A Real Good Life. I guess for Thanksgiving.

I promise this guy really wanted to convince me that my childhood was traumatic. I told him of my many thanksgivings. He was sure I had childhood issues. I told him I had had a real good life. He was sure I was in denial. I told him that I had had a real good life and that I had a lot to say about thanksgivings. After about 5 sessions he called me boneheaded and Pollyannic. And that was that.

Well I reckon he was right about both diagnoses. But hell's bell's that does not change my life. One thing I can say for certain is that if you can show me your life is better than mine I will Paypal you 10 bucks. I mean it. I am serious. That is not a bet but a contest, certified by me.

I did at least 45 years of hauling kids when I was older and chopping firewood and getting ready when I was younger. All good, every second. But now I cook a turkey today and my young bride and I go out with our young son and nephew on Thanksgiving. We found out when he was one years old that folk just loved to see him out on that day. Older folks who go out and steadfast weight staff that miss their families to make a living on that day. And of course travelers.

Shout and shinola we hardly get to eat with all the greeters just rubbing his head and tears in their eyes of lost years or what could have been. He seems to get it and smiles and acts just right.

So can you imagine a country born boy enjoying a city dinner in a city with strangers? Heck I could not have twenty years ago. But what I got to offer others changes -- thanks be to that.

Believe it or not I am thankful for the jails I have been in and there have been a few. Paris back in 75. There was an uprising of students against the/or celebrating some regime change over in Spain. So of course as good students in the seventies we rallied and protested until they took us all to jail.

Mexico in 1990 was memorable. I had bought a recovered Toyota Celica all legal through insurance. That means it was stolen and recovered and the car was sold at auction. But not yet cleared to Tijuana police. Oops. An alleged vehicular theft. I was not treated nicely.

A horrible DUI (my prescription narcotics) arrest. OK I admit to the 109 MPH. But the outrageous conduct of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and family seemed real strange. It was like guilty until proven innocent.

So I admit that I am not a "good fellow". That bar fight in Flagstaff Arizona was dead wrong. They just passed the no smoking laws and we went on the veranda to smoke our stogies and somehow we had skipped out on a bill for food we had not yet eaten. OK Fine my brother in law and me maybe should not have hurt those kids but still......heck they were 20 and above. And we did not kick them while they were down. Come on --- common rules apply and we were never charged formally. I guess it was kind of an embarrassment to everyone. The owner of the restaurant hired me manage shortly thereafter.

Every one of those jail times, slowed me down a notch in a good way. Think of a dog on a leash. I had to get used to being tugged into acting normal. And I got to tell you the normal life is really easy and nice.

Cancer should not really be such an ugly word. It brings good folk together to battle it. Me - I am alive. Yes my hair did not grow back right, and my remaining teeth are a fright but by golly Cancer did not kill me and let me know the world is right. Stage four Non- Hodgkins Lymphoma with pancreatic involvement. I remember fighting the pain before the diagnosis. My dad made it first. And said I was done for. Love that old doc. He was awesome and right. I wrapped up affairs and that father doctor of mine was right. The fancy oncologists diagnosed me terminal.

I reckon they mentioned it to me. But the doctors forgot to tell God. That whole time I never met an angel except those that showed me love. And I have go to say that the loving I got was worth the cancer.

In fact tonight I have been charged and by my wife formally accused of causing my son's first ear infection, not taking out the garbage and failing to properly admonish those who did not pay a Verison phone bill. I was also convicted of the crime of a dry pre-thanksgiving turkey.

I confess. I is a bad man.

Yet through all that the judge and jury still love this horrible man. I make los Miserables look like gold on one hand and even sadder on the other.

That is not right. But I slipped the new ring out of the the pocket and gave up some planted stuff.

Well yes I believe love is about secrets and fun. She will love the ring. A woman has no right to search her man's pockets, It is just wrong and men should stop that behavior. But better yet use it to build suspicion and suspense. Let them consider you a bad bastard through December and then the make up adoration is worth the price. Leave her alone for the first of December. Act un-interested. I tell you true this is one abstinence that will bust forth love.

You think me the idiot --- go back and read my jail deals. And yet my ladies love me. Why??? Because I love them more.

This hear is a really good life. Let me tell you a little somethin somethin about good or is that God? I bust out in happy. I mean I am just adored. And I adore. No way is that right. I am a bad man but I love more than i receive. Now that is not right. I am not talking some confessional here. I am talking simple math. I I receive I give twice that. It is that simple. "Give more than you receive and you shall receive more than you give."

I do not get that yet. But I live by it. And by golly I never does want. We just flourish.

Oh i do preach and I love that good old fashion feeling and love to watch folk mesmerized by my words. They weep and they stare and they have a rapture. But that is not the deal. Even though it is not me preaching. For I never prepare ahead of time, what to say. I just study and get all silly and then let the words come out. That is my deal with Jesus ----- just shut up and let me speak. He does pretty good. I like Longmire, go figure.

Here is the deal. I just love life. I love my children and my wife. I like and love sunsets as much as sunrises. I like stormy nights as much as bright bright bright sunshiney days. I think a fall down is only a chance to rise up. If I do not fall how can I raise up? I like and cherish my failures, for one reason that they make me meet others that are not facade like perfect.

A blade of grass with dew on it can hold my attention toooo long. A corrupt attorney makes me stand in contemplation and a politician always has my sympathy.

If this is not a real good life I would like to know it.

You really stink at being a good listener. You are the worst audience I ever did play for. Isn't that funny. Just imagine a musician saying that.

If you read this down to here then you prove my point above. No one who really read this would have put up with it this far. Me I just love life and I am so happy you are a part of my life. Out hiking and exploring today I picked up a beautiful stone. It was a Leaverite, and that means "leave it right there", because it is a part that explains earth history exactly where it is. Well please leave me right here because I love where I am at.

Sorry to my honey, but life is real good. And I know you deserve money and diamonds but I just love life, I am thankful to have her and you in my life.