"The Whiff"...

The "Whiff!"

 Good Wednesday Morning, y'all.

If only the weather would stay this nice... What a beautiful way to start the day and to put the "kibosh" on my final painting for the Abita show. It's entitled, "Heavy Metal Thunder!"

This morning, after showering, I opened the medicine cabinet to get my razor blade and a Wiffle ball fell out.

I know, I know! You're asking what the hell is a Wiffle ball is doing in a medicine cabinet. Oh, the wiffleball stories I could tell. But, I'll just stay with this one since it's the ball our kid played with for many years even after his baseball playing days.

Wikipedia says, "Miniature versions of baseball have been played for decades, including stickball, improvised by children, using everything from rolled up socks to tennis balls. The ball most commonly used in the game was invented by David N. Mullany at his home in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1953[2] when he designed a ball that curved easily for his 12-year-old son. It was named when his son and his friends would refer to a strikeout as a "whiff". The Wiffle Ball is about the same size as a regulation baseball, but is hollow, lightweight, of resilient plastic, and no more than 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. One half is perforated with eight .75-inch (19 mm) oblong holes; the other half is non-perforated. This construction allows pitchers to throw a tremendous variety of curveballs and risers.

Brian used to take the ball down the block in South Pasadena to his friend, Jeremy MaCauge's home. They'd spend hours on the front lawn trying to strike each other out. The ball, later, took on a new life here in Louisiana where Brian would introduce his pitching style to some of his college buddies.

The ball later sat, for years, in a box along with some other memorabilia. Some things like memories are easier to let go of than others. At the time, not knowing where to put it and not sure I was ready to give it away, I put it up on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet in our guest bathroom thinking that I'd save that decision for later.

I guess I've decided, even though it jumped out at me this morning, that I haven't yet decided!

First cup!

Copyright 2022/Ben Bensen III

" All Is Quiet Up In The Trees, So Far, Except For Him"

 

Good "Aftermath" Monday Morning, y'all.

I trust everyone celebrated the Easter weekend to the fullest. For us, the weekend sure ended with a stormy, stormy night, and I've decided, with a first cup in hand, to check for any early morning damage.

There doesn't seem to be anything major save a few more tree limbs and branches. A stream of water from last night's rain trickles as it dances its way downhill to the culvert out front. Could've sworn I saw trout in there.

With no Pierre to take out in the quiet of the misty dawn, I have been missing the beauty of Spring. Life surely is a double edged sword. All the leaves on the trees are a bright and fresh yellow green. They won't stay that way for long.

Below, are the wildflowers like clover, dandelions and a blue flower that Tee planted in a pot years ago only to escape and participate in Spring's wild enthusiasm.

Very enthusiastic, high up on a cypress tree, is our resident mockingbird. I don't hear or see much of him during the winter, but this morning he's letting loose with all his new riffs much to the disdain of the other birds. All is quiet up in the trees, so far, except for him.

I guess he's just glad to have survived the storm to live another day... Me too!

Second cup, y'all.

Copyright 2022/Ben BensenIII