It was a good Saturday around here. Some of the normal noises in this quiet town. The cats outside were finishing thier breakfast in the snow and wind was whipping up off the roof of the shed. Another morning alive. Just some time to poke around. No need to drive three mind numbing hours that night to sing in a corner for money. No need to answer the phones. No sir. It was just a day to be a landowner and a good citizen.

I took Mitch out to see Charlie who lives on the river. Mitch is 15 now and a good sidekick. He is quick and is not freaked out by wierd behavior. He is a good lad.

Charlie is defiant and lives in a very small shack right on the Pawcatuck. It is neat and warm with the best library in town (The complete works of Tom Mcguane ). He flies the "Don't Tread On Me" flag all year long. He means it. He is 62 now and doesn't take much shit from strangers or company. I brought him a warm harp Ale that Mitch fished out of my kit bag. He poured it in a dixie cup and opened his kitchen window, letting in a blast of northern air. We spent  20 minutes taking turns shooting his high powered  Crosman Tac 1 Extreme Air  .22 cal pellett gun out of the window and into the frozen river. The idea was to chip away at a single hole in the ice. Blast right through.Later Charlie will go out and fish. That is how he does it.  Just a convienent way to get the fishing started. The neighbors understand.

Yup, it was a good  Saturday. We discussed some of the news, cranked up the back up generator and made a bet on Sunday's Vikings game. Just being neighbors.

Tomorrow I will go back to pay up or collect. Or not. Maybe I will send Mitch. Either way Charlie knows I am good for it and I know Charlie isn't going anywhere.

MDB
1.4.09