MANAGING

Being economically poor for his entire life, Dad most often engaged in what he called "managing".

As an example, I can never remember Dad buying a new tire for his vehicle. If a "casing" need replacing, Dad would cruise the local country garbage dumps until he found something deemed serviceable. If he needed spark plugs, he would look in the sand in his neighbor's yard and find discarded plugs that he could clean and use in his truck. If he needed a tool he couldn't buy, he would "invent" the tool by constructing something from junk lying in his back yard.

Obviously, the ranch hand has the genes of Gene in his veins. Perhaps not so obvious to the casual observer, the ranch hand often takes pleasure in "managing" rather than purchasing "stuff".

Today's menu included mounting the Tin Star deer blind atop a metal stand constructed by yours truly in the distant past (and welding together some steps to ascend to this throne).

Never mind there was no crane to lift the hunting edifice onto its pedestal or suitable materials to fabricate the "stairs". Just called on Dad to inspire and figgered it out as it naturally progressed?

Bottom line: If Dad were alive, he would be 77 today. The ranch hand stepped back from the "handy work" of the deer blind, looked to the heavens, and allowed, "This one was for you Dad, thanks for teaching me how to manage."

Happy Birthday Sir, I miss you every day and shall always love you!