Charlie’s latest brings to mind so many thoughts. Take a gander, then I’ll share ‘em with you. Look Up and Be Proud Grandpa once told me “Look up and be proud! Distinguishable From the rest of the crowd” But each time I did, Wouldn’t you know, I’d stumble or trip Over something below A rake or a pail Or the root of a tree A crusty old dog That I didn’t see There’s always some obstacle Down on the ground That is the reason I’ve always looked down My posture, I know, Has taken a hit Best thing for me? Find somewhere to sit Where I’m out of range Of things I could trip on …

September is flying by. I’ve surrendered to the hardy mums, but I’m not ready for pumpkins yet. So, I gotta say, I’m with Charlie on this one. I swear, I saw Halloween stuff out in some stores at the end of August. There ought to be a law! Pumpkins at Home Depot Look at the trees, they’re starting to turn And for cool sleepin’ weather, I no longer yearn September is here, but I find it queer To see pumpkins for sale at Home Depot Pallets of pumpkins in front of the store Are we s’posed to buy ‘em to put by our door? It’s six weeks or something ‘til we’re carvin’ pumpkin So why …

So, I’m working checkout at the A&P, right? When I hear this conversation out of the corner of my ear: two women, voices lowered, talking fast in a urgent sort way. I mean, who wouldn’t listen in? “He wakes me up every morning at 5:00.” “Every morning?” “Like clockwork. I don’t mind it so much on weekdays. I have to be up for work, anyways. But, it’s the weekends, too.” “You think he’d let you sleep in at least one morning.” “Nope. He just won’t give it a rest. At first I thought it was kind of cute, you know? But frankly, it’s wearing me down!” “I don’t blame you. Not every morning.” Well, my …

One of the highlights of the transfer station for Charlie has always been the Swap Shop. It feels good to drop something off down there, knowing other folks will bring it home and enjoy it. And, sometimes that someone is Charlie. He’s always coming home with some treasure or other. That was until this week, when he made a horrible discovery. Now Charlie’s in mourning. I’ll let him tell you about it. Trouble at the Swap Shop With a lock on the door, a red cone below, The Swap Shop looked closed. I wanted to know So I asked my friend Dick, who works at the dump If he’d let me drop off my bicycle …