Things I've Seen Along the Way

By Tim Gill

During my seventy-five years, I have witnessed many adventures.

Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891575578

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Things I've Seen Along the Way

Tim Gill

Copyright © 2024 Tim Gill

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-89157-593-6 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-89157-557-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Author's Note

Preface

Chapter 1

The Adventures of Mac and Pops, or a Grandfather's Guide to Babysitting

Chapter 2

Scattered and Smothered: A Southern Love Story

Chapter 3

Sometimes I Live in Alabama

Chapter 4

The Old Gibson

Chapter 5

Wisdom from the Edge, or Looking Back from Seventy-Five

About the Author

Author's Note

I present to you, dear readers (if there are any), a series of short stories that I hope will give you a glimpse into how I've traveled through and experienced my life with the truth notwithstanding. I prefer not to use the truth entirely, as it tends to muddy up a good story. I've heard that a wise man once said, you should remember the truth, but print the legend. I think it's a good idea.

Checkered as it may be, I have faithfully recorded a loose account of these experiences and observations of a life well lived. My motives, although not pure, were headed in the right direction.

Preface

Allow me to submit for your approval a series of stories, adventures if you will, from the journals of Mac and his partner, Pops, as we travel the high road of imagination to the far reaches of the known and unknown universe—all faithfully recorded by yours truly.

To aid in understanding the motivations behind these adventures, I must take you back in time. You see, in my youth, I was a product of a broken home; and through the years of my childhood, I remember all too well the heartbreak of a shattered family. In my mind and heart, I knew it would be up to me to break this chain of progression as I eventually grew into adulthood. The buck stops here would be a good way of putting it. As time and the maturity of life's lessons progressed, I started a family. In this union, we were blessed with two wonderful children, and as the great circle of life played out, I was also blessed with a grandson.

I realized at this time, I had a chance to make a difference in the life of not only my grandson but, through him, the legacy of our family. This was a chance to reach out two generations beyond myself, not just remembered as a babysitter but, through firsthand memories, as an active partner in the exploration of imagination. Enter Mac and Pops.

Having this in mind, I put pen to paper with the thought of leaving a book for my grandson, Mac, to relive these imaginative adventures when, in due time, the great circle of life takes me on my greatest adventure. You see, I believe we live on through others' memories of us, and for my family, the memories start here.

So I present to you a few stories as seen through the imaginative eye of a grandson and a first-time grandfather as we take this leap into parts unknown.

Chapter 1

The Adventures of Mac and Pops, or a Grandfather's Guide to Babysitting

Today is for adventure

It's a great day of super adventure for Mac and his partner, Pops. After a hearty breakfast of buzzard eggs that looked surprisingly like regular eggs, we had a brief encounter with the infamous Dirty Diaper Gang. They laid a trap for Mac and Pops. We were almost sucked into the strategically placed great leather couch quicksand and barely escaped their dastardly clutches. It was a close call, but we finally got our gear together for an attempt on Mount Everest. That's right, adventure seekers, Mount Everest. Coincidently, it might or might not have looked like the side of Mom and Dad's fireplace, but who can really tell with the harsh wind brought forth by a precisely placed box fan? Ah, the life of a mountain climber! Looks like it's going to be one of those days.

After our return from the roof of the world and receiving sage advice from the all-knowing Bob from cartoon fame, it appeared that the morning had slipped away. With full tummies and a snootful of grog that tasted a lot like milk, it was time for a much-needed rest before our next adventure. It seemed, however, that Mac would have liked to forgo his afternoon nap time as decreed by his parents. Ole Mac was a sly one, as he tried to disable his sound machine. Having failed in this, he used a secret baby code on the sound machine to try and obtain assistance from fellow baby conspirators to