Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Australia

Our Australia trip was the most exciting for me, because I was able to make several side trips. We drove north of Sydney into the wine area. Australian wines are excellent, and one of the members of the trip filled the back of the station wagon with cases of wine. As far as trees, valleys and views, Australia is most beautiful underwater in the Great Barrier Reef. The extent of my experience, though, was to walk up to my shoulders, testing my bravery. But the fear of sharks and the cold water sent me back to the shore.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Baby Talk

In the good old days, we traveled quite a bit. In those days, a gas station attendant did the gas filling at the pump. Self-serve was unknown. The driver remained in the car and requested one of the two choices, unleaded or regular. "Fill it up," was a common phrase of the time. While the tank filled, the attendant would wash the windows.

Once after one of these pit stops, our daughter, who was 3 or 4 at the time, asked her mother, "Is his name 'Regular', Mama?"

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Sunday Afternoon

Sunday afternoon an Amish congregation visited us, the residents of Sedgwick Healthcare. It was a great pleasure to welcome them. They dressed in their usual early 18th century style and sang in perfect harmony the standard Protestant hymns. Their minister offered a short homily teaching from the basic Protestant doctrine.

If I Were a London Taxi

If I were a London taxi, I would drive around town, never exceeding the speed limit.

I would show you the fabulous London tower, Buckingham Palace, home of the Queen of England.

I would ride you on a slow boat to China, eat lunch from a brown paper bag, server Foster's.

If my engine grew tired and cranky, I would fill it up with premium fuel and call "Click & Clack" on my radio Saturday morning.

If I had a fleet of Mercedes, I would throw them into the drink so no one could envy them.

-Dave Sparlin