Sunday, March 17, 2024

Just remembering some real things

 Pic of the day:

 

 Sherry's Summer Bible School class at the old Presbyterian church,

Yeah, she has always been cute.....

For today:

Remembering somethings makes me smile.  The white wall tires of the past. Buying tires at one time involved trading in your ‘recappable’ tires.  White walls cost more, at times $23, Blackwalls were about $15 while recaps were $8 to $10. Therefore most of us cheap guys bought black walls and added what was called white wall rings.


Oh yeah and if you bought WW tires you could mess them up if you parked against the curbs, so you added ‘curb feelers’ and listened to the hit the curb to save the white wall.

This one I never understood why we did it, but we bought ½ Moon head light covers.  I turned mine so the car looked ‘cross-eyed’. It cut your brilliance down ½ but we didn’t care, they were cool.  LOL

I miss bumpers too, they protected the body of the car, now they are decorative, not protective.

We didn’t have a TV AT HOME, if we had, it would have been black and white.  Then the COLOR TV came out and many folks could not afford one.  SO some GENIUS(?) came up with a plastic screen cover that went on the B/W screen. It was shaded green at the bottom and blended to light and the upper was shaded blue. LOL  Yep people bought them.


And if you were close enough to that TV station you could use indoor rabbit ears and not have one of the high outside antennas.

I know some of you who read here KNOW some of this OLD stuff,,,,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

God has allowed us to meet some of the best folk on the planet. In person and here on the net.  Thank you all for being here… and being YOU!

 

Care Giving

  A picture from the Past.

 Sherry, mama and son Mark


For Today:

We have experienced many things in our lifetime mostly good stuff, but once I nearly ruined our great marriage.  Some things I am ashamed of but somethings need to be told to help others make decisions. I once heard ministers discussing ‘gluttony’ and alcohol. The anti alcohol guy said, “I have known of men drinking and driving and killing someone, I have never known of someone eating too much and killing anyone.”

I commented to that preacher who was 300+ pounds himself and loved buffets. I said, “My brother that may be true, but if one day you are bedfast and your wife has to roll you over and wipe your butt, change the sheets trying to take care of you, YOU COULD KILL or HARM HER for the rest of her life.”

Caregiving is wonderful BUT VERY TOUGH. My mother suffered from dementia and bedfast after the loss of one leg, then later lost the other. Her doctor met with the family,  “Mrs Darnell needs to go to a nursing home.”

Big mouth Chief Darnell pipes in to say, “My mother will never go to a nursing home!!!!”

(MY brother took me aside and said, “Jackie you have no idea what you just asked for.” He had experienced it with his wife’s family.  He continued, “When I come to visit mama and ask ‘how’s it going?’ and you say ‘Go to Hell!’ I will be back next week, because it can get that bad.

I was active duty USN and the US government decided where I lived, at the time that was Washington DC. So basically what I said was, “Take care of that Sherry!” My loving wife quit a good job in the DC area and moved to NC to take care of my mother.

The USN did sympathize, transfering me to Charlotte,NC  so I could help, but that took months. In the meantime Sherry did take care of things, but it was dragging her down.  We worked it out but we had to overcome a LOT of things; you can probably imagine…  It almost broke up a sweet marriage..

We survived, but times have changed since the era the Walton’s represented. We have told our boys, if necessary put us in assisted living, but do not take us into your homes, live your lives…..

Caregiving is admirable, but it is tough. Mama was sweet and Sherry seriously loved her. I said that to say if you are taking care of someone, GOD BLESS you.  If you know someone who is, Respect them and help if you can.

Tomorrow I will talk about something silly, like making a B/W TV become a color TV instantly.

NiteShipslog

PS:  Once again ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Saturday, March 16, 2024

So There it is…

 A picture from the Past.

 Grandson Ben less than a year old.


For Today:

We, (actually me) are faced with a tough decision about our lives.  This new to us coach needs some work.  I cannot find a ‘reliable’ local repairman that will or even can do the work. 

The problem involves a combination of electronic, electrical and hydraulics. It will be expensive, most of the problem I knew about when we bought it. I figured finding the repairman would be simple.  BUT…IT IS NOT THAT EASY, JACK

I was rejected by 6 repairmen that were recommended; one held the coach weeks before giving a diagnosis but acted like he would rather not do the job.

Now Sherry is leaving the decision up to me. So, Do I look for a place to trade it in or sell it outright.  I AM RELUCTANT to sell it because when I told a prospective buyer the problems, I am sure they would walk off,

The Ideal thing is get it fixed.  Presently that prospect is to drive to Iowa about 914 miles / 1471 km (one way). I think that is the route I am leaning.  It is a long way, but that is the location of the company that manufactured these jacks and hydraulics.

 

I don’t mind the time or distance, but with other irons in the fire it is sorta tough to make an appointment and handle other commitments. We have a few weeks to decide, I must wait on the results of my pappygram Appointment next month.…

We do thank the Lord that a part of our frustrations is slowing down; thanks to our prayers and the concern and prayers of others.

I know I sound like a complainer, but then I think of this old barn in the middle of a tobacco field:

I try to remember how blessed we are. Sherry's mother spent her early years (1 to 8 yrs) with her mother and several siblings here.  They lived in this one room Tobacco Barn on a tobacco farm and worked in the fields in eastern North Carolina.

NiteShipslog

PS:  Oh yes, ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Friday, March 15, 2024

Did you ever search for vitamins?

  A picture from the Past.

 This our youngest Grandson. Now doing well working for the big Charlotte Airport.  He owns his own home now and has a very pretty lady friend.

I first heard the term 'Tow-head' in the early 1960s when someone said that about our sons.

For Today:

I am sure I have mentioned this before about variety. The first time I faced variety was in the Panty Hose display in a lady’s section. I had no idea what I had agreed to when I told Sherry, “Yes I will pickup a pair of panty hose, what size?”

“Look for a ‘B’,“ She said.

Well lemme tell you it ain’t that simple! There are 100 colors, toes, no toes, heels no heels, then the seam and no seam.  Shoot, I left it up to her…

Now I have another problem.  I SEE many other confused shoppers in the same asile trying to find the right vitamin or supplement . Thet are doing the ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ shuffle, and it is TOUGH! This is just supplements of roots:

 Turmeric,  KavaKava, Ginger,  MacaValerian,  Echinace, Goldenseal,  Ashwagandha  Beet, and  Licorice -and many more of ‘em roots. --Besides, I thought Beet was a root!

We only must search for Ginger Root. What is the difference in Fish oil and Cod Liver Oil? AND who decided there were so many vitamin B’s; we only need B-12.  What do all the other B’s do?


Well today I struck up a conversation with a lady there in the aisle. You here for the Easter Egg Hunt?  She looked at me like I was crazy, then it hit her that I was.  She cracked up. “YES I am!  I just got off the phone with my mother asking where she remembers the Cranberry Extract was located?”

I hope you had a good day, took your vitamins, supplements and had your coffee!!!

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Once again ‘Thanks’ AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Ever have "THAT REAL SURPRISE?"

 

 

 A picture from the Past.

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For Today:

I have no idea what you think of people’s hair. I personally lived thru many ‘men’s fads’ of hair. The Military one, the Flat top and the duck’s tail, as the duck’s tail faded out it was combined with the flat top.  After retiring from the military I even let my hair go into the long hair style  for a short time.  The one thing I remember in the USN concerning hair was the hair of my friend Ron. He was a militant black guy. Once the USN allowed it, he grew an Afro.  We could talk race and people without anger or raising the hair on your neck, just talk. Once he looked at me and said, “Jack,  like all white guys, you think my hair feels like steel wool, don’t you?”

“Yeah, to be honest I have thought that!”

Pointing to his afro, “Here, feel my hair, it is soft as cotton, not that I am gonna pick any cotton mind you.”

 

Of course, in an office environment, I felt sorta weird and he could tell I was reluctant. “Go ahead, dude, you need an education!”,

Yep, I became educated that day,

Ron’s hair was soft as cotton and felt fragile, were my first feelings.

That was in GITMO Bay, I never saw Ron again, I hope he had a great life. We all can tell mixed race individuals at times.  Then I met Wayne Hodge.  He worked for me and did an outstanding job. It took a month or two but I finally got Wayne his own desk, until then he had been sharing with another sailor.

Once he got his desk set up, I passed and noticed he had pictures of a couple on his desk.  Later I asked him, “Hey Ron who’s in the pictures on your desk?”

He looked at me laughing, “You didn’t know I was Black, did you?”  He knew he was right!  We had a good laugh. Over the next two years he became a part of our family. Our sons still think the world of Wayne Hodge.

We have not been able to locate him, I would sure like to.

 

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Friends

 A picture from the Past.
A short time friend and Shipmate, Frank Malanowski  1967-1969
I took this picture at the Acropolis in Athens


What a change, I received a call 55 years later, "this is Ski. Can I come over?  I just live a mile away here in Deltona!


 He was then a ProtoDeacon in the Orthodox Church.  You never know what a drinking buddy and friend will become......  Ski has since passed away, but man was it fun reminiscing about our time in Naval Intel.

 

For Today:

Since Dad was a pastor, I was never in one school more than 3 years. So I really had no early childhood friends. At 9-10 yrs old I met my friend Vondale.  At 15 I met Buddy (Richard)  we have sorta stayed in contact. All three of us took different paths.  Vondale was born to be a businessman and was successful in a couple of businesses.





Above is Buddy with the beautiful Di.  Not sure who the guy on the right is, but I think he has been waiting a long time for a dance with Di!

Buddy, joined the USAF. Later spent a stint with the Texas Highway Patrol, but like me, he heard the call of the military, so he went back in and retired.

There is Dallas. I have mentioned him several times, on the Blog. We met in the Corps.  We were 17/18 yrs old and have stayed in contact.  I do regret that I have not lived near these GREAT guys in our adult lives.

That closeness I still feel and know if I needed anything all I would have to do is ask; I hope they know I feel the same for them.

My adult friend was a BIL.  Sonny and I were so much alike but different, he lived and died within a mile of his raising.  He Democrat, me GOP.  He was pro Union, I was not. BUT we could sure work together.

With our wives we took a trip across the USA together, then back to the Bad Lands area later.  We drove to Nova Scotia. We were close. He died and left me.

(Sonny and I having a Saspirilla(?)  in the Long Branch in Dodge City, did not see Miss Kitty)

He was married to Colette  (Sherry’s sister).  After Colette passed Sonny and I were in a car together. I tell everyone this: I know how it feels to lose loving Parents, Brothers and sisters. But I cannot imagine the feelings in losing a mate. (I still remember the exact spot on the street and traffic light where he said this.)  “You probably think I am the worst Christian in the world. I know ministers and many tell me Colette is better off. No pain, no tears and all that; BUT I DON’T CARE, I WANT HER BACK WITH ME!”



Collette and Sonny,  she had to protect her eyes, she suffered from dry eyes.

We were grown men crying. I assured him ‘I may not understand how you feel, but I am sure I would feel the same.’

I think I have written this before, but RECENTLY STEVE, Sonny’s SON, lost HANK, his best friend. They had known each other since childhood.  He called me to say, “Now I understand how you felt every time you told me that you thought of Daddy EVERY DAY and missed him.  Yes, NOW I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND!!”

I have not had a lot of friends, but I have some good ones, how about you, are you fortunate?

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

On the road

  A picture from the Past.

 This old grandpa dancing in the rain with GGrandaughter Stella,

She is now a star athlete in Middle school.


 (I just ran across this, and more of our grands and Greats.  More coming.)

For Today:

Here we sit, Just a mile away from Florida.  Country Oaks RV park.  We decided not to unhook the tow vehicle, but go for a walk up the road to find a sweet roll for breakfast in the morning.

We did and met a sweet young girl working in a quick stop.  No other customers at the time so we just enjoyed chatting back and forth. Sherry choose a Blueberry muffin and I got a HoneyBun.

The lady at the counter at the RV park was also a breath of fresh air.  It is nice to meet good working folks.  We worked all out lives, and in many ways, you really do miss the camaraderie of fellow workers and peers.

-----------------    ----------------     -----------

just for fun,,,,
 Grandson  Matthew Dillon,  Now a very successful  administrator in one of those tall buildings.  Also has a pretty wife and the father of two boys.

(Matt riding rear guard with Josh (His cousin) driving the carnival ride.)

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When we started this roving life many years ago, a night cost $6 to $8. WE paid $50.01 for tonight (with a discount!). BUT those first sites did not have water, electricity and sewer. LOL

We started traveling full time and spent most of our time driving 300 to 400 miles then stopping at a  small town for a week and traveling around the area and talking to folks.  You find more GOOD solid honest folk than the bad guys on the news nightly.

Take care and like the ‘Happy One’ who comments here, be thankful for the honest person who finds your purse that you left at the self checkout and preserved it for you.

As always thanks for reading this mixture or stuff.

 

NiteShipslog

PS:  

Thanks AGAIN to you all for stopping by the Shipslog..