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Saturday, April 30, 2011

A Cigar Day

This afternoon I was working out in the back yard, working with a heavy hammer slamming and banging 2 x 4s and 2 x 8s around. Christy from next door stopped over to see what was causing the ruckus. After a short exchange we decided it really wasn't a work day, it was more of a cigar day. He went home, dropped off his dog Cricket, and returned with a cigar and we proceeded to fire'em up. Two days ago I had a large suspicious mole cut off and five lumpy growths, like brown facial lichens, burned with liquid nitrogen. As we sat on the garden bench solving the problems of the world, the side of my face he was addressing had three large unhealed sores. They are in prime condition now, scabby, yet open, puss-draining carbuncles, the largest couldn't be covered by a quarter. We sat and smoked and talked for an hour or more, and he never mentioned or asked. We have reached the point in our lives where open disgusting facial sores are considered a norm.

8 comments:

Johann Rissik said...

Nothing that some gentle spring sunshine won't sort out.

Anonymous said...

Is that my cousin David C.? that's your next-door neighbor?? If so...greet him for me!
L.N.

Gunnar Berg said...

It is him, if your cousin is a gray haired little one armed steel man who buys farms like most people buy cars. But hell, that description fits almost half the people I know.

reverend dick said...

I laughed out loud at this one.

I hope I reach that point, but knowing my friends, it'll never happen. That's a lot of understanding/respect in that silence, but mostly a willingness to forgo an opportunity to heckle.

Though on second thought, a draining face hole might be too easy a mark.

Oldfool said...

I was really self-conscious about my missing front teeth but only until I remembered it is the norm here. No one even notices much less mentions it. As it is I have more teeth than most of the people around that are half my age.
The old men I know would bring the sores up but as an accusation of the results of misspent youth then move on to making fun of your hair or lack therof.
I like the cigar day. I'm having one here today myself only it ain't cigars. The sun is shining and I'm clean and I aim to stay that way.

Anonymous said...

Small world...that you'd commisserate with my cousin. Yes..he had a tragic accident when he was young. I miss his mom...she was fun to visit! Trivia that noone would care about..I got to watch the first "I Love Lucy" shows on their t.v. as we didn't have one yet! :-)
L.N.
As for the sores...alot of people here have them and you see some of them covered with bandages. too.

Gunnar Berg said...

Liz,
You know he shot himself again a couple of years ago don't? Blew his shoulder off, on the same arm as the hand.

Anonymous said...

I had NOT heard that about the 2nd incident. That is horrible!!! I'm surprised my sister didn't tell me...but maybe she didn't know either.