40 some years I had not seen for about a year until last night told me...
"Joe": Is anything wrong with Dragon Raider?
No. Not that I know of, why?
"Joe": I drove past his acerage and it has gone to hell. Can't he take care of it anymore?
He sold the place and moved to xxxxxxxx a couple years ago.
"Joe": Well, that explains that. I was worried about him because he always kept that place looking so nice. That was a beautiful acerage, I wish I had known Dragon was selling.
I don't know... that made me and the Mrs Raider feel good. It was my childhood home, my Grandmother's honeymoon house, my Mother's honeymoom house and Mrs Raider's honeymoon house. I miss it especially the Southern view, the quiet, my rifle/pistol range and the old horses that no one wanted anymore that I cared for in their last years of life. They loved me and I loved them.
I do not miss the winters, cutting wood, 1/4 mile lane to clear of snow on an open platform tractor or mowing an acre+ of lawn every two or three days after the rainy season. I moved many of our perenial plants into town including some my Mother and Grandmother had planted. My wife has been invalid for almost 10 years with MS. I am 68 and her primary caretaker, our life is much easier and relaxed. I have no family ghosts haunting me and my employer of 25+ years (the Mrs & I are linked to his network and are his part-time secretary and paymaster) allowed me to clear out a 100 yard range on his acreage with his mini and Cat skidloader. It is really cool, about 30' wide with a tree canopy of shade and mostly wind protected. Shooting clay from a thrower in there is a challenge because you need to be tracked quick or they will escape into the trees and all you will get is a few leaves and a hoot from the man, woman and child that are up next.
