Procreation

Aloma and I were talking about some close friends of ours.  “They have exceptional children and grandchildren.  The kids are good looking, motivated, excellent students and suburb athletes.  These are the kind of people who should have more children.  The world would be a better place.”

“What if we encouraged them to have more children?” I asked.

“Steve, they are in their seventies,” Aloma said.  She paused and then added, “Well, miracles do happen.  Maybe we could help.  How about setting them up with a fabulous dinner and a weekend in a swanky resort?  Then let nature take its course?”

“Great idea,” I responded.  “Let me work on it.”

Two days later, I approached Aloma.  “I’ve got a plan worked out.  I’ve got a room for four hours in a Motel Six and two gift certificates for $10 each at a nearby McDonalds.  That should do the trick.”

Aloma glared at me and said, “Let’s forget the whole idea.”  She walked away.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Graduations

We are so pleased that two grandsons graduated in the past few weeks:  Dawson Cowen, with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Florida, cun laude, and Ben Balint-Kurti from high school at Raleigh Charter, summa cun laude.

In addition to his degree, Dawson received an accommodation from the President of the University of Florida for a community project.  He had an idea for placing trauma kits in strategic locations around the University of Florida campus in case of a terrorist shooting.  He got approval for the idea, secured funding and placed 77 trauma kits.

Dawson plans to take the exam for medical school in November.

Ben had a successful high school experience making excellent grades, playing four years on the varsity soccer team and leading the team as captain his senior year.  Ben had the distinction of achieving a perfect score on his ACT examine, only one of about 2000 in the country.

Ben plans to go to Brown University this fall.

Dawson and Ben, we are so proud of both of you.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Fauna 2019

One of our favorite pastimes is sitting on our deck looking at our plants and talking about how they’re doing and planning what to do next with them.  Almost as much fun as watching the plants grow is watching the antics of the wildlife.

We have a suet feeder that the Mockingbirds claim as their own. Other birds that visit regularly are Blue Birds, Brown Thrasher/Wood Thrush, and Robins.  We love them all except for Starlings/Grackles (we don’t know which) that come in flocks, driving the other birds away.  When they come, I bring the suet in.  The Mockingbirds know where I put it and come onto the patio looking for it.

Two young rabbits are driving us crazy.  Aloma asked me not to bond with them as I did last year.  They would come on the patio and sit next to me and look at their next meal.  This year I’m shooting biodegradable pellets at them with a slingshot but rarely come close enough to scare them.  When I throw the slingshot at them, they get the idea that I'm serious.  I’ve put plastic mesh around the plants they like so that’s keeping them from wiping us out.

Deer come at night, but Liquid Fence (smells terrible) seems to keep them from eating plants and shrubs.

Lizards (actually, Chameleons) run across out deck and have no fear of us.  I was sitting on the deck next to a plant and one hopped onto my shoulder and just sat there looking around.

A green tree frog lives in our Hibiscus vine and announces to us that rain is eminent.  He is so loud.  Aloma can mimic him and he answers her.  When you see Aloma, ask her for her best frog call.

Last year, we had a Carolina Worm Snake that spend a couple of weeks under one of our bushes.  This year, I was blowing leaves off of the deck, and a three-foot Black Snake slithered out from under a chair.  I wish he would eat one of the rabbits.

Every day, the wildlife will do something that brings a laugh to us.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Spring Concert

The Music Makers, the Carolina Preserve coral group, with the Carolina Preserve dancers, presented their spring concert on May 17 and 18.  Both concerts were sold out, 150 paying attendees for each show.

The group was already practicing when we returned from Florida in mid-March.  Aloma had some catching up to do.  She is always placed in the front row, in my opinion, because she looks so great and has such an outgoing personality, even when she sings.  I am so proud of her.  Two of the songs I liked best were, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” and “I believe.”

The Carolina Preserve dancers are a hoot.  Think of dancers in their 60’s and 70’ and a couple in their 80’s, in costumes, and tap dancing to lively music.  Everyone in the audience was smiling.

The Christmas concert is scheduled for December 13 and 14.  Aloma will begin practicing in September.

I’m already looking forward to it.

Seasoned Man