Cut The Grass The year must have been 1975 or so. I had to drop out of college when we had the 2nd child. So I was working at the shipyard and hating every minute of it. I knew I was destined for much better things but with a wife and two children I just could not see my way out of it. One afternoon I was having a few beers at the wine shop when my best bud Ronnie Daniels walked across the street from his welding business. We shot the bull for a while. Mrs. Doris was never one to mince words so she told me that I was a fool not to finish college and get on with my life instead of doing manual labor. I said I would love to do that but I cannot figure out how to make a living and go to school also. Ronnie looked at me and said well I think I might have an answer for you. What I asked? He said I need a night dispatcher at Mobil oil in the worst way and I am sure that you can make enough money and get enough rest so that you can go back to school as well. We cut the deal and I went to work the next week at Mobil. The spring semester was just about to start so I headed up and enrolled and worked and studied nights and went to school during the day. Cameron parish was still running the bus service to Mc Neese so I got off of shift at 6 am and caught the bus at 7 and usually managed to catch a nap before we arrived.. I was carrying 21 hours which is a pretty good load but I have always been blessed with a good memory so as long as I stayed awake during the lectures I really did not have much study time involved. I was working 10 nights on and 5 days off which gave me a little break to rest. Finally the semester finished and I was looking forward to having some time off during the day as well as my 5 days off. I remember my first day off was a Tuesday and I slept all day and was excited to be able to spend some time with my kids when they got back from the nursery. The next morning I had plans to head to Fredman’s and spend the day with all my Creole and Grand Chenier buddies just drinking and relaxing. I woke up early and of course Lacey had stayed home with me. So once her mom had left she had crawled in bed with me and was sleeping when I woke up. I headed to the bathroom and took a shower and when I went to shave there was a stick um note on the bathroom mirror from my wife that just said “cut the grass”. I wadded it up and threw it in the trash and shaved then headed to the walk in closet for clothes. On the sliding mirror doors was another note that said “you don’t need hanging clothes to cut the grass”. So I decided to look and see if the grass needed cutting…sometimes I am quick like that. I threw a pair of shorts on and headed to the front door to look outside and sure enough the damned clover was at least a foot high in spots. About that time Mime and Zoe Savoie drove up and said they were going to lake Charles and wanted to know if Lacey wanted to go . Lacey loved to drag the roads so she was up and dressed in record time and they took off for Lake Charles. I just could just see a drunk day and good times with my friends at Fredman’s in my near future. But I decided to cut the grass after I found the 3rd note on the refrigerator door. I headed outside and got the lawn mower out but when I checked the gas it was almost empty. So I went for the gas can and it was also empty. So I got a shirt and the gas can to head to Kyes’ to get gas to cut the damn grass. When I got in the truck there were no keys and there was also a big note on the steering wheel that said “I took your keys so you would not be able to go spend the day getting drunk with all of your pervert friends and besides that you do not need to be spending money on gas and drinks right now”. Then she had the never to sign it “YOUR LOVING WIFE”. Now to say I was pissed off would be putting it mildly. My first day off in forever and that dumbass decided to take my truck keys. I opened a beer and was sitting on the front porch when Ronnie Daniels pulled in my driveway. He said what are you doing today? I said nothing I guess, why? He said I am headed to Houston and I could use some company. I broke out in a grin and said “I am your man” let me get dressed and write a note and we can go. Now I had been places with Ronnie before and you never knew if we would be a day or a month so I packed a bag. I wrote a big note and stuck it on the refrigerator for my wife. Dear Loving Wife. I tried to cut the grass and didn’t have any gas or any way to go buy any “BECAUSE YOU TOOK MY TRUCK KEYS”. But the good news is that Ronnie Daniels came by and told me that the gas was much cheaper in Texas so I loaded the gas can in his trunk so I will not have to pay as much for the gas…Also he said he would pay for all the drinks and expenses and make sure I didn’t hang out with any perverts. So you can put your mind at rest on those issues. If you don’t hear from me for a few days you can be sure that we are just driving around Texas looking for the cheapest gas price so I can fill my gas can. “YOUR LOVING HUSBAND” 8/4/2013 Ronnie D
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 17:29:32 +0000
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