On the last day of our Destin, Florida vacation, Erik came through with several of his usual pranks: smells, hiding things in plain sight, etc. The best prank of all happened at none other than the Waffle House this morning. Many of you might be familiar with this pint-sized restaurants where hash slinging is a cherished art. The tables, however, are equally pint-sized, so squeezing six bodies around a table designed for four takes some doing. Eating in cramped quarters takes finesse, too, and it helps to velcro your elbows to your waists. Sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn’t. Lukas’s large coke was the first casualty. Thinking I was about to spill Arleen’s kid sprite while shoving a stubborn straw through the plastic cap’s hole, his giant hands catapult across space and time clearing everything in its path. I have to take some of the credit on this one, given my long-standing reputation for clumsiness. Lukas has become well-conditioned over the years.

No sooner had we mopped up the sticky mess when one of my errant elbows, both of which have minds of their own, smacked my water glass on the side. Crystal clear water with little cubed icebergs flowed for what seemed like an eternity everywhere. Sadly, my freshly served biscuit smothered in sausage gravy was not spared. Sigh. The waitress eyes us with great concern. More napkins and rags.

After a good laugh, we began eating. No sooner had by son-in-law, Shane, had a bite of his hash browns than his plate began sliding slowly toward him. We all watched in disbelief as his All-Star Special (bacon, eggs, toast, hash browns and waffle) moved inch by inch as if by its own accord. Nothing seemed to be pushing it. Then, ploop! into his lap it spills. Too bad he covered the potatoes in ketchup first. Not a pretty sight! We all laughed, knowing it was bound to be one of Erik’s pranks. No way he was going to let Shane off that easy! No tip for him, though.

Here is a picture of Erik on the last vacation of his life here in Destin. (Of course I guess now, he’s on permanent vacation, the lucky bloke.)

Erik in Destin

Now enjoy this Burt Harding video: The Art of Letting Go