A brother turns 61

 Hard to believe President Kennedy was still alive when I was born on this day in 1963. I watched Neil Armstrong step on the moon on our black and white TV in Williston in 1969. I was in the Bicentennial parade with Gary Mack and our dogs Goliath and Dill in 1976. In 1980 I began my career in radio at WDSR in Lake City. I voted for the first time for President in 1984 for Ronald Reagan. 1986 I was on the air when the space shuttle Challenger exploded and I didn't know what to say. I became a friend for life with George Jones in 1991 because I didn't know you couldn't just walk up to him and ask him for an interview for GC-101 in Gainesville. In 1994 I began at 93.7 K-COUNTRY. In 2001 I watched as the Twin Towers fell and was broadcasting as the Pentagon was hit. I've seen my Mom and Dad go to Heaven. On December 29th, 2023 I married the love of my life. And now here I am six decades later on November 7th, 2024. 61 years old. It's been a wonderful, crazy, blessed, unpredictable life. I hope I get to have a few more trips around the sun with this woman I love. 🎂❤️ I love you my friends!

My brother posted this to Facebook. I find it sad that he makes no mention of Cindy his first wife and their three children Nick, Noah and Lyndsey. Lyndsey pretty much disowns him for the divorce. He is so taken with his new wife who also divorced her husband i have to always keep my eyes from rolling and my tongue saying how it feels. 

Bill Boyd ball

 Bill Boyd Ball

Basketball was pretty much my passion from 1965 on when we lived in Kentucky near Lexington.My Uncles Billy and William took me to see the Wildcats play Mississippi State in Memorial Coliseum,my first collegiate game in 1966. We went down to the State locker room following to meet Chuck Wade of Forest, Mississippi, who led the Dawgs over the Wildcats.

When we moved to Williston, though I played on the high school team as a point guard, my real love was playing with Bill Boyd, the local meat cutter and ice plant owner, who taught me much about how basketball should be played. We would play week nights when the gym was open with young and old guys, the team picked among whoever showed up and as long as your team won, you played. I always wanted to play on Bills team for he wasn’t like basketball today, run and gun ball hogs, he was pick and roll, screen, defense, pass and work to the open man. Being from Kentucky, he knew how the Wildcats under Rupp won so often against taller opponents. 

Kentucky for the longest always recruited a Kentucky boy who had a head and heart knowledge and not just McDonalds all-American talent and a looking toward the NBA after one year.

Last year I was encouraged to see such a player on Kentuckys team, the son of former player Jeff Sheppard, Reed. He’s like Kyle Macy, Louie Dampier,Cameron Mills and so many who played and the fans loved. I know Bill Boyd would recognize in Reed what I too see and would immediately pick him for his team.

Unfortunately Reed declared too for the NBA after a year. But good news, this year Kentucky has a new coach, Mark Pope, who played for Kentucky under Rick Pitino when the won the NCAA championship. He knows the UK tradition and things are looking promising. 

Lewis

 Today my younger brother Lewis Watson is 61. Born in Tallahassee when we lived in Monticello. Paula and i never quite knew how to include him being he was 8 years younger than me and 10 Paula. We always said mamma spoiled him. He sure was a handful for everyone. 

Airborn

Airborn

I loved the doo

I loved the yellow bug

I loved the Spotmatic 

The roof racks 

The white canoe

I loved the denim shirt

It was the age of

Aquarius 

And I was in love.

Raylene pen

 Piddled on the Raylene chicken pen. Rain put a delay. Making a new door you don’t have to stoop. Went to Tractor Supply to get hinges. 

He answered

In the darkness that was reigning

Our prayers were heard

A light is seen dawning

At the command of His word

Carols Lincoln

 Today the check for the car loan arrived via Fedex, so about 3 Mel, Roscoe and i drove to Williston to get the MkX 2017. I drove our car back with Roscoe. Called Farm Bureau earlier to get insurance.First time driving at night since before stroke. Had to pull off at Oleno for a nature break.

Trump

 We stayed up late to watch the election results. We were relieved to see Trump win in a landslide.We needed relief from four years of stolen rule by Biden Harris. 

Cumberland Island

 Sunday Sonnets 

Do you recall in the First November 

When recovering I talked you into hiking

Embarking upon the ferry to Cumberland 

Still so weak from the long nights plight.

Sunday’s as these I sit beneath the pine trees

Recalling those first slow steps after the fall

Breathless lying on the blanket by the sea

Giving thanks for His taking us through it all.

When again in fall Cumberland Islands calling

Be patient with dreams beyond our span 

And pray we never tire of the gentle drawing

Just to lay again where our dreams began.

Sunday sonnets do not often now come

Sunday sonnets for lovers who so fleet did run.

A cross country

 A cross land

Johnclarestokes

Once we were a cross land

All up and down the highways and byways 

the crosses by churches, in fields, at

intersections, upon hills, in valleys stood

then gradually something changed

the crosses were no longer maintained 

they began to fade, to rot, to fall

to lay in abandon 

until all throughout our land

We have become nothing but a 

cross land.

Ghost Gator

 Painted on a real estate sign 

With Will

 At the confluence of Roaring Creek and the Suwannee....A trio of lady kayakers portaged around the Shoals...And as they passed  on their journey....I thought of Will and the place where the sweet waters flow...