Saturday mornings are the best. There is a light wind, so the 100-degree temperatures outside don’t feel like a blowtorch. The weather person last night bemoaned the lack of twenty-mile-an-hour winds since there would be no cooling effect. He must live in another country, since the wind, along with the high temperatures, usually makes it feel even hotter unless you are wrapped in a water-soaked towel.
The coffee machine is ready for me, and touching the two coffee icon on the touchscreen starts the process that will stop the metal boat construction-like noise in my head. The coffee is ready, and the aroma begins its work. The first sip stops the riveter. We know, of course, that the second sip will bring on a combination of noises approaching earbleed. And so it goes. The second sip is accompanied by the Westminster chime/St. Louis barking combo that could be used to get terrorists to talk. A quick toss of a bone into the soundproof room and a door slam bring back the peace reminiscent of the song “Peace in the Valley.”
A glance at the security monitor tells me the dope who can’t read the “Do Not Ring the Doorbell” sign is a character who looks very much like Goofy, holding an envelope and a clipboard. Knowing dialogue regarding leaving the envelope will be useless; the security shutdown has begun.
The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to off. Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above front door fed. The vat of boiling oil set to warm. The vote Republican signs covered. The front door is opened.
Goofy hands me the clipboard and envelope and gives me the universal sign for a tip. The signed clipboard is passed back with a fiver attached. To make Goofy’s experience most rewarding, as the front door is shut, the following words come through the security sound system. “Find something you love, and be great at it. No one quits something they’re good at.”
The envelope contains a message from Linda Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “wind.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2026/07/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-25-2026/
Wind by John W. Howell © 2026
“Somehow, the word ‘Wind’ makes me think of something else.”
“Don’t even go there.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I can always count on you to somehow take us off the rails.”
“Well, you have to admit it makes life interesting.”
“Yes, it does, and sometimes dangerous.”
“When were you ever in danger?”
“How about every Saturday riding in one of your crazy Ubers?”
“Okay, I’ll give it to you. There were times. Speaking of Uber, it’s over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Wow that is a little underwhelming.”
“Look at all the room. It has four doors.”
“Yeah I suppost that would be the half full view. There has to be a catch.”
“No real catch.”
“What do you mean ‘real catch?'”
“Just a quick stop at the body shop to get an estimate.”
“Just an estimate?”
“Well maybe a little bump out.”
“I thought so. Let’s take a cab.”
“Hold on. Okay there is no bump out.”
“You sure?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Well, let’s go and if it is more than an estimate we’ll call a cab.”
“Good plan.”
I’m sure you made Goofy’s day (with the fiver), John. A cooling breeze on a 100-degree day sounds more like a convection oven on the warming setting, but I hope you find a way to stay cool. Certainly the VooDoos will help.
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Our new A/C system is doing its job. The pups enjoy it too. Thanks, Dan. 😄
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A dog’s life – whoever came up with that phrase probably didn’t own dogs.
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I’ll bet you are right. 😄
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There is a farm in our neighborhood called Winding River, not sure if it is winding river or winding river (two different pronunciations spelt the same way).
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I would think the former unless the river is made of beer. 😊
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I am not familiar with that use of the word winding.
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May be best.
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Take your word for it 😎🤔
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Aw, the wind…you can’t see it, touch it, or catch it, so how does one “break wind”…talk about disturbing your “Peace In The Valley “🐳
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I thought we weren’t going to go there. Oh well, maybe someone can help you with the problem you presented.😄
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I imagine seeing Goofy brought a smile, John. I wonder if you ended up taking a cab, and think you must have eventually enjoyed the pub time.
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We are still in the repair shop. The guy is writing up the estimate. My finger is on the speed dial for the cab. I’ll give them five more minutes. 😊
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Wow! 😲
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😄
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Looks like half the cars I see around here.
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Ha ha ha. 😊
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Didn’t you tip Tiny $10 last week. Poor Goofy, he’s such a nice chap and he gets 50% less. It doesn’t pay to be nice 😂🤣
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I’m afraid of Tiny. Goofy not so much. 😄
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😝
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😊
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Gee. I wonder what wind could make you think of? Maybe crank or turn or …. Oh, I get it. 😀
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Check Jim’s comment. He’ll give you all the information you need. Thanks, Tom.
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Jim is all knowing and all telling. Pure genius. I will go to him for all my concerns in the future. Thanks for the nudge.
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No, I would come here first. It’s just that he had such a good comment. 😄
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At least Goofy got something. I would definitely be more intimidated by Tiny. As for the car, who knows what will happen if you try to drive it? The read end could fall off!
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It looks drivable to me. Yeah, Tiny does scare me a little. Thanks, Noelle.
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That Uber looks a little suss! But you do like danger, don’t you?
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Yes, I do. I think it will be fine.
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I’ve been on a couple hair-raising Uber rides!
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Oooooh. Sounds like a good blog post story. 😊
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You have the most interesting characters showing up at your door. I think I want to try a cuppa your coffee. It produces the most astonishing effects! Have a great weekend, John.
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It does, Jim. The coffee takes some getting used to for sure.
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That’s wonderful! I’ll have a cup with you, and a cup to go.
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That we can do for sure.
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This was fun, John.
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So glad you enjoyed it, Kymber. 😄
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Reminds me of my cars.. each one has a dent like that.. it makes others afraid of me on the road.. 😂
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That is a good defense, Cindy. 😄
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👏🙏❤️
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😄
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Speaking of ‘breaking’, you should have before disfiguring the Uber ride. Great tip for Goofy. Have a stupendous weekend.
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Thank you, Steve. 😄
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Wind….😂 We are all really almost grown-up kids, aren’t we?
Oh, that car–“Honey, you’ll never guess who I ran into today!” 😬
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Almost. 🤣
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“Find something you love, and be great at it. No one quits something they’re good at.” – I like that quote.
Your first paragraph reminded me of something that happened when I was an exchange student travelling through the US the summer of 1988 in an oldsmobile cutless supreme, which I had bought for $250.00. The air conditioning was not working and I was driving through a heatwave in Nevada and California. I rolled down the window to cool off but all I got was hot blowing air, like a giant hair dryer, so I rolled the window back up and drove with all windows closed and no air conditioning.
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I had a convertible when I lived in California, and there were days like the ones you describe when the top stayed up.
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Yes I can imagine
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In triple digit temps, I definitely agree Mother Nature can send her wind elsewhere. I was behind one of those cars in the drive-thru today…gave them plenty of room.
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Always give room to a dented car. Thanks, Bruce.
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Coincidentally, I was listening to a podcast a few days ago that included a snake oil salesman’s cure for wind, among other maladies.
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Sounds delightful. 😳
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Luckily, the podcast didn’t give details about the maladies the their cure-alls would cure.
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I would say. 😳
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No doubt, Goofy appreciated the tip reinforcement of loving his job which he likely does. It sure beats having to deal with an insurance adjuster. 😉 Happy Saturday.
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Thank you, Monika. Hope your Sunday is peaceful. 😊
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Thanks, John. I’m just hoping it isn’t too hot! 🤞🏼
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We are looking at 100’s next week.
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You have my sympathies.
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Thank you. 🥵
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Four doors? Maybe you should walk around it first, just in case.
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Sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Craig.
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HUH!
I was thinking more like… The Long and winding road.
You know, like an old Timex watch you wind up to make it work. …Takes a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’.
Can’t say that about too, many things these days. Except my comments. So, I’ll end this comment before I wind on forever… and turn into that kind of wind you are talking about!
💨X 💨X
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😄X 💨X
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