In years past, I’ve shared memories, thoughts, and links. This year, I wanted to do something different. When I bought the lair a couple of years ago, I put up a flagpole mounted on the front door frame. In most locations, this would have worked, but not in breezy wilds of NW Indiana. The winds do gust here, to the point that the mount was literally starting to rip the doorframe apart. So, the flag had to come down. I knew what I wanted to do, but the price was not in the budget.
A few weeks ago, I saw an opportunity and grabbed it—a real flagpole at a price that while not in the budget would not be a major hardship. The hole was dug, rock emplaced, and then 120 lbs of high-strength concrete was used to hold the base of the pole in place. The rest of the pole went up, and a new flag procured to fly. In my own foolish inimitable style, I decided it wasn’t high enough, so added another section since I could get the additional section for about $20.00. That wasn’t what leads to the description, but rather my deciding I could just take off the top few sections, add in the new, and then get it back in place all by myself. I used the flag rope in one hand to help steady, then placed the newly extended pole in place with the other—with only a few wobbles. Some flowers in temporary place, and voila!
A real flag on a real flagpole now flies at the lair, and does so in time for Memorial Day.
