The gift of gab has always been mine. I have been known to converse into the wee hours of the mornings. There was a time when I considered everyone my friend and I wanted to be involved in most activities. I'm afraid that age has quieted me down.

Nowadays I have time for few friends but those relationships I maintain are good friends. We often share words periodically. They may be trivial moments of busybody banter or discussion of earth shattering concepts and technical subject matter expertise.

I am not the chatterbox I once was, however.

Today is National Word With Friends Day. It goes down each July 19 annually is a day that commemorates a game called "Words With Friends" with which I am unfamiliar.

The literature has it sounding scrabblesque and those days passed for me about 20 years back. Yeah, I'll gab with you but no board games, please.

So if you like the game fine. I personally prefer the concept but to each their own. If you have a friend I hope you hold them close. I failed to do so in the past and lost a few persons I once cherished greatly.

Such is life.
 

In my day I've consumed more than my fair share of caviar.

It was an acquired taste whereby I had a little here and there with thin slices of lemon and perhaps capers as well as some rather high end saltines. I would stand around and converse with those with whom I conducted business affairs and it was generally a subdued quiet time for interaction quite unlike the raucous engagements I often found myself in otherwise.

The champagne served with it — though said to be truly excellent — wasn't particularly my speed whereas I preferred iced water myself.

I could often be found lingering around the iced plates of Beluga, Olma's Kaluga, and Osetra Russian caviars after I had become fully indoctrinated by my uppity familiars. Eventually, I had acquired a different tin for every brand I had eaten. I wonder where they are now ...

Today is National Caviar Day.

It is held each July 18 annually and celebrates the roe of the sturgeon.

Now I am not one to turn all hoity toity over food items and I certainly gravitated away from that culture over time. However, I am known to partake of a little caviar periodically and can make the distinction between it and that which is "roe" but not caviar.

So if you're so inclined I invite you to partake should the opportunity arise. Especially if you've never had the experience before. However, this being said it is not all it was to me early on.

Happy National Caviar Day !
 

Ida Lou Whetstone Williamson was my paternal grand parent and at one time I thought she was the only one on my daddy's side of the family who really loved me. Over the years I've attempted to temper my attitude with doses of reality as tolerated and I am still left feeling the entire concept of playing favorites is truly abhorrant to the family model.

Suffice it to say my Grandma Ida loved us all equally and never hesitated to show it.

She was an accomplished home maker and cook in the traditions of country living and family. She suffered greatly on the passing of her husband, my grandaddy Jim Williamson, Sr., who I really did not feel cared anything for me personally.

Perhaps I'm wrong but there was too much favoritism on that side of the family and I have issues which continue with passing time despite my best efforts to quell any and all harsh thoughts regarding my ancestors.

My Grandma Ida was born July 17, 1905 and this would have been her 119th year had she lived to this day — having passed October 20, 1985 in my grief stricken presence after a hard fought eleven year battle with Alzheimer's dementia.

I have missed that special person my grandma was in my life as time has progressed.

Rest in peace.