grills attract cavemen

when warm summer days permit

there is nothing better than eating outside

at home with family or friends

firing up the grill for an alfresco feast

while women usually rule in the kitchen

the outdoor grill is mostly a mans playground

be it charcoal or gas only he must light it

stay back honey this is very dangerous

passing on his grilling secrets to his son

in a greasy soot encrusted fiery right of passage

while his daughter is given non-grilling tasks

his wife knows to stay away while he plays grill-master

in ancient times men would go hunting

killing beasts to feed their families

dragging home trophies for the table

today its the women who ambush the steaks at the supermarket meat counter

the outdoor grill has become the last sacred place for cavemen

to practice their almost forgotten hunter gatherer instincts

even if their cooking skills are seriously lacking

you will still eat the burned sausages with a blackened smile

modern grills make it so much easier to cook

piped gas instead of charcoal bricks

electronic push button ignition

temperature gauges tell you when the meat is ready

men still religiously guard the grilling area

cavemen groups form around this secretive smokey lair

holding spray bottles and desperately hoping for flare ups

to practice their wannabe firefighter skills

the wife has bought all the food and made the salad

she has laid the table and served drinks to all

her man just stands at the grill drinking beer while the meat burns

she rolls her eyes as all the guests heap praise on him for the fabulous outdoor meal

clearing out the demons

His overgrown neglected garden badly needed attention

At first he just trimmed back a few branches

But soon progressed into cutting down entire trees

Once dark shady corners welcomed the new light

He toiled for many long days 

Stacking logs and branches into a huge pile

Pausing to look at the cleared land

Visualizing new plantings and future flower beds

The thought of hauling away all the cuttings was overwhelming

Much easier to to burn it he concluded

He was inexperienced in making fires

The moisture laden wood created more smoke than flames

He went into the house looking for dry combustable material

Dragging out boxes full of old papers

Pausing to look at old photograph albums

Faded images of his departed wife were added to the pile

Tables and chairs were broken up and dragged outside

The pile got bigger and bigger

Progressively he cleared every room in the house

Bad memories were being purged

Throwing a single lit match into the massive pile

He stood back and watched the flames grow

The fire took on a life of its own

Crackling hissing and billowing smoke

He was hypnotized by the flames

Suddenly the wind picked up

Sending sparks high into the sky

The fire became an inferno fueled by the wind

He watched the burning embers land on the roof

Not wanting to intervene he decided to let the fire do its will

He felt strangely calm watching his house burn down

The demons of his past were finally gone