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My alarm clock rang early. No, it did not jump the gun and spring to life earlier that I had programmed it. It sounded its melodic piano music precisely when I set it the night before.
Today was a fishing day. I had to meet 9 of my fellow workers and friends for a half-day fishing in Galveston Bay. This would be my first Texas charter.
We have been planning this trip for months. The busyness of the summer had us all gasping for air. Honestly, the anticipation of this adventure was a common conversation; it kept us smiling!
Now, the clock read 3:15AM. Yes, you read that correctly. Both the numbers and the time of day are accurate.
Getting up early was part of not wanting to disappoint anyone. I would not want to be late and hold up the adventure of others who were eager to make a memory out on the waters of the bay. Nine others were counting on me to be on time for our team adventure. I would not disappoint them.
At 4:30AM all ten of us showed up at the rendezvous point and we were off to our destination. Our three guides were waiting for us. Our group dispersed and we were off at the break of dawn, headed for secret fishing spots known well by our professional guides.
Anticipation is one thing. Past memories of great fishing adventures is another thing. But, actually motoring out to the fishing spots of a guide that I have never met is a completely different thing.
Then, the boat slows down. The captain is scurrying about his boat. He is giving us instructions.
I am paying attention. He is speaking with confidence and professionalism. My expectations morph into excitement rather than skepticism. Fishermen are always optimists.
With rapt attention I was attuned to my rod. Feeling the slightest movement, staring at the rod tip for any unusual action and trying to imagine what that first strike would feel like. Then, “SLAM!” something violent took my bait, line peeled of the reel, the rod bent into the shape of a giant comma. “Fish on!”
photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography
It is confession time. Getting up this morning was painful. “More sleep” was the inner voice screaming at me to shut my eyes tight and curl up under comfortable sheets.
Then, I peaked through one open eye and saw the time. “Groan,” time to be a responsible adult and go to work. Maybe a shower would refresh my soul to a new day.
Honestly? There have been a few times when I have closed my eyes in the shower, leaned against a wall just to rest. Rarely, have I startled myself awake only to realize that I wasn’t swimming my morning laps but gasping for air while the shower hit me in the face.
Maybe years of experience got me on track for my morning commute. Or it could have been a legion of Guardian Angels working on overtime to get me safely to where I needed to be. Poor angels!
Driving toward the Interstate was worth the tough morning start. On the entry ramp that is equivalent to a Texas fly over due to the height, gave my wonderful wife and I a spectacular view of the city of Katy waking up with us. It was a smile-making new day start.
The weather forecast looks brutal today. It is the sun that will be prominent as our Texas temperatures soar above 100 degrees. Yet, this morning our solar systems single star was pleasant, bright and welcoming.
OK, it was the air conditioning that kept us cool while the sun was warming up. Nevertheless, high temperatures and stifling humidity were at bay. Now, the colors of the rising sun and its filtered rays just made me smile.
I was glad to welcome the morning. The past slow start was history. Now I could feel the momentum of a new day surging through my body.
Light has a way of driving out the darkness of moaning and groaning. Shadows no longer win. Now, all can be seen and a soul can drink in the hopes of a new day.
It was a long morning to finally wake up. I would just as soon keep the skid marks by my bedside fresh. However, my day’s start, I am always thrilled to see the Creator’s fingerprints where He makes me look.
Are you as much in love with the morning as I want to be? Do you feel yourself waking up and taking in the possibilities of a new day?
photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography
An Egret is a common bird with a comical gait and a splendid posture that is unique among feathered friends. There have been a number of times when I was comfortably enjoying the woods and a pond. Then, the sound of fluttering wings gave notice to an Egret landing in the water.
Its long legs would slowly and carefully lift, stretch and walk into a better position. Then it would crane its neck, adjust its posture and tilt its head. When the sun, water reflection and shadows were just right a special event was about to take place in lightening speed.
The bird would strike. Its beak and head would dart into the water. Very little splashing would follow.
Like an expert in spear fishing, the Egret would emerge with a tiny minnow in its beak. Carefully, it would lift up its head and lean back at just the right angle, manipulate its catch, and swallow it whole. Then, it was back to fishing again.
It is a graceful bird. When it functions it is clear that it has a flexibility which serves it well by the Creator’s design. This is another creature of creation that makes far more sense as an intentional design rather than a happen chance result of trial and error.
On a bike ride through the George Bush Park in Katy, Texas I chuckled at these funny birds. Usually, I see them by themselves. One bird fishing a territory of water. This time there was a whole convention of birds.
I was far enough away that they did not spook. Instead, they went about bathing, chattering to each other or fishing for food. Some had their heads up looking for danger. Others took on a posture as if spoiling for a fight.
Maybe it was a convention. Possibly like people this might have been a technique consortium on the best fishing techniques for the next generation of birds. Goofy thoughts made me chuckle.
Funny birds made me chuckle out loud. Isn’t life grand when we can enjoy what we see, think lofty thoughts of theology and science, treasure the privilege to watching wildlife teach us about life? Don’t you agree that this is quite a fascinating bird?
photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography
My bike ride took me along the Buffalo Bayou. The sun was beating down, rising higher in the easter sky and intensifying its heat. There was reason to finish up the ride just to beat the Houston heat but something made me slow down and make an unscheduled stop.
From a distance I saw something that was not a normal part of the landscape. My scanning the horizon and enjoying the views stopped short. Like radar locking on to target I automatically started to slow down.
There on the grassy field was a lump standing higher than the freshly cut lawn. It was the only protrusion making for an obvious oddity. Over the hill was the water in the Bayou.
Now, I was close enough to identify the surprise. It was a turtle. I looked at him and he made me smile.
Its tiny head was protruding from beneath its very strong shell. I don’t know how well a turtle’s eyesight is but it was definitely having some eye contact with me. Maybe I was intimidating like most humans who tower over these amphibians.
Slowly but deliberately it drew in its legs. Its head shrank back a little too. Now its house of defense protected most of it if I was a real threat or danger.
Someone must have cut the grass recently. Shavings were sprinkled over its back. The design on its shell was now decorated with foliage and giving it a comical appearance. I smiled even more.
I got closer. My movements were slow. I did not want to scare, just photograph it.
Now, its image is tucked away in my phone. I left it alone never having touched or disturbed it. From a distance on my bicycle I could just make out its slow and deliberate movements.
This turtle was heading some where. It wasn’t in a hurry. It couldn’t be even it wanted to.
Maybe as it crept along, it reminds all of us Houstonians to take our time in the hot humid summer days. Moving at a turtles’ pace may have the merits of making life in the hot south much more manageable, don’t you think? It was a least worth a long smile, right?
photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography
High School graduation was part of life. It was filled with my classmates who were putting their stamp on a season that we shared together. This special year would be a stake in the ground that we could all look back and remember our beginning, a commencement into life.
Different kinds of classmates were all around me. My music buddies amazed me at their talent. When they sang, I was stunned at how well they could captivate an audience. Others could pick up an instrument and be judged among the best in the state.
Marching Band occupied a lot of my time. Friendships grew when times were tough. A new High School opened up and hived off so many of our musical talent.
We were left with a corporal’s guard. But, we gave it all we had and enjoyed it. We could not change much about our size. However, the quality that we produced was memorable.
Some of my history was in sports. I wrestled in High School. We had one stand-out who went on to State. All of us were proud of his achievements.
Athletes wore their block letter “M” on jackets and sweaters. Winning may have been a rarity among our sports enthusiasts but spirit could never be questioned. Our cheerleaders were the best.
Spirit at C.K. McClatchy High School was always on a high level. Cheering together gave us an identity with this special year of a special class.
There were a lot of smart people around me too. In Elementary Functions, pre-calculus, our brainy math wizards solved impossible problems. Collaboration on the black board with options to finally solve a problem were a blast.
Science club gathered another kind of “smart” students. Philosophy and experiments launched us into a world already too big for young lives to tackle. But, we chased our chemistry, physics and engineering dreams with youthful energy and exuberance.
When Pomp and Circumstance was played for us, we marched in gowned up and eager to head to college. A world was waiting for us to conquer, serve and make it better. Since that special year of 1969, my classmates have made a difference in the world.
It was a special year with special people and amazing dreams. Do you remember that year? The world has never been the same since, don’t you think?
photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography
They remind me of Twinkies. I hope that isn’t an insult. Health choices aside, Twinkies were a favorite treat when I was a kid. They tasted great, smelled great, never got wasted and were like a reward for finishing my bag lunch.
Now, add eyes or eye, inject a massive amount of personality, add a generous dose of mischievousness and the collection of movie screen characters is born. Bib overalls give them a personality that is lovable. Goggles over a pair or cyclops eye is adorable.
Feed in a sound track for their fast talking completely non-understandable dialogue but let interpretive gestures and episode contexts give meaning then something magical happens. I can’t forget the laughing. When the minions chuckle, I chuckle with them.
Despicable Me movies add charm to this supporting cast of wonderful movie background supporting characters. I do love it when they laugh. Smiling is a natural reaction.
There have been an abundance of trailers for the Minion Movie. But, it is one thing to be a hit as a supporting actor or cast. It is totally another thing to be the star.
Most animated movies leave a lot to be desired. Even when the highly appealing trio of Bob, Kevin and Stuart lead the way. Maybe the critics will win me over this time. They are not kind about the movie.
For the time being I will be content to have snuggled up to the trio of Minions during one their promotional trailers. I got down to their level and could only smile. You must be a Minion fan too, right? Are you going to see the movie?
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