It's been 20 years since I've seen one of them. As I recall, the skin was a light tan and the flesh was also sort of beige. The skin was very thin all the way up to the neck. Paul Starnes of Newnan, Georgia, now deceased, was co-founder of FoF and I know he had a copy of the Hunt. Fred Born might also have a bush from that parent. Ray Givan also might have a copy that he took from Paul's garden in a pot in 1994 after Paul died. Also, a gentleman in Marietta whose name escapes me took one of my potted plants. Any help in finding this fig again would be appreciated.

FWIW....I do have a couple of "shelf" friends. These are people who -- to me, one-on-one -- are good, honest, loyal, interesting people. However, each has a number of personality traits that are extremely offensive in "normal" company. They have very strong personalities and thrive on disputation. I enjoy such engagements occasionally, but these people are like this all the time and in any situation regardless of company. Accordingly, I enjoy my personal time with them -- one-on-one -- but do not mix them with other company because something bad always happens when I do. Don't mean to sound stuffy, but it's just a fact of life. I keep them "on the shelf" and only share time with them in situations where risk of irritation to others is minimal. Maybe your "friend" will have a place like that in your life.

Tonight I got the nicest surprise from the kids down the street. You may remember I posted about them surprising us at Christmas with a huge plate of home made cookies. The door bell rang and there were the three of them with a small plate of cookies. The oldest young said "Mom told us about your dog and we wanted you to have these. We thought he was the sweetest dog and know you will miss him. We hope these help make it a little bit better." Needless to say, I lost it big time. I gave all three of them a hug and told them to tell their mom she's doing a super job with them. I had told her about Buddy on Wednesday when I was walking for him and she told me her kids would be sad to hear that. I never expected anything like this. Really made me feel good.

Ah but you forget the other issues, my friend.... Wait until you meet Frank Feldman. Don't know Frank Feldman? Let me tell you THIS little story.... A man walks out to the street and catches a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi, and the cabbie says, "Perfect timing. You're just like Frank." Passenger: "Who?" Cabbie: "Frank Feldman. He's a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happened like that to Frank Feldman every single time." Passenger: "There are always a few clouds over everybody." Cabbie: "Not Frank Feldman He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand-Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy." Passenger: "Sounds like he was something really special." Cabbie: "There's more... He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Frank Feldman, he could do everything right." Passenger: "Wow, some guy then." Cabbie: "He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Frank, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Frank Feldman." Passenger: "An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?" Cabbie: "Well, I never actually met Frank. He died. I'm married to his widow."