The seasons changed yesterday a little before tea-time. There was recognition of the change of season as we slide toward the bright panoply of color and celebration of the passing of the warm season, and the prospects of fresh northern air. There a momentary burst of activity on The Farm, not so much for the human residents, but the actual native sounds of the land.

Splash was the first to attempt to explain it, since he has been down in the bushes more than most of us. He claims it is a simple matter of social distancing, and he has been successful. He claims to have had some sort of pneumo-infection last year, before the tests became widely available, and thus is confident he has natural immunity much more powerful than that contained in the various vaccines.

“Here is the deal,” he said. “The vaccinated need protection from the unvaccinated who need to be vaccinated so that they can be just as vulnerable to the virus as everyone who has been vaccinated.”

“So why aren’t you still in the trees?” asked DeMille, notebook in hand, ready to copy any new tips for survival.

“The freaking bears were making me nervous. I suspect they are not vaccinated.”

“For a man who has successfully thrown away a perfectly good airplane to go for a swim in the Gulf, that seems like over-reaction.”

Splash gestured at Loma to bum a Marlboro to puff with his coffee. “Mating season. It makes all of a little nuts. Now, as to the other part, they are only perfectly good airplanes when thy are flying, not when a maintenance guy leaves his armored flashlight where it can snag the linkage to the stabilators and the jet goes into the vertical at the end of the catapult shot.”

“I imagine that would be disconcerting,” said Loma. “I prefer the gentle-lift version of a take off.”

“True. But you would enjoy the brisk authority of a Martin-Baker ejection seat. A little jerky at first, then smooth motion upward after the canopy separates from the fuselage. Then a gentle swaying after successful canopy deployment. The Gulf is always warmish to the touch after splashdown.”

“And hence your call sign. Splash!” There were smiles around the circle with the knowledge that none of us had to remember whether to use the upper or lower handle to initiate ejection. “And what’s that about bears?”

“Tuesday night we heard the House had passed the big budget deal in Committee, and forwarded it to the full House vote on Monday. Naturally, the wildlife community was anxious about that.”

“The 27th is Monday. That leaves only 72 hours until Fiscal-2021 expires. So, the House will pass a bill that authorizes a program costing more than what World War Two cost the taxpayers.”

“The bears seemed concerned. Why is the Congress taking the weekend off?”

“The bears? They are always working. That is why I am up here for the weekend when the Congressional people are on break and not down there.”

“No ejection seats in the woods?”

“No way. You know what the bears do out there.”
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