Memories Department

I have two fantastic memories that will endure with me forever.

At the beginning of President Reagan's first term, my brother and my dad passed away 10 days apart, and I had to fly from Washington to Arizona for the two funerals. Whew, was I ever tired after that second trip. I was so upset and exhausted that I cried like a baby when My First Wife and our grade-school kids met me at the airport. It was late at night, but there they all were; waiting with hugs and kisses all around. After a few moments I opened my hand and found a little red medallion that said, "World's Greatest Dad." What little hand put that treasure into mine? I don't want to know. My kids gave it to me and I still have it.

Then when our home burned down a few years ago, our 7 year old grandson went to his bedroom and got $11 out of his bank and gave it to us. I know I shouldn't have taken it, but his heart was so beautiful and he wanted to help so much and he felt so bad for us... But then he felt so good that he could help.

If I live forever, I'll always remember these moments. If Jesus comes to get me, then I'll just get to see instant replays as often as I want.

What about you? You have moments that are sweeter than honey?

Fastest Kids in Town

The Olympics begin in about two weeks. I have dreams for Our Texas Grandkids. I dream that they will be the first Olympians to win medals in both the summer and winter games. They can do it!

You'll see Darby in the swimming pool outracing everyone else. She's been jumping off the diving board into the deep end since she was two. Really.

You'll see Jake on the track. That boy can fly! Then you'll see both of them flying down the Giant Slalom. At ages 9 and 7, they are already the fastest kids in town, and they both ski down the highest slopes that Aspen has to offer They are both athletically talented and supremely self-confident. They get that from their mom and dad.

They'll probably be the first brother/sister act to compete, too, but I'm not sure of that. And they're so good looking... They get that from their grandmother and granddad.

Poster boy and girl for champions.


"Another ribbon. Where am I going to put this one?"

Grandkids Department Update

Last Saturday, three grandkids came to town. They’re staying at our oldest daughter’s house, over in Missouri. We had a great Saturday with them. From sorta early to late at night it was a busy day.

Sean had a birthday cake just after lunch. He's 11 now.

Oh, those crazy grown-ups. Send ‘em back to Remedial Spelling—in summer school, too.

In the late afternoon we spent four hours at the new Water Park. I was afraid to take my camera out, except to get this picture of five-year-old Ben spinning around off the diving board—in the deep end! I wish I had gotten more pictures. Maybe next time.

Take it from me, those water slides are fast, fast, fast! Inside them, they are black, black, black. Once the slide begins, there’s no turning back. Darkness swallows you in an instant and you lose all perspective. You lose your equilibrium in a hurry. Flying faster than a speeding bullet, you can’t anticipate a thing. Every curve is an unexpected jolt. And your speed increases. But those brave grandboys of mine hardly batted an eye. Time after time; again and again...

They’re so fast and frightening I only rode ‘em three times.

Water Slide photo from "How Stuff Works."

Wildlife Department

My First Wife, three grandkids and I went out to a Big City park this afternoon. We saw this beauty. Isn't she a dear?

Community Events Department

Well, folks, we got some news here for you. Happened last weekend. It fell to me to babysit our youngest granddaughter last Saturday, so the two of us took a trip to The Big City.

First, to the mall to see the dolphins.

Then to a neighborhood park to check out the swings. "Higher, Granddaddy! Higher!"

Then to another neighborhood park to make sure the playground equipment still worked.

We had PB&J sandwiches and two cookies together there under a big shady tree. She said, “This is a nice little picnic, isn’t it?” It sure was.

Four hours after we started out, we landed in a galaxy far, far away among some Star Wars characters. I have never seen my little granddaughter get so excited to see anyone as she did to see these warriors. Giddy!

Her favorite: a girl storm trooper.

Finally, our trip ended in dreamland. For someone so little, she sure did tire me out. But there’s no better way to get tired. Well, maybe a good baseball game.

Thanks for listenin’ in.

Department of Turds

Let me tell you something wonderful. “Grandkids.”

A tip of the hat to my granddaughter’s first grade teacher who has introduced journal writing to her class.

Now here’s something wonderful to read, written by my Texas Granddaughter. First Grade; almost age 7.

"When my dad went out of town we had to stay home with my mom and then one night my dog polly came in and wined to my mom and my mom said go away and polly went away but she had to go to the bath-room so she went poup in the living-room and then she pouped in the game-room and then my mom woke up in the morning and saw bofe of the turds and she yelled gha and she had to pike um up with a dish towl.

Written by Darby …”

Illustrated by Darby, too.


"Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. "—Real Simple Magazine

Department of Baseball

Have you noticed? Surely you have. I put up a new picture over there where it says, "About Me." I put it up to welcome Baseball 2008. The number 9 on that fancy jersey represents the number of grandkids we have.

I got it at www.imagechef.com where there is all kindsa stuff you can fiddle with.

Been to My Hats Blog lately? Cute pictures.

Priorities Department

Mari (pronounced Mar-ee) is four (pronounced “I’m four!”). She’s our youngest granddaughter and now gets to sit back there in a booster seat when she’s in the car. No more of those baby seats for her. No siree! She’s all grown up and independent.

Yesterday, I got the remarkable gift to drive her around in my pickup a little while. Ever been thrilled to sit in the front? Well, we put her booster seat in my pickup and I set her in it and buckled her down. “I get to sit in the front! I never saw out the front before!”

Kids look at everything, don’t they? Pretty soon Mari spied the crank that rolls the window up and down. “What’s that, Granddaddy?”

“Well, you turn that to make the window go up and down.” She looked at me like I was a mad scientist trying to pull her leg. “Well, my pickup doesn’t have buttons like your car,” I explained.

“Oh. Can I try it?” she asked.

“Sure.”

She worked hard, but got it to move a little. She was quite the proud little princess. “Oooh, that’s cold,” I complained. “Roll it up.” She turned it the other way to get it back up. Sorta. Apparently I was not the mad scientist, after all.

“Granddaddy, when it gets hot can I come over to your house and turn it all the way down?”

“Of course,” I said. “That’ll be fun, won’t it?”

“And then can we go swimming?”

Department of Firsts

My five-year-old granddaughter called early this morning to tell me that she had lost her first tooth. I could hear her mom in the background coaching her.

Anyway, part of our conversation went like this.

Granddaughter: "I left the tooth fairy a note and she left me one and you know what, Granddaddy?"
Me: "What?"
Granddaughter: "I want to be a writer when I grow up."
Me: "That's awesome, Sweetheart! And you know what?"
Granddaughter: "What?"
Me: "I want to be a writer when I grow up, too."
Granddaughter, to her mom: "Granddaddy wants to be a writer when he grows up, too!"
Granddaughter, to me: "We can be together!"

Life just doesn't get much better than this.