6 • February 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC. Happy Birthday by Gabriel A. Fraire ~ gafraire@comcast.net


Healdsburg, CA. ~ One day my wife got food poi- soning. She’d brought home some soup from a restaurant and it just didn’t sit right. She spent the whole day “Crashed-out.” She got up only to move outside into the sun or back in- side out of the sun. I have to admit the girls


were pretty


good. The fi rst thing we tried to do that morning was make the bed. Unfortunately, we have in the past played this little game called “bump.”


This game involves one or both of my daughters being on the bed while I throw a sheet or blanket over them and then say: “What is that bump under my blanket?” Then I jump on top and tickle them. It’s great fun and we all enjoy it. However, now any- time I go to make the bed the little ones wants to play “bump.” So we left the bed unmade. Food was the next challenge. How- ever, when Dad’s in charge of dining, hot dogs and tortilla chips are not un-


usual. I let the girls use watercol-


ors to paint each other’s bod- ies. Kept them busy and gave me a good excuse to get them


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into an early bath. I knew I was getting tired


when I started watching the clock, calculating how much longer they would be awake. And I kept thinking of some- thing my mother always said. “There were days when I just couldn’t wait for you kids to go to bed.” We read a few books and the girls went down pretty easily. I tucked them into bed and gave them a kiss on the head. My wife hadn’t been any problem all day she just slept. I checked in on her, she was still sleeping. I refi lled her ginger ale glass, tucked her in and kissed her on the head. The house was silent, almost calm. I grabbed a soda and went outside. Kicking off my shoes I put my feet up and popped open the drink and for the fi rst time realized it was my birthday. Knowing you are needed and loved, what better present can a man have?


Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 45 years. He often writes about his children. He can be reached through his website: gabriel- fraire.comHe can be reached through his website:


www.gabrielfraire.com


Talent Show!


Windsor, CA. ~ Where else can you go to see a whole com- munity come together to enter- tain each other in order to give the children in their community opportunities in the perform- ing arts? WINDSOR! Friday, February 24, 2017, 7pm at the Windsor Community center on Adele Dr. for $15 at the door/$13 (pre purchased). This Vintage Style of Vaudeville Talent is a treat for the whole family. Talents in the past have included drum circles, hip hop, ballet, Irish dancing, singing, string ensembles, vocal en- sembles, juggling, gymnastics, Mariachi, Ballet Folklorica, magic, and more! Adults and students are working together and sharing their talents so oth- ers can gain and improve their own skills in drama, dance, art, music, and technology


... continued on page 10


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“No matter whether you


believe in luck or chance, the fi nal decision is


from yourself.” Stephen Richards


“Happiness will teach you to live your life and pain will tell you the way.” ~ Anil prajapati JOKES & Humor # 3


At the data-entry company where I work, the other opera- tors and I share a coffeepot. One morning I took it into the ladies room to fi ll it with water. Then I began preening in the mirror, brushing my hair and reapplying some makeup. I didn’t realize how long I’d been until someone slid a note under the door. “You win,” it read. Any ransom demand will be met. Just release the coffeepot.” ~


A man walked up to a vending machine, put in a coin, and pressed the button labeled, “Coffee, double cream, sugar.” No cup appeared. Then two nozzles went into action, one sending forth coffee, the other, cream. After the proper amounts had gone down the drain where the cup should have been, the machine turned off. “Now that’s real automa- tion,” the man exclaimed. “This thing even drinks it for you!”


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