"Life in the Fast Lane" and "Goat Stories" for Halloween."

(This is Buster. He was one of the "trick-or-treaters" feasting on my corn shock and pumpkin decorations at my house. Of course, he looks so innocent, doesn't he? You'll learn about Buster and his pals below in their latest series of "GOAT stories...not "ghost stories" around here, oh no. We have GOAT STORIES on halloween!)
Today was our pal Jacob's 14th birthday. He was out of school on a teacher's workday, so that worked out great. I can remember how great it felt having those special days out of school...and then sinking dread on the night before I had to go back. Where I came from, snow days were plentiful, so you could always look forward to winter and having lots of sled time. The only way to find out if we had school the next day, was to call the little local AM radio station in our town. I can remember our home telephone number (rotary dial, if anyone can possibly remember those!) was one digit off from the radio station. My brother and I would have a field day making the determination (unbeknownst to our folks of course) that there would not be school the next day. Yes, that was mischievous, but it sure was fun!
Anyway, Jake seemed to have a great birthday. He went shopping with his mom, spent time around here entertaining himself and then tonight, we took off to find Italian food and go shopping. By the time we got home and sang 26 stanzas of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" in outrageous harmonies, I think it was decided that Jake had a fun birthday.
We went to Walmart and went through all the "cheapy movies." Jake's mission was to try to get to the very bottom of that insanely full "basket" and pull up one dvd. He got to the bottom, but couldn't pull a movie up. Not going to be outdone, Wayne gave it a go. I can't remember if he was able to pull up a dvd from the bottom, because Buddy, my cousin and I were busy making outrageous "spooky noises." Yes, it was fun and nope, I won't apologize for the immaturity. We were smiling. There was a kid that looked to be about 17 who got a huge laugh at Buddy and me going "Mmmmmwwaaaaaaaaaah haaa haaaa haaaaaa haaaaaa!!!!! in our best spooky voices. He started to laugh and caught himself. I told him to LAUGH!!! He actually said it was "GREAT TO SEE PEOPLE OUR AGE HAVING FUN!" That cracked me up! I said, "Are you saying we're old??" He blushed and I kept ribbing him. But it was fun to see a total stranger...a TEEN at that...laughing along with us. It was fun to think a 14 year old young man wanted to spend his birthday with us...and it was fun enjoying the celebration of someone's life. (I forgot to tell you that Buddy, who normally shaves his head, had on an afro styled wig that was in two great big poofy pig tails. That added a more intelligent flair to the spooky sounds!)
We had a good day. Jake had a good day. We are happy to be alive. Wayne and I are blessed. No matter what goes on around us, we are always able to find a place for laughter.
That's a good thing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE!!!
On another note, I have had the only trick-or-treaters that I expect for this year. The are: Grady, Milo, Ben, Buster, Sophie and Dice...and they helped themselves to the treats as they completely obliterated the corn shocks I had strategically placed as fall decoration. They even had the nerve to start eating the pumpkins! They had the most innocent look on their faces EACH TIME I went to put the corn shocks back up. I guess my first clue that it MIGHT be the goats was the stripped clean corn cobs, still hanging on the stalks! How'd they do that? So, each time I'd fix things, they'd sneak back up and "rearrange." Since I don't get children stopping by for candy and showing off costumes, I guess the only guests I have will be my goats...and the trick is on me for thinking goats won't find corn and EAT it!
I cannot believe we are at the door of November. Frieda's birthday is on November 2...it's just hard to believe another year has rolled through this quickly. We had plans for Frieda's birthday this year, but they will just have to wait. We're just so thankful that she is with us.
On Friday night last week, we were in Washington with my family and visited Frieda. She grinned several times and raised her left arm when I asked her to. There was also another neat thing she was doing...taking her left foot and "tracing" the shape of the foot of her bed. She would do that and then grin at me. Keep going Frieda. Yep, you can do this. Just keep showing the world what you are made of my friend. I heard she grinned and raised her arm for someone else on Saturday. That was good to hear. I am glad she is doing these things consistently. That's a great sign. Frieda's just not going to put up with too much more of this! I keep having this picture in my mind of her strong will saying, "OK, I'VE HAD ENOUGH. TIME TO SET ABOUT GETTING PAST THESE BARRIERS." With her will and God's help, she will.
I'm reminded of the past couple of years of Wayne and me giving out candy at the Pamlico News, once on a Monday while the staff was getting the paper ready and then last year, we sat on Frieda's porch and checked out all the costumes. Can't remember further back than that! HA! But, we had fun. It's the anniversaries and dates of fun times that are uplifting and strengthening. Keep working hard Frieda. We love you!
I had mentioned Frieda's friend and my friend Roberta Caton a while back in a post. She's continuing to improve and also adjust to how life is now that she too has had strokes. She has been such a strong woman. She's been such an inspiration as she has gone through all of her own serious health issues. Yet, Roberta takes the time to email and keep me up to date on what's going on with her, her improvements, her thoughts and things she has learned "post-strokes." As she heads north on November 14 to get further testing done for the continuing TIA's, I hope we will all remember Roberta in our prayers and wish her the very, very best on finding out what can be done to improve her health. Be reminded, life changes in a minute. We should make each day count, not to sound cliche, as though it were our last.

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