We all live with a certain amount of fear, both rational and irrational. Learning to differentiate between the two is tricky. Fear’s original purpose I suppose, was to keep us alive long enough to produce offspring that were, hopefully, a bit smarter than we were. I’m not sure how well that has been working out, but fear could certainly have prevented us from petting a cute little baby Saber Tooth Tiger or failing that, provided us with the super charge of adrenalin needed to out run its 1000-pound mother or at least the caveman running next to us. Continue reading
Author Archives: Ben Nelson
Just What the Doctor Ordered
I know that waverunners make you angry, buzzing noisily around your boat while you’re trying to fish or flying back and forth past your favorite relaxing sunbathing spot, but I will make you a bet… no matter how much you hate them, as soon as you get on one, open up the throttle and go skipping across the waves you will automatically smile. It’s a complex phenomenon called… fun. I know, I know! They are evil, stinky, dangerous, devil machines that many people think should be outlawed… but I’m just saying, they are fun and will make the meanest old poop grin like an eight year old. And there in lies the problem. They also have a tendency to make you act like an eight year old. Case in point. Continue reading
Questionable Gardening Advice
When you’re new to an area it takes a while to become familiar with the vegetation and creatures that inhabit your yard. Your neighbors will always be willing to help, not only because they’re nice people, but also because it’s so much fun for them to watch you try to implement bogus advice.
Lori and I were just starting to fix up our little place in Georgia, planting trees, mowing and such, when our dog Molly and I had our first experience with a paper wasp nest. As she watched us from the porch, it took a while for Lori to figure out what was going on. All she could see was Molly and me running for our lives, spinning around, snapping and swatting at the air like cartoon characters. Lori’s laughter turned into sympathy when she saw Molly’s golf ball sized swollen, upper lip. “Awww… Look at her.” She turned to me, ignoring my one gigantic red ear. “You’ve got to get rid of that nest!” (YES, I thought… a mission!). Continue reading
One Mans Service
At the Memorial Day observance at Riverside Park, I was tempted to talk about my father’s military service…but I didn’t. I think it’s an important story about a unique and very American character, but it’s not the kind you would typically hear about on that hallowed day. My father passed away last year about this time and he rarely spoke of his time in the Army, but not for the reasons one might think. Continue reading
The Reluctant Golfer
Golf. Some people love it and it consumes every facet of their lives. Me? I am a “hacker”. I’m simply not very good at it and although I used to play more frequently, I now play about, oh… once a decade. For me, being on the golf course early in the morning, the dew sparkling on the beautifully kept grass surrounded by a park like atmosphere, is breath taking. So, to the irritation of whomever I’m paired with, I am perpetually distracted by the sprawling vistas and the wildlife, content to sit in the cart with my feet propped up, arms behind my head, eyes closed… enjoying the summer breeze and a cool beverage. I basically turn into “The Dude” from the “The Big Lebowski” on the golf course. Continue reading
Warwoman
I was in a Native American Art gallery when I came across an interesting carving. I turned to the elderly and dignified looking American Indian gentleman behind the counter and asked, “What’s the story behind this?” He took it reverently in his hands. His voice was deep and calm… soothing. “This… is in honor of a great woman.” The music in the store played quietly as he told his story. “She was married to the chief of our Cherokee tribe. When her husband was killed in battle she picked up his weapon and led the Cherokee charge against the Creek. From that day forward she was known as the “Warwoman.” He gently set the piece back in its place. “Later in life she became a “Beloved Woman”, and a member of the Cherokee council. She was a woman of great courage and wisdom.” Continue reading
Pieces of April
Springtime in Southwest Florida is subtle and beautiful. It is a time of rebirth and change. The new, fluorescent green leaves on the cypress trees are the first to announce its arrival, followed by the persimmon and mulberry trees, which seemingly transform overnight from dead brown sticks to lush bright green foliage. The fragrant scent of orange blossoms fills the air as one crop of Citrus ends and another begins with the appearance of beautiful and delicate flowers.
Despite the lack of rain, everything (well… except the grass on the side of the road) seems to magically come back to life. In Southwest Florida, the “April showers” that would bring “May flowers” elsewhere, are typically non-existent. But the wildflowers arrive just the same. Some of them are small, delicate and found in areas that normally go untraveled or unnoticed. But they are beautiful. You just have to look in the right place. Continue reading
Just Outside Your Window
It’s not much fun having a bad cold. Besides feeling like you’ve been run over by a truck, if you’re made to stay home and rest it can be really boring. And when it came my turn to be sick this season, I spent the day sitting there pouting, staring out our back window at Leitner Creek with my head propped up in my hands. But soon, because I had to sit still for more than five seconds, I began to notice details outside that I’ve rarely paid much attention to.
It was a busy day in the thick green foliage surrounding the creek. There were doves hanging out on the bird feeder, bobbing their heads and picking at the seed and as you might expect, a couple of squirrels were scurrying around on their daily commute, jumping from tree to tree. Just past them in an Oak tree, I noticed an unusual looking “green flycatcher”. When it quickly flew off I leaned forward and started searching the trees, because it was really getting busy outside. There on a cypress tree was a large Pileated Woodpecker, working its way around the trunk, searching for bugs and on a feeder right in front of me, a pair of beautiful Painted Buntings, apparently having just arrived for the winter, were comically burying their heads deep into the feeder. A flash of bright red caught my eye and there, further down the creek, was a pair of Cardinals flitting around on a cocoa plum bush. Continue reading
Kayak Anyone?
“So what do you want to do today?” That’s how my wife and I start out many a Sunday morning conversation over the top of our reading glasses, the paper and a cup of coffee. On a beautiful morning like today, going Kayaking is one of our favorite pastimes. We load up the truck and Molly, our Jack Russell Terrier, and head down to the Imperial River or Leitner Creek behind our house. Most of the time we team up with a group of friends, but every once in a while we like to go without a schedule or any agenda and just quietly paddle along the dark waters of the River while Molly, perched precariously on the front of my kayak, with her butt up in the air, bites at the water. Continue reading
Balance in the Middle
Over the Holidays my two sons and daughter came over to the house for dinner. As usual we ended up on the porch laughing and talking about the good old days when they were young children and I was a hard working and thoroughly baffled parent. As we reminisced into the wee hours they began to share stories about the “joys” of sibling rivalry. The pranks, arguments and competition all seemed to be hilarious now, but back then… it was serious business. Continue reading
The Other Ben Nelson 