HAPPY TRAILS

This past Wednesday evening my Grandson Dave hosted a small, Italian style dinner on our back porch. It was a great success. The tablecloth was red and white check - the wine was Chianti - tiny lights glowed overhead in the grape vines while they ate their pasta and romantic Italian music played in the distance.

Marie and I wisely left them alone. They joined us later in the living room for coffee and some non-specific conversation. Somewhere in the middle of our idle talk, I happened to mention that when our visitors depart my farewell is often, "Happy Trails". Melissa, my Grandson's girlfriend, graced me with that blank look that told me that it meant nothing to her. I then raised my eyebrows and said, "Roy Rogers???". The blank look remained.

So instead of calling her a twerp, I gave her a brief history lesson.

Later, Marie and I bemoaned the fact that our world is moving to the back of the library. Again Thursday we told the tale to some visitors who were closer to us in age and we generally agreed that this was a sad reality and that it is indeed unfortunate that Roy has passed on and so many good things went with him.

Interesting? Maybe, sort of and that should have been the end of it.

But guess who rang our doorbell at about 9:00 this morning????????? Her card is below.

Cross my heart --- TRUE.

She wants to do a story. Is this a sign? Is some mysterious power swirling among the treetops? Maybe this could be the story, not of the tree houses, but of all of the wonderful people we have met and the children who's lives we may have touched just a bit.

I do have a weather vane with a galloping horse up on the bridge under the clock. Perhaps I should name her Buttermilk.