DOGGONE THE LUCK

Leonard (my Dad), Ed White (his Pop) & Baby Marvin

So said Leonard E, White, my Dad, and doubtless so said his Pop before him. Mom and Dad did not cuss. Or maybe they did, but never  in front of the family. Yet, when particularly agitated, Dad’s “Well, Doggone the Luck, Anyway” may as well have been profanity.  Although I’m thinking that may have had more to do with the reddening of his face than with his phraseology.

Mom & Dad, Aug. 1939, not Cussing
on Mississippi Ave. n/k/a Lafayette Square

 This blog post began as a rant against whatever Fate caused the demise of our local family-owned garden center/nursery, The Flower Box. Located at the corner of Morganford and Holly Hills in South St. Louis, this was the place to go for beautiful, healthy, fresh, plants. We could get good plants elsewhere, but elsewhere did  not provide friendly, expert advice, nor did it provide the personal attention given to each and every Flower Box customer. We were neighbors, not just customers, and that includes neighbors who drove the extra mile.

My first Flower Box treasure was the most beautiful Swedish Ivy I had ever seen. I wavered because left in my care, Swedish Ivy has never enjoyed long life. I am pleased to report that 3 years and counting, this one is not only alive and well but has endured some harsh winters in my basement and come back fighting each Spring. Left to my own devices I would have taken a few cuttings the first Fall and let the poor thing die alone in the yard; but as I said, I was given good advice.

Like my lettuces, the Swedish Ivy grows where it’s planted, even when it is hanging from a hook in the basement prior to beginning its first wintering-over in the Mold Room. I am going to say I use that term loosely,  to throw you off guard. Now you think that is my basement laboratory, don’t you?  Good.

I had “gotten it into my head” (as I type this I realize that is yet another expression that has gone the way of the dinosaurs) that as long as the little house was still on the property MAYBE The Flower Box would spring back to life. When Rachel and Scott brought me a gorgeous Canna in early Fall 2009 I intended to pick up a few a few more the following Spring. But by then Flower Box was gone and garish yellow “For Lease” signs  were posted   on the fences surrounding the property. BUT, the little blue house with white gingerbread trim, adorned with simple, brightly painted, wooden flowers and a sign “The Flower Box” was still standing. So my head and I held onto our fantasy that times are getting better, Hope Springs Eternal, and all that…. UNTIL YESTERDAY.  As I drove down Holly Hills I witnessed the remains of the little house being picked up by a big ugly machine and carted off. The greenhouse was still standing, the For Lease signs were still up, but that was yesterday.  I may avoid the area today.
 DOGGONE THE LUCK

Today the rant has taken a more personal turn.  No sooner had I decided that yes, I am interested in today's Royal Wedding, than I realized that no way  would I either stay awake or get up at 3:00 a.m.. That left me no alternative but to record the historic event. I will spare you the details, but times being what they [still] are, my only choice was to do this recording on an old VCR.  Yes, there still are such things walking the face of the earth. In this digital age it involves fooling the thing into believing that  digital media can indeed be recorded on tape. This despite the threats I got from my now defunct DVD recorder the first time I tried to tape a soap. The programming being done, I got my 40 winks, woke at a decent hour, watched TV highlights while slurping coffee. Eager to see the whole shindig, I grabbed a second cup and my tape. That is  when I realized that although I did an excellent job of programming, I had  set the VCR clock to PM not AM.
DOGGONE THE LUCK.

Every good rant should be offset by good news, should it not?  I have a whole list but will bore you with only one today:

         Rant: Microwave Oven - my 2^nd Target Red microwave bit the dust last week, the day after a big storm. The same thing that happened to my 1st Target Red microwave. Not too mysterious, since none of my outlets are grounded.  Digressing again.

Good News:  Target has kept the same price on this model as  4 years ago except now they granted it a $5 Price Cut, so I got one.  "Price Cut" is 21st Century Speak meaning "Sale".  2 syllables to replace 1?  Sure, that makes slightly more sense than replacing “secretary” with “administrative assistant”.  Back to ranting so better stop.

 Back in the 60's, I spent an inordinate amount of time moaning and groaning to the family doctor about whatever was plaguing my life that day.He waited for me to come up for air then told me that when he goes through hard times, no matter how hard, he always reminds himself that "this, too, shall pass".  He might have given me pills, but I believe he gave me something better.

Even so, sometimes it's best to just snuggle into your favorite - rug? - and tell the world to get lost till tomorrow.

Guess Who???
I really need to re-set the date of this camera.

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