maddash

I miss the black and white world of the 50's. Latta Lake, Rome City, Indiana. This photo was published in the Ft. Wayne News Sentinel. 

We spent New Years day at the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Jan 1, 2000  Our only child, Lisa died on Nov 30, 1999. Linda and I had become recluse and depressed.  We were still working but living life was a chore. My dear friend Royal and his wife Susan insisted we go to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, on New Years Day.  They bought us tickets and insisted.  I didn't realize at the time, it was the best therapy we could have been prescribed.   We escaped our grief for a couple hours with new sights, sounds and noise.   I could have gone home after the National anthem and been happy.   As Charlie Daniels hit the last note of the anthem we were treated to a "flyover" of the stadium by four fighter jets from McDill Airforce base. Immediately after that four sky divers from the base made a dramatic fall to the center of the football field.   Very awe inspiring and for few moments we left our world of despair.  Incidently, there was ...

We have this dog. His name is Max. I think it is short for Maxwell. My wife Linda and my dear departed daughter, Lisa, adopted Max from a Cocker Spaniel rescue agency. Never, ever pick out the smallest, paranoid dog in the corner of the room. That dog might be Max. Max is my cross to bear, my nemesis. I am sure Lisa is laughing from heaven. Max is Linda's dog and I am Max's private walker. Max has curious walking habits. He only walks in 90 degree angles. Heaven forbid he ever cross over the corner to get to the sidewalk. Only 90 degree angles. Max only poops on the yellow center line of the road. Of course, after taking a 90 degree route to get there. The world that Max walks in is not part of ours. He hears planes far out of sight, and refuses to walk. He hears traffic from Alt 19 (about a mile away) and refuses to walk. He hears Ospreys screaching in the distance, he stops..refuses to walk. Max has excellent hearing. Walking with Max is a chore ...