Thursday, January 28, 2016

My flag and I

It has been FOR-EVERRRRR since I last posted.  I will try to get back into the swing and explain all my disasters since last I posted.  But first....
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I thought this was funny.  Some may not.   
The set-up:  I live in the country.  We live on a cul-de-sac at the end of a mile long 1 and a half lane road, up and down small hills.  The only people who come by here are either lost and looking for a place to turn around or delivery (UPS) or trash men or relatives.  Our mail and newspapers are delivered about 2 miles up the road - a daily boring trek.
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Up by my road is a wooden pole with our house number attached.  Attached to the wood pole is a flag pole.  I would like one of those 20 foot metal flag poles, but for now, this will do.  Eleven months of the year, I fly an American flag.  The 12th month is a Christmas flag with a humorous Christmas bear smiling ( you can guess which month this is ).
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One of my dreams { - this is America after all - and, we can still have dreams - } is to install a 6 foot ( or larger ) concrete elephant up by the pole.  I would dress the elephant monthly according to the season:  Pink with hearts in February;  Texas independence wear in March;  Patriotic in July;  a Pilgrim outfit in November;  You surely get the idea by now.  Surely.
Yes, sadly, It may be a while before I can accomplish this.  Concrete elephants can be expensive to buy and install - plus my wife says she isn't making the clothes for an elephant, especially a concrete one.   [ An aside to all my ex-band students:  you can "band" together to get me an elephant and outfits.  Surprise me on my 100th birthday - you already miss the 75th one. ]
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Back to the wooden pole with flag pole attached .... I had to throw away my old American flag last November.  It was torn and really a mess.  Somewhere, don't remember where - maybe Canton or Dollar General, I found a packaged flag for $5.  It was the right size too.  Finding a flag for $5 is really a good deal.  Without hesitation the 5 bucks was laid on the table.  A willing purchase was made. 
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Fast forward to this morning.  I removed the Christmas Bear flag from the pole, folded it reverently, placed it in the proper drawer, and removed my new $5 flag.  Ripping the plastic package open and unfurling the flag (that's what you do - unfurl a flag), to my amazement I was viewing a beautiful 5 x 7 Confederate Battle Flag - the stars and bars of the old Confederacy.  Never in my life, not once, have I had anything with the Confederate flag on it. You'd a thunk by my age, I would have had something.
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My wife said, "please don't hang that out there."  I asked if she would hold my shotgun and the flag so I could take a photo for Facebook.  I was denied. With a sigh the Confederate flag went back into the package and has taken its place among my belongings.  The way the World is going, that flag may become an antique soon.
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On 2nd thought I may just mail it to my Liberal brother Pat so he can fly it from the back of his pickup as he goes to and from work.   Lawyers like that sort of thing.
over and out.
M 3
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