Tis the Last Day of 2013

It's the last day of of the year....and what have I done in 2013.

2013 began very low key, with myself cooking lunch and settling in for a quiet day. All in all I have made some changes in my life over the last 365 days.

At the beginning of 2013 my position with the City had been all encompassing... I was wearing many many hats

Director of Public Works

Chief of Staff

Commissioner of Public Safety

In February I realized that I was headed to having "Chronic Health Syndrome" a multi condition that was in fact affecting my health in a tremendous way... to the negative.

I visited with my Dr in San Antonio and he told me upfront... you know what you have to do; its your decision not mine.... Thanks Doc.

To this end I lower my blood pressure meds by half, lost weight and felt better... Then in August 2nd I had a biking accident, compressed my C Spine vertebra and gained the weight back.. .2014 will be better  my neuro Dr. says he will allow me to cycle again on a limited basis, this past week.

All is all 2013 was fairly good for me, I have learned to appreciate life, as I turned 60 in 2013, I see the obits in the paper growing at a steady rate of folks I have known either professionally and/or personally..... its a wake up call to Enjoy Life!!!

Sunday in Alex'.

Its a lazy Sunday here in Alex.  I have to say its warming up a lil bit today and that is a welcome addition to life here in general.

I have been debating with my self as to expanding my photography equipment, whether to purchase a new Canon d6 which has a full frame sensor.  Its a hefty investment, but I am to a point that I want to begin to really develop my photoshop and print making skills  It has 20 MP and is the entry level full frame camera.  I have a Canon d40 and various Canon lens.

I have been taking a lot of Macro photos lately, of small flowers in the yard and around the area.  The prints that I have made, have sold in the local market here on a fairly good basis.

So, its whether buy or not... have to see and wait till income tax time on the old back account.

Christmas Eve ...9:47pm ....!!!

Again, its my usual Christmas Eve ... made a fire in the fireplace... ate a lite supper...Shrimp Creole without rice, roasted pecans for desert.. Water to drink.

It seems that as years pass on, nothing ever really changes, in someways, I become a lil more isolated on the "Eve"... now tomorrow beckons to be another story... I have been invited down the street to the Drell's and to make a stop by Joe and Pete's.

But tonight, as most Christmas Eves, I did not go down the street to St. James for midnight mass, but I will be snuggly tucked into my bed long before the bell tolls for the parishioners to harken the door.

My attendance to St James has been lacking to some degree...well to be honest... I have attended less this year that in any other years past.  I think I was in the sanctuary only about 3 times maybe four.. that was it... I should be ashamed, but I do support my Church in my offerings.

As I ramble tonight, memories fade to long ago Christmas times with Momma, the sister and brother...waking up on a cold Louisiana morning, gathering the gifts in each other pile, seeing what we all received from good ole Saint Nick.....ie Momma.

The one thing I have in common with that tie is I will make a fire in the fireplace, have a good cup of coffee, make grits and bacon... all on Christmas Morning.... just like we did... way back in the day...on Mockingbird Hill, West Feliciana Parish.

Sunday.... its Cold for Louisiana.. but the sun is shining and thats makes it a fairly nice day to get out.  Bradly, Dylon, and I traveled out to the country, actually Gardner, La. to pick up a load of fire wood that I had purchased. That makes 4 ricks I have brought this year.  I believe looking at the stack I have about 2.5 left give or take a few sticks.  Since I only burn it on the weekends, it might last until late February or early March, which will be just right.

I leave for San Antonio Tx tomorrow, 440 miles, to go see the prostate cancer doctor for my bi-annual exam.  My PSA remains low, which is good.  My appt is on Tuesday, sister Beth will accompany me to the visit.  I will drive back on Wednesday.  

I printed out the Christmas Party invites today.  I have paired down the list from years passed.  It is just not worth all the hassle and expense to throw a big party.  Too much work.  It will be more of a neighborhood gathering, with a few extras thrown in.  Traditionally I have had it on December 23rd and again this year it will fall on that date. Don't want to break the tradition, ya know.

It's cold here, well cold for Louisiana, we have had some winter already here in Central La.  I usually try to purchase my wood for the fireplace in September each year.  I have a man that is from Grant Parish, who sells me the wood.  When he was delivering the wood this year, he told me it as going to be a very cold  winter.  I asked him how did he know that.  He said he had been squirrel hunting and the boar squirrels that he killed had thick skin and their hides were tough.  The wood man was right and we have not yet hit January and February yet, which usually is our coldest months.  

But the good news is that we are only about 80 days or so away from spring here in Louisiana...I hope March comes fast.

Today, is my Birthday.... In the Catholic Calendar, I was born on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Being a gay man in Alexandria, La; achieving the time mark of 60 years; is an accomplishment that in 1991, I would not have even imagined that I would have seen.

In 1990, I went to 17 funerals of dear friends, my generation in the succeeding years, before the advent of the "cocktail" treatment for HIV, was wiped from this Earth.  It was the time, in those preceding years, the Reagan years, that deniability occurred. It was a tragic mistake by our government to not seek research for HIV,  fear of recognizing the Gay Issue.

Forgive me, I digressed on the above subject.

60 years on this Planet, 60 years of personal growth through joy-pain-some sorrow-but in all,  most of the time, a sense of happiness and direction in my life.

I have always been blessed by the self directed spirit, it has served me well.  Through my career in Corrections and now to my life as Mayoral Appointment, I have marched to a song of Life... ever so paced.... ever so directed.

I now begin, my 6th decade on this Earth.

Here is my Daddy holding me a 2weeks old.  As you can see, he just came in from working cows on our place.  A proud Father.

Well, I am approaching my 60th year on this Earth.  The Catholic Calendar says that I was born on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is December 8th.

At precisely 6:21am on that date, Wilma Ruth Sumrall Thompson, wife of Thomas Williams Thompson Jr. gave birth to me, at the Baton Rouge General Hospital, which was a Baptist Hospital at the time.

Most cities in Louisiana, at that time,  usually had  two hospitals, one Baptist and one Catholic, Baton Rouge was no different.

Now, here I am awaiting my birthday, ..... tis been a long haul in the years I have been on this Earth.

Raised in West Feliciana
On the family farm
Graduated from Jackson High School, Jackson La
Graduated from college Southeastern Louisiana University
Career began with employment West Feliciana Sheriff's Office
Married
Career went on with the La Department of Corrections
Divorced
Came Out (Self Realization began in teen age years) Honesty to one's self as an Adult
Career reassignment to Camp Beauregard, La Dept of Corrections
Boyfriends
Single
Current Homeownership since 1997
Friendship
Neighborhood Brick Streets Old Trees
Porch Life on the front porch
The Wave and Breath of Humanity Walks Pass Each Day
Retired La DOC 30 years
Working Again City of Alexandria Mayor's Staff
As an Out Man
Single
Wine Drinking on a Late Fall Evening by the fireplace
Good Food
.......... and Life Goes On Doesn't It.