Mil's Place: EVENING TIME AT LAKE WEIR

Friday, May 15, 2015

EVENING TIME AT LAKE WEIR

COACH'S BOYS RETURN
**************************

"REUNION"

It's nearin' sundown, and is misty
    and smoky along the damp
         shores of old Lake Weir...
where much has happened...
     over the decades...

The old smoky barbecue grill is putting
      off incredible
   aromas---country ribs,
   barbecued chickens, and...
   what is that?!

Rocky Mountain elk steaks! Wow!

LWHS guys are a-settin' all along
   the shore, jawin' and laughin'
       big time...and someone
is playing a heart-grippin' song
    on a harmonica!

Why it's Real Bubba, a-playin'
    "Way down upon the
        Swanee River, far,
             far away...there's where
               my heart is yearning
                          ever..."

Seen thro' the mist and smoke, one
    who knew them when they
        were young...might still
           imagine them today...
              as lookin' the
                    same.

But they were a right smart skinnier
     then, and their hair was darker,
        and there may have also been
            a few "flattop" haircuts
                 back in those times....

Then they were ready to tackle the world
    head-on...with as much zeal
        as hitting Coach Ned's
            blocking dummy....
               in practice....

He taught 'em well, Coach did--- about
     football---and about succeeding...
         Yes, one of the great things
               about life---those companions
                   we meet on the journey...

Here they were, gettin' together once more...
    remembering old times, and so what
       if literary license entered in a bit...and

that twenty yard pass became a fifty yarder...
   That kickoff return was a hundred-five yards...
        That tournament basketball winner was
                 from half court, rather than the
                      free throw line...

That long shot in the high Colorado mountains
    that brought down that big elk, was a
        five hundred yard shot, Bubba...
That cut-throat trout of Wally's was more 'n ten
        pounds...
And Big Dog, tell us again how much that snook
        weighed...along the Florida coast...
               there...

Ah, it doesn't matter...when warm-life-friendships
      are rekindled, minor detail deviations
            are understood (and loved!)

O, a little breeze is coming in off Lake Weir...
    The smoke and the mist will soon be
          clear...and we will see them
as they are today, a half-century later...

My, my, impressive men...and they are seen to
     now

be clustering around a distinguished-looking
     man they seem to be very fond of...

There is much laughing and fun going on!

Is that THE COACH!?