Had to go for my regular dental check up and cleaning this morning. All is good and it was great to have some good news this week.

For years I had a cavity or problem with every dentist visit. I blame bad genes for the lousy teeth and also too much soda as a teenager. I finally wised up and ditched the soda in my 20’s and my teeth are better for it.

The dentist sends out an email reminder of the next appointment and also has a girl call 2-3 days before the appointment to confirm. I suspect that is the smart thing to do to avoid a lot of missed appointments with the excuse of “I forgot.” Now the schmucks who don’t show up have to make up more vivid excuses, like being sick or hurt or something dramatic.

The youngest of my brothers is having a birthday today. Happy birthday, bro!

I still remember my mom being pregnant with him and the night she left the house in a hurry to get to the hospital. Back in those days, new mothers were kept in the hospital for a week to be watched over and cared for by the nurses. Of course, in today’s world you can leave the same or next day.

He was a good kid - all boy. Loved to get outside and ride bikes, play in the dirt or take a small boat out to the river for hours at a time.

He’s never had any of his own kids, but he’s got a good woman at his side and he’s been a father figure to her two kids for a long time - the only real father those kids have known. I’m proud of him for all he’s accomplished and for being a hard working, loyal man.

How many adults have a box of crayons in their homes?

I do - I have a small box of 8 of the fat crayons for preschoolers and a big box of the regular crayons in 64 different colors. We break them out of the crafts box when kids come over for a visit. I can teach young ones how to draw several different flowers with stems and leaves, a duck and a rabbit. My grandmother taught me how to draw a pansy - they were her favorite flowers- when I was just a little kid. I hope some day in the future a grown kid will think of me and the flowers I taught him or her how to draw.

I wish more people wore hats. They are such a cool accessory and a big part of some work gear and uniforms.

Men wear baseball caps to cover bad hair, grey hair, thinning hair and because they think it adds to their casual flair. Women don’t usually have that luxury, although some college girls can get away with it.

Guys have cowboy hats and they used to wear fedoras and berets. Wish they would make a comeback - they make such a great statement of your attitude and state of mind.

Girls have the Red Hat Society - a bunch of old broads with attitude.  What happened to the big floppy brimmed hats of the Kentucky Derby state of mind? Where did the exotic turbans and pillboxes with veil go?

This is an early Easter but I’m ready for it.

Easter always means spring is here, there are baby ducks and baby chicks and Easter eggs and lots of candy.

All the fun of family and good food without the stress of having to buy everyone presents. What’s not to like?

My grandparents used to host an Easter egg hunt at their house for all the grandchildren and cousins. It was always a couple dozen kids running around the yard with baskets and a house full of grown ups eating ham and potato salad and singing rowdy English songs all afternoon. Great fun, great memories.