Extremely Happy

Noel Laflin

2-17-25

 

I told David that I really like this representation of a younger, cockier man who looked a little sunburned here, as well as unshaven, under washed, probably a little smelly, and no doubt high at the time - but extremely happy.

 

It was taken by a fellow rafter (she was from either Texas or England - some details have been lost to memory, but I remember she was funny) somewhere along the Zambezi River in Africa nearly thirty years ago.

 

We were either in Zimbabwe or Zambia - we alternated sleeping in each country every night, depending on which shoreline held the best promise. We did this for ten days. The only border patrolling was done by large families of snarling baboons who'd like to steal your backpack if given the chance. Some blew themselves up in old forgotten minefields left over from the Rhodesian War decades before. I guess those guys inadvertently warned us where not to wander off to if one were prone to sleepwalking.

 

We rafted some really scary rapids by day, slept out under strange stars and far off unfamiliar galaxies at night, tried to avoid crocodiles and hippos as best we could {eighteen-foot-long crocodiles could really make your heart pound}, portaged some treacherous waterfalls, but in general, had a very good time.

 

And no one died - so there was that, too.

 

I had a bottle of Southern Comfort with me, which came in handy when toasting the Southern Cross as it rose early in enchanted African skies each evening.

 

And I wore a St. Christopher medal around my neck, just for a little added protection.

 

I'm not Catholic - but I figured, what the hell.

 

One Hundred Years of Friendship

Noel Laflin

1-15-24

 

I have four good friends all coming up with birthdays on the same day – in just two days, actually.

 

One was a former coworker, another, a neighbor, the next, a retired teacher, and the last, a once-precocious, but very talented teen who soon turns 60. This doesn't even seem possible for this last fellow when looking back some 45 years ago but, in memory's recall, it only seems like yesterday.

 

My relationship with all four is both diverse and interesting. And if all the years of their friendship were all put together, the sum would exceed a century.

 

And with the exception of one, I still have 'em all beat - as far as years on Earth are concerned.

 

But that's beside the more important fact that we all still stay in touch, applaud accomplishments, lend moral support when needed, and remember good times past - just some of the stuff friendships are made of.

 

So, here's to another hundred years, my friends - or so one can dream.

 

Highway 30 and Neil Diamond

Noel Laflin

1-24-25

 

It's the birthday of Neil Diamond, which reminds me of the time a friend and I were driving down Highway 30, just past Running Springs, when Sweet Caroline came blaring through the car radio. I was 16 at the time - my friend with the car, a few years older.

 

We had been stuffing our faces with fresh warm onion/cheese bread we'd picked up at Heidi's Bakery, washing down each delectable mouthful with ice cold Coke when the song was introduced by the DJ and the now familiar chords began to play.

 

The new hit had only been out for less than three months, but everyone knew the lyrics already.

 

Consequently, Jim and I also screamed them out the rolled down windows, putting both food and drink aside momentarily, our hyped-up antics scaring off any deer or squirrels that might have been in our approaching path.

 

One of us kept cranking up the volume. Or, maybe it was both of us.

 

We continued to sing, laugh, and eat all the way to Highland Avenue and into the intense heat of a San Bernardino summer that awaited us below.

 

We'd be returning to the cooler, fresher mountain air the next day, and would hear the song again, no doubt. And that was fine by us, too.

 

Jim's been gone nearly thirty years now, but whenever that song comes on, fresh warm bread, laughter, singing, along with the elusive memory of youth and friendship is never far away.

 

Ship Notes from Somewhere Near Mexico

 Ship Notes

Noel Laflin

12-9-24

Somewhere off the coast of Mexico December 9, 2024

Once again, I walk a full circuit along deck three this fine morning and find that I have gone a third of a mile.

There's a plaque on a wall that tells me so.

It's a pretty big ship after all.

I do a couple of more laps and count the lifeboats as I stroll by. I have done the math, just like Rose did in Titanic, but have come to the happier conclusion that in the event of an iceberg encounter, there are indeed enough sturdy motorized bright orange craft for both passengers and crew.,

As I continue my leisurely saunter, I note the ever changing position of the sun as it breaks over the horizon.

Should have brought the sunglasses ...

Looking beyond the open railings or through large openings in a narrow passage, I hope to spot a passing whale or a pod of dolphins.

Happily enough, sometimes I do.

We'll see how it goes this fine morning.

There's music coming through an open door currently. Ah, it's The Eagles. They are talking about a peaceful, easy feeling.

And although my feet aren't exactly on the ground, as the boys in the band mention a few times throughout the song, they are on a deck that feels pretty sturdy nonetheless.

And that's a peaceful, easy feeling in itself.

And if that's not security enough, there's always all those bright orange lifeboats to fall back on.

And if my math is right, there's enough for all of us if needed.

Sock it to Me

 

Sock it to Me

Noel Laflin

11-16-24

 

I went to my good friend Joanie's 90th birthday party today - and as expected, it was a walk down memory lane with old Scouting friends going back nearly 50 years together.

While getting ready to head over to the party I distinctly remember taking out a clean pair of socks to put on upstairs where I keep my shoes.

Well, twenty minutes go by, I realize it's time to put on my sneakers and head out, but I can't find my socks. Thinking I am loosing it again (happens daily with things like this), I eventually give up the search, grab a new pair, put on shoes and go to the party.

I am at the party chatting with the birthday girl when one of her sons pulls me aside to ask if there was some significance to the pair of socks draped over my shoulder.

"So that's where they went!" I exclaimed, more happy to have solved the riddle as to where I had left them, as opposed to the embarrassment of having to explain why they were there in the first place.

Joanie's son just shook his head and wandered off.

I was simply giddy with relief - and then removed the socks from my shoulder and stuffed them in my back pocket.

As the story quickly spread from there, I just thought I should tell my side of things first and avoid further confusion that I am certain will be following me in the days to come.

I will be looking over my shoulder, too, no doubt, just in case such confusion decides to sneak up on me again. 

 

Friendship

 

Friendship

Noel Laflin

11-19-24

 

When I started working professionally for the Boy Scouts back in September 1976, I really didn't have a clue as to how to raise money or recruit kids for the organization - the two things that either made or broke a young professional in that field.

 

Then I was introduced to a woman, a volunteer Cub Scout leader by the name of Joan Gribble, who must have taken pity on the floundering newbie (the idealistic, but naive twenty-three-year-old me), as she quietly took me by the hand and showed me the ropes in order to get the job done.

 

We made for a successful team over the next three years advancing our district to number one in both recruitment as well as financial achievements. We were a force to be reconnected with. And, with Joanie in mind, they remain some of my fondest memories of that long ago era.

 

I couldn't have done any of this without her.

 

And now she turns 90, and I am on the verge of 72.

 

But at her birthday party on Saturday, (attended by former Cub Scouts now all in their 60's), it was as if no time at all had passed.

 

Scouting has changed. But fierce loyalties and strong friendships are still intact.

 

Happy birthday, dear friend! And as always, you remain trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind ... well, the list does go on and on, naturally enough.

 

Hallowed Ground

 

Hallowed Ground

Noel Laflin

10-31-24

Hallowed describes something, such as a memorial, considered holy or blessed, or something that is highly respected and revered.

There's a potter's field (albeit small) located in Anaheim Cemetery, which always makes me a bit sad. I first discovered the area when I was a kid, as the cemetery was just behind our street, and my friends and I often roamed and played there. I hope we were somewhat respectful on most occasions. But being that we were just kids, well, that's up for debate, of course.

None of the graves in this part of the cemetery are maked with any name, dates, etc. (just small, blank slabs of concrete) - except for this hand-inscribed testament to a life shortly lived.

Someone did their best to remember the child beneath.

I picture a parent who waited till the guys who poured the cement had left, crept in, and made the notation before the compound had time to fully dry. At least that's the scenario that plays out in my mind.

It still haunts me - but it may be the most blessed and revered memorial of all.