Fish Out of Water??

To Friends of Scotty Hard

Well, last night the big silver gull landed in a cloud of JFK soot , still glistening with Canadian rain and flecks of Fraser River gull poop. Out popped Scott's parents Shirley and Russ, with smiles, hugs, their bags and...a salmon! The Hardings have landed. Except...the customs guys couldn't find the scaly thing for a few nervous moments. A particularly Canadian-ish kind of red tape I'd say. I guess they forgot to look in the salmon tank. In any case, it eventually became clear that Homeland Security had nothing to worry about, and released the dangerous duo quickly. I hadn't seen either for some years and squinted a little while, but there was no mistaking the Harding warm demeanor DNA. Plus, Scott had called me a few minutes before and told me to look for two people intently holding a salmon.
Anyways we all found each other shortly past midnight, and slipped into Manhattan, fish on top. Along the way, we swung by the guardian pillars of Bellevue for a look see at the entranceway, and continued on. All seemed well and quiet for our man with the hospital tan, and as all loving parents do, Shirley & Russ discussed the many differences between their able sons Scott, Brian and Mike, especially who likes to eat what. I learned more about my dear friend then he might like me know, but it was all good Harding fodder. What are parents for? Nothing I hadn't suspected anyway, and well within the tolerance.
In any case, we rumbled down to Cornelia Street to Kathy's waiting guest bunks, put the salmon to bed, and within a half hour Shirley and Russ were nodding off, mumbling recipes for Scott I think.
They will be here visiting Scott for the next 10 days or so, and we're thankful and excited for Scott and his folks to come together at long last since that fateful February day, and glad for the good humor that started the moment Hardings landed.
We'll keep you posted.
Leif.