papa Marvin's door. Knocking.

Sweetie eventually flew off. We saw her once more, she stopped by on a saturday morning, and pecked to get in the back door. But flew off before we could get outside. We wonder if we will see her next spring. Wouldn't that be fun.