Dairy Daze...and Now Beyond

 Back in the days of my youth and naivety, I used to think when I reached my 50s life would be slow and staid and not much going on.  I figured I would spend my days sitting in my rocking chair and thinking about days gone by.  My 50s are rapidly running out and so far that hasn't happened.  For one thing, I don't even own a rocking chair.   I realize my parents, particularly my mother, had quite a deal to do with my earlier perceptions of my future.  My parents kept to themselves for the most part. We had extended family that would visit off and on, but we didn't entertain anyone aside from family members. My parents didn't belong to any organizations or clubs or suchlike.  It just wasn't how either of them were raised.  As a family in my younger years we would on occasion go to the beach. When my uncles would visit they and my dad would go surf fishing. My dad had been a lumberjack back in the day, but by the time I came along he worked as ...

 It has been a mild fall this year.  We had a brief skiff of snow here a couple of weeks ago, maybe an inch.  It didn't stick around long.  It fell on a Monday afternoon.  Ellen went to college, then stayed overnight with a couple of friends out there.   Ellen:  This past year has been a big one for Ellen. She graduated from high school and started college.  She is majoring in psychology with the end goal of high school counselor.   She is doing well in college.  I think she has realized that indeed she did NOT in fact "peak" in high school.  She is having fun in her UAC group, University Activities Committee.  They have planned a couple of Bingo nights.  There was the Grocery Bingo night; in which a couple/three of the members, Ellen was one, went grocery shopping at Walmart and bought over $500 worth of groceries; both food and cleaning products.  Then that evening they played Bingo and if they won they go...