Once and Future Methodist

The day before I took this shot I neglected to bring my camera with me.  Of course, I saw what was either a small otter or a large muskrat in Reedy Creek, which runs alongside the Greenbelt for most of its length.  The last time I forgot my camera a turkey hen walked accross the path in front of me, totally unconcerned by my slack jawed presence.  I've yet to see either again, when I have my camera with me.

Sorry for being so brief lately.  I've had an occupational injury...carpal tunnel to be exact.  I'll keep posting, but in a more limited format 'til the wrist heals.

I love it when a headline is also a straight line:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-bigamy1608aug16,0,7605590.story

In my Father’s Words

My dad was a bit older now, around 13 or 14.  The family had prospered as tenant farmers and, after a few years had bought a large house in Millers Falls, where my grandfather worked in a tool factory while grandma turned the house into a boarding house, with several families living there.  They were able to buy a car and had other luxuries.  Then came the depression.  Grandpa lost his job and started drinking.  Most of those who were boarding with them lost their jobs, too.  They were able to get out of that house and bought a farm in Colrain MA, and so it was back to the rural life after being town folk for a while.

GULU THE CAT

            Gulu was a big, bushy, loveable cat.  He was my brother Stan’s pet.  He did nothing but eat and sleep, which was exactly what he was doing when my mother came up to the house looking for a cat.   Someone had left the grain box lid open and three rats were having a party, eating grain and scurrying around.

            Now, we had a dozen or more cats around, but at this moment only Gulu, snoozing under the stove, was available.  My sister, Stella, said:  “Throw Gulu in the box,  Maybe his size alone will scare the rats away.”  “Ha, Ha”, said Mel.  “The only thing Gulu can lick is the milk off his whiskers.”

            Stanley grabbed his cat and we all thought he was trying to protect it from us and the rats, but he said:  “I’ll show you Gulu is a real fighter.”  He started for the barn.  All of us followed along to see the show.

            Down at the barn Stan walked slowly towards the grain box.  When he got close, he threw the surprised Gulu into the box and closed the lid down!

            There was a moment of real silence.  Then all bedlam broke loose!  The grain box seemed to Jump up and down.  The snarling of Gulu and the squealing of the rats, told us that a big battle was in progress.  The lid of the box jumped up and down, and clouds of grain dust surrounded the box.  We all cheered for the great fight Gulu was giving them.

            Mother suggested that, perhaps, we had better rescue Gulu.  Stanley wouldn’t hear of such a thing.   While we were talking suddenly we were aware the battle was over.  A faint meow came from the box.

            All eyes were glued to the box.  Stan lifted the cover and out climbed the strangest looking cat we ever saw.  He was so covered with grain that even his whiskers were white.  He looked like the abominable snow cat.  He seemed all right, though.  Stan took him outdoors to brush him off and pet him.  One thing for sure, after Gulu licked those three rats, we never made fun of him again!

I wish I knew what “GULU” means in Polish.  When I was 5 or 6, grandma, dad’s mom, was living with my Uncle John in