Jim Dailey

For years, Patti has been wanting to go to see the Bluebonnets blooming in the Texas Hill Country. Two weeks ago we did just that. It was fun, beautiful and somewhat like stepping into a Claude Monet painting.

In addition to the seasonal flower extravaganza, we enjoyed two historic Texas Cities… Palestine and Fredericksburg.

Palestine …

Fredericksburg…

We loved this 1840’s city with its shops, restaurants, German heritage and location in middle of wine tours, Bluebonnets trails, museums, etc. A special treat for us was the National Museum of the Pacific War.

We made this trip to see the Bluebonnets but discovered so much more. Clearly, there’s a lot more to the Lone Star State then the big metro areas. We will return.

More Bluebonnet photos …

I’m frequently greeted by someone I haven’t seen in a long while with … “wow, you sure are looking good!” Translated … “you look good for an old man. OUCH! 

I’ve shared my love of Christmas and my passion for Christmas lights. I care not my age … 5 years , 50 years or “looking good years, it’s all about the spirit of the lights. I’m still captivated by the lights. Christmas Lights take me back, take me back to my childhood, take me back to cutting a tree on family land, bringing it home, putting it up in the front window, hanging the light strings, the bubble lights, the ornaments, the tinsel and then, flipping the switch ,,, sharing a family moment … the joy of lighting our own Christmas tree. 

Christmas has been a meaningful part of my life, my marriage and my family from childhood to adulthood to beyond. During the adulthood phase, Patti, I and our four children experienced cutting our own tree … a big one for the tall glass entry and a smaller one for the den or living room. One Christmas, we decorated a tree in Little Rock, took it down, carried it on top of our van so we would have a tree to decorate in our Colorado Condo. The Children made the ornaments while we drove to Ski Country.

Charlie Brown Christmas Backpacking … Richland Creek … circa 2015 ,,, Living Tree. This must make you smile!

Somethings we must simply write off as “serendipitous”. Such was the case that placed me and my wife in a far across town Dollar General Store.

On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I was driving home from my downtown office and decided to take “a road less traveled” … a route that took me through older neighborhoods, by my old high school building, the State Fair Grounds, the County Jail, a homeless center and, the subject of this blog post, a Dollar General Store managed by Karen Harris. My old Mayor’s interest and curiosity nudged me and I stopped to check it out. Maybe there were bargains to be had … “Black Friday” was two days away.

This store was an adventure with narrow aisles, packed shelves and enough bargain treasures to convince me my wife and I both should return on Friday to capitalize on the largess.

While i was on this maiden treasure hunt, I was offered help and a big smile from the store manager, Karen Harris. I have seldom seen anyone who could multitask more comfortably than this amazing woman. She was the equivalent of four normal people … greeter, helper, stocker and manager. Needless to say I was impressed!

Friday morning, Black Friday, we returned.

We jumped on the deal for reader glasses … buy one, get one free. At that point, I was pretty well done! My wife, on the other hand, accelerated into super shopping mode … quickly filling a shopping cart with necessary household supplies, unnecessary snacks and treats, dozens of holiday trinkets and Christmas “whatevers” intended to make gift packages cute and festive. She was having a great time and so was I. In fact, I cannot remember when the two of us have had more fun shopping together. Remember, this is still a “Dollar General Store”.

For me this is a reminder how much joy we can find and share with simple things. It’s also a reminder how many people like Karen share love and the true spirit of Christmas with little expectation of applause, attention or gratitude.

I am so pleased to personally declare Karen Harris our HOLIDAY HERO.

PS: She did have a day off from DG on Thankgiving but she and her husband served dinner for 70 family and friends.

If you happen by Dollar General on Roosevelt Rd, stop in and say “hi” to Karen.

I have written about SST many times over the past 20 years. A brief recap … Loyd, Tim and Don took a ski trip … returned and invited more to join the next year. The rest is history … a history of friendship, fun, skiing, golfing, hiking and having lunch together every week. Sadly, we have lost three members, including most recently, our founder, Loyd. He is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.

We guys think we’re pretty tough, macho, know it all, independent … that is, until we get sick. Then we become “needy”. In our group of guys, each of us has been there and thankfully had loving wives to “take care of us.” Kay Stanley took care of Loyd … day in, day out, 24/7 she was at his side. Not only was she tending to his medical needs … trips to the doctors, late night trips to the hospital but she was constantly providing motivating encouragement to bolster his spirit. When he was tired with no energy she drove him to our weekly SST lunches. When one of us called, she would be certain Loyd got on the phone with us. When he was having a good day … or a bad day … she kept us posted so we could muster text messages and collective prayers for healing. Finally, when Loyd did die, Kaye Stanley, followed his wishes … he wanted to “have a party”. And, What a party she had … a grand send off for a man we all love!! It was the greatest celebration of life I have ever experienced. Kaye Stanley … your are an amazing person, an amazing wife and inspiration for all of us. YOU ARE MY HERO … KAYE STANLEY

US MARSHALS MUSEUM

Just downloaded Jetpack and trying it out on my iphone… pulled this missive from yesterday notes. Forgive my errors.

My favorite McDonalds …

McDonald’s at Markham and University “was” my favorite Golden Arches … now, McD’s at sixth and broadway downtown LR is my favorite. It’s clean, the staff is always friendly, the people mix is perfect – young, old, black, white, business, family, traveler, homeless. The staff wear blue t shirts with the message “Community is everything” This was the downtown stop most mornings for Bill Clinton while he was Arkansas Governor and while running for president.

As I sit here today, enjoying my senior coffee, caramel sundae and single burger off the dollar menu, I smile to myself with astonishment … I’m certain the staff is paid little, maybe barely making it but they smile.
There’s a grandmother ordering meals for her grand daughters. She is confident, poised and gently reminds the older grand child to change her frown to a smile. Nice to witness this old school example of neighbors and grand parents participating in the societal accountability system.
There’s a delightful young Latino girl cleaning tables, mopping the floor, conscientiously doing the dirty jobs and smiling.
An African American teen behind the register looks a customer in the eye, enters the order and smiles. After watching him in action I walk back to the register and ask: where he goes to school? what he’s studying? I tell him I’ve been watching him … his manner, his patience, his smile, his eye contact and I tell him I’m convinced, without a doubt, he will be a success … in life, in business, in whatever he wants to do. And I tell him, someday, when he is enjoying one of his successes, he will remember this moment, the moment an old man said: “young man, you will be a success”. He Smiled!
Meanwhile, the young Latino woman moves with precision sweeping the floor for the second time since I’ve been here.
Think about it … this is McDonald’s?
Is this a microcosm of America, is it a window into reality or is it something unique? If unique, what makes it work? It’s a business in the urban core with all the distractions of work schedules, crime, traffic congestion, stop lights, stop signs, no parking zones, one way, no entry, parking meters and hungry people waiting for their orders … at the register and the drive thru.

It’s said if one stands on a corner in Times Square long enough, everyone will pass by. I think it’s more likely to happen at McDonald’s.

And…

If it’s my favorite McDonald’s, you’ll get a good meal, a great sundae, an awesome cup of coffee and the most beautiful tapestry of what makes America great … it’s people, workers and businesses.

If nothing else, I hope you share a smile!

My goal in this “Last Pair Of Boots” blog post is twofold … First, to briefly cover the most recent weekend in the mountains … that being our traditional Superbowl Weekend Campout. Next, to take a photo journal walk down memory lane to a time when we were younger, could hike farther and could carry a fully loaded backpack. Times and our bodies have “matured” but the spirit still lives!

I may have left out a few photos I wanted to include and possibly have posted duplicates. If so, please accept my apology. Most of those who subscribe to this blog should know the places, people and time frame so I have not done any detailed captions. One photo I do wish to mention is the last one on the bottom. This is one of those rare moments when my wife, Patti, and JC’s wife, Gwen, agreed to backpack with us. JUST HAD TO INCLUDE IT.