I’m Fixin’ to Be Back

I’m fixin’ to be back.

That’s right, this is live. You won’t find a note from the editor at the top of this column.

I want everybody to know them sabbaticals just aren’t all they’re stacked up to be. Taking it didn’t simplify my life one giblet, on the contrary, I’ve had more going on than Carter’s got pills.

There was a rumor going around that I had left town, and some folks even said I had died, or at least that my journalistic ambition had. None of that is true. I was just worn down to a frazzle, but that was only temporary and I’m still my loquacious self.

Maybe that sabbatical did recharge my batteries a smidgen, but most likely it was the fact that I killed three armadillos last week and won the Georgia Author of the Year Award for young adult fiction. That could have been what got me jump started.

Then again it could have been that one of my grandsons, Chaddy Boy the Marine, is on his way home from his second stint in Afghanistan. He lost five buddies out of his Marine Company on his first tour over there. During that time I watched a newsreel with him in it and saw live rounds of enemy fire kicking up dirt around his feet.

About a month ago the phone rang around eight o’clock in the morning. The first thing I heard when I picked up the receiver was a little static and thought it was kind of early for telemarketing folks to start calling, but then I heard two beautiful words, “Hey, granddaddy.” It was Chaddy Boy calling me from all the way over in Afghanistan!

I would also like to mention that sometime in between his two tours of duty over there he made me a great-granddaddy. I haven’t met her yet, but her name is Lily.

Another thing that quite possibly could have revived me is the time of year. I like it when it’s hot and I’m not encumbered with heavy clothing.

This week also marks the beginning of the “real tomato” season. And I’ve been enjoying fresh corn, peas and butter beans—the stuff I was raised on. We ought to be able to start cutting some okra pretty soon, too.

So in view of all the above, I decided there’s too much going on and too many things to be glad about than to remain on a sabbatical.

However, that’s not to say that I might not possibly be fixing to go on some temporary hiatus’ in the future.