WINTER GARDEN

Nine months ago today, we lost our sweet Judy.

Here she is walking alongside the garden she planted, and where her ashes now rest.

Hurry on, spring....

GENERATIONAL GIDDY-UP

Yep, that's me.

Then, my son, Rory.

Then, my grandson, Myles.

We're all age two, saddling up for the gallop o' life.  Same world, different rides, different horses.

GRANDPA AIR TIME

Had a surprise visit today from dahling daughter Erin and grandson Myles.

For some precious & fleeting moments I was granted full membership in the No-Rules Folding Indestructible All-Stealth Paper Airplanes Unfettered Flight Path Of Imagination Club. Just that simple.

No dues, except a willingness to embrace abandon.

SUB-ZERO PILOT LIGHTS

How cold IS it? Almost cold enough to reinstate the juvenile tradition (of which I once partook) of a basement fart-lighting party with your buds. Entertaining, and fuel efficient.

(This is dedicated to my female friends who've always told me, whenever I've confessed to this, that flatus ignition is either idiotic, baffling, gross or impossible.).

FATHER OF THE YESTERYEAR

FOUND THIS ONE TODAY in an old album. I'd taken my toddler son out for a woodsy walk-toddle, and couldn't resist this perfect "tree cradle" photo-op. Okay, maybe you could argue that it was Nature's visegrips.

I do hope, Rory, that you forgive me, and that you didn't later develop PTSD (Post-Treematic Squeeze Disorder).

TAKE MY CLIMATE, PLEASE!

METTLE TO THE PEDAL

OKAY, LANCE, here's how I would've played it:

"Elwin, in all your years of writing humor columns, did you ever take any mind-altering drugs?"

"No, but apparently all my readers did."

BIRTHDAY BOY

HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, my dear Grandson Myles.

Not long after you arrived, you fell asleep in Grandma Judy's arms. Now, she is forever sleeping in yours. She loved you so, and will always be with you.

Me, too.

 Love, Grandpa.

H

GHOST STORY

TOOK MYSELF OUT FOR COFFEE today at a local eatery where I used to sit with fellow collegians 35 years ago. Same booth. Same walls. Same table. Then, I showed up unexpectedly and sat down across from me uninvited. "Don't worry; what goes around, spins around," I told myself. "That sounds just like you, " I said. "Now, take your pathetic pathos and beat it."

 I did, but I stuck myself with the tip.

IMPONDERABLES ON PARADE

TODAY IN LIFETIME REGRETS:

I missed my daughter's wedding. My son is invisible.  I dropped out of the Berklee College of Music. I stole that thing at the place with those people. I lied about the broken heirloom. I ate the last whoopie pie. I didn't pull over and watch that glorious sunset. I accepted the dare, and lit that teenage fart sans underwear.

REAL VIRTUALITY

THE BIEBER YEARS

TOOK THIS ONE from an old home movie. I was 15, all spiffed up in my black jazzband blazer and headed out for a drumming gig with the big boys. Geesh...I think I was two generations ahead of myself with that killer do.

NECCA MECCA

DAHLING DAUGHTER Erin is on the new poster for the New England Center for Circus Arts, Brattleboro, Vermont, where she is an instructor.  Beautiful.  Beautiful.  Beautiful.

Brag.  Brag.  Brag. 

FARTHER TIME

Happy New Year, everyone.