On The Fly

The Remarkable Ronnie-Happy Birthday You’re sixty-six years! What a wonderful age! A brand-new " Route 66 " turn of the page. In the town of old Cuba , right where you began, you’ve retired ... and become a much busier man! You raised up three children, all sturdy and true, plus one extra child—who, of course, is just YOU. For though you grow older, you’re stubborn, it’s true, you refuse to grow up! (And we’re glad that you do.) Now grandkids arrive with a zoom and a shout, Like geese on espresso, they’re all let-let out! They’re frantic! They’re loud! They are bouncy and bright! They’ll keep you awake from dawn till night. So you grab up a pole or a gun, and you flee, "Gone hunting!" you yell, just to let yourself be. With a nap in the woods or a fish on the line, you tell yourself, "Ronnie, you’re doing just fine." So here’s to the garden where big veggies thrive, To the tall-as-a-mountain fish stories you drive! You’ve hit Sixty-Six! Now enjoy the whole...

In this episode - Happy Birthday Rodger . . . Today in history marks a memorable day for our family. On May 5, 1962, my Lil' brother Rodger was born (he's not so little anymore). Growing up, we were a close-knit family. Every morning, breakfast together, and dinner around the table each evening. Mom insisted. We spent weekends romping around Grandma's yard in the country. It was the 1960s, a great time to be a kid. Recently, after attending a Celebration of Life , I thought, why don't we take time more often to celebrate someone's life while they're still with us? Do w e need to be slapped by the abrupt loss of a loved one to stop, take time out of our hectic lives, and show love, appreciation, and respect to a friend or relative? And to openly share special memories of that person with others. Well, not me; this podcast is designed to inspire a 60th birthday celebration of stories for Rodger Allen Ball. Allow me to start with a couple of treasured memories I ...