I guess the line is synonymous with something closely akin to “putting your best foot forward”. After all, you only get on shot to make a good first impression. “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” never resonated much with me because I never had it. That didn’t mean I didn’t want it, but magical thinking can only carry one so far. It is what it is and I didn’t have it.
When the General was going through hundreds of photos left behind by her mother, she found a host that included pictures of our two children. Priceless is the only word to describe some taken of Craig early in his life. In fact, the very thought of the pictures leaves me chuckling. They are mostly funny because Craig’s two sons at times strike the same poses. You know what they say: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
The General spent most of the week in Cat Spring. I headed to Birmingham on Tuesday and the General headed to share time and space with grandkids. In addition, Thursday was William’s thirteenth birthday. Why not go for the birthday celebration? For starters, my daughter had her mother hand carry a lemon cake she’d made especially for William. It is his favorite cake.
By the way, lemon cake is a favorite of the Generals’ as well. Andrea also made a lemon cake for her mother at the same time. The General’s birthday was yesterday. From the General's description of yesterday morning, her birthday was off to a good start. Apparently, our youngest grandson was already in bed when the General shared Craig’s childhood pictures with William and Jenna. Jake discovered the pictures the next morning and was hysterical with laughter.
In one of the pictures, Craig appears to be a gunslinger with a toy pistol. He was probably six or seven-years-old at the time. In a host of other pictures, he was either in his last year of high school or first year of college. The Texas A&M shirt is pronounced in the pictures. Interestingly, Jake’s favorite shirt(s) fall into that same category. The same is true for William. The humorous part of the story is that Craig is flexing his muscles. Like the saying goes: “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” and he did.
The intermittent sounds of Jake’s laughter filling the house yesterday morning as he thumbed through the pictures set a good tone for the General’s birthday. What a delightful way to start the day.
Generally, birthdays are not a big deal to me. I don’t want to miss one, but other than that, I’m not big into the fanfare. So what to get the General? It was the $64,000.00 question. Honestly, if she wants it, she already has it. She doesn’t need more dishes. Fine jewelry is a bit out of the question. We need to save for our golden years or better yet, our children’s inheritance.
Forty years ago, I would have gone clothes shopping for her. Would you believe it if I told you I used to buy all of the General’s clothes? When we first moved to Austin in the mid-1970s she hated to shop and I prided myself on knowing the perfect thing when I saw it. Trust me, the lady was dressed for success!
My younger brother in OKLAHOMA doesn't understand the terminology of “dressed for success”, but there is a method to the madness. When we first moved to Austin, I worked on Congress Avenue just south of Town Lake. Consequently, it was an easy commute for me to make my way to Scarborough’s Department Store during my lunch hour or immediately after work.
I’m not sure when all of that changed. I think the emergence of Barton Creek Mall lured the General into an unprecedented shopping mode. When she started shopping for herself, I mostly stopped shopping for her.
I’m not sure, but I think she now mostly shops online, but the frequency is unprecedented. I know that only because I pick up the mail. I’m wondering if she’s discovered a windfall profit fund that I know nothing about? Of course, whenever I inquire she tells me she’s spending her own money. She hasn't worked in five-to-six years, so I guess you could say she stretches a dollar a very looooong way.
The other day, she mentioned that she uses part of my Social Security money to pay the bills? “What about yours”, I asked? Who would have thought? She doesn’t need it to pay the bills. I’m not complaining. It just seems like an inequity of sorts, but who am I to say? On the other hand, what good would it do me to say it?
I decided I’d probably make some brownie points with the General if I freshened up the potted plants on the patio. That would have to be a welcomed birthday gift. Seriously, to say the backyard needed to be freshened up is an understatement. We had one or two very cold days during the winter. I was out of town at the time. Reportedly, the water well froze on two occasions. Every potted plant in our back yard was gave-yard dead before the ice thawed. Just getting rid of the remains of what once was had to serve me well.
Actually, I was eager for the General to get home on her birthday. I knew new plants on the patio would be a bright spot in her day. True to my thoughts, I wasn’t disappointed. She was very pleased.
In unprecedented fashion, I set aside work yesterday afternoon and spent the time with her. We opted for a late lunch at the Roaring Fork located out North. The traffic was a killer, but the ambience was life giving once we got there. It was really a nice outing. Actually, we should do it more often.
If anyone is wondering, we didn’t take the Miata. Yesterday was a perfect ragtop down day, but it was the General’s birthday. I didn’t protest much when she said “No” to riding in my car. We took hers instead.
As a side note, I attempted to locate a pharmacy to dispose of a host of outdated medications. Apparently, the “Take It Back” day designated for April 28 doesn’t ring true for most of the pharmacies around Austin. However, I did find law enforcement locations that are set to serve as collection sites. Old drugs are a lot like old paint, difficult to get rid of is my experience. Today, I’m planning to become drug free.
All My Best!
Don