An Abject Public Apology

Yes folks, I am making a public apology.  Yesterday I posted a mean and thoughtless remark about how ALL my friends are OLD AND FAT and don't want to do any physical exercise except dine out.


Mark your calendar folks, I WAS WRONG!


My first mistake was saying ALL my friends are old and fat and lazy.  Hey, maybe some of them are maybe not.  So what?  Who am I to make such a judgement?  Just because some of them don't want to participate in my activities?  I would say that was pretty selfish of me, wouldn't you?  


So, to my friends who are in my age group or older - I APOLOGIZE.  I DIDN'T MEAN IT!  


Having said that, not everyone of my old, fat and lazy friends disagreed with me.  Here is an e-mail exchange from my long time friend Bill B. (who is so secretive that he doesn't like to comment on my blog but I'm outing him anyway):

Ron,

"I know what you mean.  Every Memorial Day weekend, on Saturday after the Chestertown Tea Party, Betty and Sam have a picnic in MD with a group of about a dozen friends.  We used to spend hours walking around Chestertown after watching the parade, eating all kinds of goodies (fried chicken, pulled pork, crabs, etc.), then watching the Tea party Reenactment on the Chester River.  Now we go back to Betty's a lot sooner in the day and talk.  I sometimes wonder how long this tradition will continue.  So, I'm with you buddy!"

Bill

----- Original Message -----

From: Ronald Tipton

To:  (name removed to protect his privacy)

Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 9:42 PM

Subject: Re: [Retired in Delaware] Beautiful Monday

Bill,

I'm not disposing the older friends but facing reality that most of them aren't as physically fit as I am thus I'm going to stop asking them to join me in activities.  I keep hitting this brick wall with them.  Reality hit today.

Ron

On Jun 13, 2011, at 5:35 PM, (my old friend) wrote:

Ron,

"Look for some younger friends.  Don't dispose of the old ones, but some younger blood is good for us."

Bill

Then here is another response from another one of my longtime OLD friends:

Larry, aka The Kid and The Old Goat has left a new comment on your post "Beautiful Monday": 

Ron

"I take umbrage with this: "ALL of my friends my age or older are overweight and out of shape and don' want to do anything other than eat out again." You know I love walking, it's just distance that comes between us sharing some trails. 

Anyway, I'm waiting to see my schedules at work the next week and maybe then Lo and I can drive down and go with you to that photo shop. I'll reply to your email today.

"I have a bunch of old farts for friends, believe me. I'm the only young one. Sad but true." Indeed!! Someday you have to join me on some of the trails I regularly walk. :)"

Lar 

Now, to make be really feel guilty, another friend of mine (who has a lot more class than I obviously do) sent me this e-mail today inviting me out to dinner in spite of the thoughtless insult I tossed his way yesterday:

"Wanna go to Boathouse tonight? I know what you said in your blog but you want to go with the Old Geezer's Club?"

I accepted his invitation and will be leaving shortly to join my OLD friends at dinner tonight.

By the way, I can't do what I used to do twenty years ago either and I can hardly get through the day without my daily nap.  

My comeuppance is now complete.  Now which I think I'll ask who wants to join me on that 5k run next week.

"Please accept my apology"

Strawberry Pie

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a nearby farm that grew fresh strawberries for the picking.  I love fresh strawberries.  They have such a delicate, sweet flavor that those "Frankenstein" store strawberries don't have.  Alas, I had become so used to those cardboard, store bought strawberries that I had almost forgotten what real strawberries tasted like.

Well, I got myself down to the farm very early in the morning, before the oppressive heat and humidity of the day descended upon the land like a big, fat, warm sweaty,  hand.  I picked a total of 64 quarts of strawberries.  Most of the strawberries I froze.  I will enjoy those strawberries in the depth of winter when even the faux strawberries aren't even available in the local supermarket.

Strawberry Pie

I had picked so many strawberries that I decided that I could part with a few and make a fresh strawberry pie.  This recipe is from the wife of my former boss and good friend Bill P.  Her name is Marie P.  I'm embarrassed to say that even though Bill gave me this recipe lo these thirty of so years ago (where does the time fly?) I'm just now trying it.

The wait was worth it!  The verdict is in....delicious!  The only caveat, eat the pie within a day.  If you leave the pie longer than that the water starts to separate from the strawberries and you have a soggy mess on your hands.  The crispness of the pre-baked pie shell is but a memory.  The taste is the same, sweet and spring-timey but the presentation has deteriorated.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Pie                    

1 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 quart fresh strawberries (and I mean FRESH - none of that store bought fake strawberries)

• Mix sugar and corn starch then cold water, butter and vanilla.  Boil until thick.
• COOL.  Have baked pie shell ready.  
• Fold 1 quart fresh strawberries into sauce.
• Pour into baked pie shell.
• Top with whipped cream if desired.
• Feed your face and delight in one of the purest pleasure in life - a good, fresh dessert.

Strawberries ready for freezing

More strawberries for freezing

Strawberry shortcake (I couldn't resist)

Beautiful Monday

Clematis on the fence around our transformer (hides the ugly transformer)

When I post a negative or sad post I like to counter it with a positive post.  That is what I am doing now.  This day, this Monday is absolutely beautiful.  I just got back from my walk in the development behind where I live.  The temperatures were mild and the breeze was gentle.  As the sun warmed my body and as I listened to the various specious of birds go about their daily activity I am reminded of how fortunate I am to be where I am today.

I am healthy, I have my house paid off, I live in a beautiful neighborhood, I have wonderful neighbors.  I live with someone for whom I love and he loves me in return without question or recrimination.  Perhaps the only thing that I am missing is an animal friend like a cat or a dog (Pomeranian).

This morning I had planned to drive down to Rehoboth Beach and pay the outrageous parking fees in order to visit Odeysea to buy my friend Dr. Spo a thank you gift for the beautiful shirt he made for me.  I fear that I offended him because I posted a short video saying the pocket was on the wrong side of the shirt.  I was teasing him but apparently he took it seriously.  Dr. Spo, you don't know me.  I'M A BIG TEASE  (an attribute that I inherited from my father).

I also planned to stop by my friend The Cajun and drop off a National Geographic magazine article about New Orleans.  He works as a host at a popular Mexican eatery on the main drag in Rehoboth.  I've been having a hard time catching up with him; the days I stop by have been his days off.

My plans to visit Rehoboth were dashed though because I called another friend to ask him if he and his friend would like to go with me to have an Olde Time Photo taken of us dressed as 19th century desperadoes.  Sadly, he wasn't up to it.  He didn't think his friend was either.  I'm finding this is a common occurrence with my friends now, who are the same age or older than I am.  They're not up to too much physical activity, especially walking.  I would ask my longtime good friend Bob Mc. but he is too far gone in his dementia and Parkinson's ailments to even suggest going out.  Bill doesn't want to go, he hates crowds and doesn't like to do a lot of walking anyway.  I think I have to find me some younger friends.  What do you think?  I may be 69 years old but I'm still getting around very well thank you.  I haven't succumbed to the lures of Old Age yet and I hope I never do.

Thus this morning I worked out in the back yard.  I checked the bluebird house.  Swallows have taken up residence and now have three cream white eggs in the house were just a few weeks ago there were five blue eggs.  The bluebirds won't be raising a second batch in that house this year like they have in years past.  I'm fine with the swallows raising a batch of new swallows in the bluebird house.

Three swallow eggs this morning - one more to go!

Well, that's about it for now.  I've included a video of some relaxing music below (my new "thing") in case anyone would like to listen to it.  I've been in a mellow mood the past week or so.  Maybe "mellow" is the wrong word.  Maybe a better description of my mood would be "Go with the flow."  I've decided to not get upset or concerned over current events, or my social life any more.  "Whatever it is, is."  I'm tired of all the strum and dang.  Really tired.

I'm concentrating on peace, beauty and what gives me serenity.  My backyard does that for me as well as my walks.  Riding my car in heavy traffic and trying to please everyone else does not.



Click on the picture to play the music (Sheila)

Peace.

Another Friend Gone

Click on the music above as I pay a tribute to our friend "Jay."

We haven't heard from our friend "Jay", AKA Calvin T. Avery for sometime.  Every summer for the past half dozen years he has visited Rehoboth Beach with his friend Ed.  "Jay" would almost always stop by and stay for a little visit.

"Jay" and me during one of his many visits to our home in Delaware

Two years ago, while on a family vacation in North Carolina Jay had an emergency hospital visit which resulted in him undergoing a colostomy operation.  The next time we saw Jay he was wearing a colostomy bag and he was undergoing chemotherapy treatments for colon cancer.

Jay still stopped by for visits and was always in the same good humor that he was before his operation.  One night he even stayed overnight, the only house guest we've had to stay in my "Mom's Room", a distinction still unmated by anybody else (we don't have many house guests).

Sometime this past Fall Jay stopped communicating with Bill by phone or e-mail. We both assumed that he dropped the friendship because both Bill and I had dropped our friendship with his friend Ed (which is another whole story I won't get into here).

Yesterday Bill decided to take a search in the Social Security Death Index just to make sure that Jay hadn't died.  Well, much to our sadness, Jay did die.  He died this past November 27th, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Now we know why he didn't call.

I hope wherever Jay is now he is at peace.

Every time someone from my life leaves this world, I feel as if the Musical Chairs of Life are diminishing.  While I don't fear death (which I don't - I only fear how I'm going to die), I am concerned with what a lonely world this is going to be when most of my friends and relatives are gone before me.  I remember something my grandfather said when he reached the grand old age of 87years old:



"Ronnie, life isn't the same when all my friends are gone.  There is no one now."  


I just can't imagine.  I don't even want think about it.

Goodbye Jay.

Calvin T. "Jay" Avery
April 11, 1944 - November 27, 2010

Aaron Tippin

Aaron Tippin

Yesterday my friend Don V. suggested that I attend the 8th Annual Summer Bash in Milton, Delaware.  I've heard of these 'summer bashes', but never attended one before.  I'm a Curious George and I always like to try something AT LEAST ONCE so I thought "why not?"  The day was hot and humid and I've heard in years past these 'summer bashes" were also HOT in more ways than one.  So, normally where I would take a nap on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon in the summer, I instead plunked down a $35.00 donation to attend this event which is a combination of a birthday party for a local gay activist and raising money for the Delaware Food Bank.  Another item that piqued my interest was the country music star Aaron Tippin.

I didn't know anything about Aaron Tippin other than our last names are similar (mine is "Tipton" and we're both from hillbilly roots; his name may very well be an alliteration of my family last name that was misspelled somewhere along the way in the misty history of those hillbilly mountains and hollers of yesteryear).

What I did know about Aaron was the picture that was posted on Facebook advertising the Summer Bash. Take a look.  Wow.  Uh huh.  Yes indeedy.  Nice biceps if I do say so myself.

Well folks, I wasn't disappointed.  Yes, the crowds were there.  Yes, the air has warm and heavy with humidity.  Yes, the parking was a bitch.  But it was all worth it because Aaron was great!  This man is a good singer and an entertainer par excellence.  I've never attended a rock concert in my life.  In fact, I've never attended any concert by a music star in my life.  The only concerts I've ever attended in my life were the ones I participated in when I was in high school (I was a member of my high school band) and one memorable visit in 1966 to the Philadelphia Academy of Music to see Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. I don't count that visit because my seat was so far up in the balcony all I could see were dots on the stage.  I could say I was there but I really didn't see anything.

Yesterday I would have liked to have gotten closer to Mr. Tippin but alas it was not to be.  I did get a video at closer range but it came out dark because of the lighting.  However, I did experience Aaron's mellifluous voice and his very entertaining personality.  Plus he has some kind of biceps.  Man oh man.  Who wants to see the likes of Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler after seeing a hunk (and I mean HUNK) like this.  Obviously a lady in the audience thought so too.  Listen to this short video I posted of Aaron yodeling.  Right in the middle Aaron take a short pause to bring the song to an end and the lady's beer takes over with a yell. Funny stuff but it all ended well.  Mr. Tippin, you are some showman.

Spo Shirt Received!

This afternoon, after I returned from an Aaron Tippen concert in the park I found a U S Parcel Post box awaiting me to open.  Could it be?  Was it the long awaited Spo Shirt?

I told Bill, "I think this is my Spo shirt!" as I rushed to open the box.

I wasn't disappointed.  Squeezed into this rather small box (hmmmm) was my Spo shirt!  I pull it out, it was packed tight.  It was partially stuck to the box with the glue of the sealing strip I got it out without damaging the shirt.  Bill said it was too big for me.  "Naa"  I said.  "It's just right."  And as I slipped it on to my bony frame it felt RIGHT.  I love the texture of the material.  I love the design.  The shirt is perfect.

I go over to the mirror to look.  Something isn't quite right.  I put my right hand up to my pocket and.....what's this?  No pocket?  I look again.  There it is, on the LEFT side.  Well, how about that?

Dr. Spo, I LOVE THE SHIRT.  You are a sweetheart for making it for me.  Thank you very, very much.  Every time I wear this shirt now (which will be often) I will always be reminded of our friendship.

P.S.

I'm just kidding about the pocket.

Silent Ganges

Alright folks, I'm staying awhile with Maneesh de Moor.  This is my favorite cut from his album which I mentioned in my previous blog posting.  I didn't know the name of this song until now.  "Silent Ganges", somehow it seems very appropriate.  I am transported when I hear this music.  My soul feels at one when I hear the woman sing.  I do not understand her words but I understand her feeling.

This morning I walked on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach.  Like this music, I felt totally at one.  So what I'm going to do now is a mini-photo dump of my walk on the boardwalk this morning in the early morning fog.  My suggestion is to turn on the video clip so the music plays while you peruse my photos.  I'm feeling very mellow these days folks.  Very mellow.

The Atlantic Ocean this morning from the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk

The Rehoboth Beach boardwalk early this morning in the fog

The Star of the Sea Hotel on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk

Dolle's Salt Water Taffy this morning on the boardwalk

One of the many entrances to the beach  from the boardwalk

A pier on Silver Lake, Rehoboth Beach this morning

Leaving Silver Lake this morning in the fog