Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Volunteer State

This is DAvy Crocket as his family thought he looked like. (LOL)
This is Davy as the artist saw him at the Alamo.

But this is what Davy Really looked like, just as any of us John Wayne fans!!!!!!


Okay we are in the Volunteer State. The state that Davy Crockett left, to go to Texas, to fight and die in the Alamo. Tennessee is called the Volunteer State because of the record number of volunteers the state provided during both the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. I like to think the reason was Davy Crockett at the Alamo February and March of 1836. Either way Tennessee is a beautiful state and houses a wealth of friends.
We saw two of those friends today and spend some time learning what they have been doing the last fifty years. We did scratch the surface. Fred is doing well; Frances has good and bad days dealing with a lot of health problems (also referred to as issues). Amazing her smile is the same as 50 years ago and the nature is just as sweet.
Fred is like a brother, even though our brief military/church relationship was only a year. You don’t forget those good times, trailer trash (as some would say today). We were trailer park neighbors. They had a BIG trailer 35x8, ours was only 30x8. Fred was Coast Guard and I was Air Force (crash boats) stationed at Point Cadet in Biloxi, Miss. WE attended the same church and a great bond just developed.
We have kept in contact mostly Christmas cards. They lived in Nairobi, Kenya, many years and traveled extensively in Africa as Missionaries. We admire them, inevitably I asked, “Do you miss Africa?”
In his unique way he answered, “Yes, Jack I do miss it; I also miss the whippings Dad used to give me!” ‘nuff said I guess. LOL

I hope to post some pictures in the morrow.

Thanks for stopping by the log.


Nite Shipslog.
PS:
And they ask---Why I Like Retirement?

Question: What do retirees call a long lunch?

Answer: Normal


Question: What is the best way to describe retirement?

Answer: The never ending Coffee Break.

6 comments:

Coffeeveggie addict. said...

hello there,hope you did enjoy your visit to your old friends...thanks for sharing that history above the volunteer state...

wish you and sherry a peaceful holy friday!

hugs,
blue

shirl72 said...

Glad you got to see your friends and you are
having a good visit. Hope you find the other
Jack Darnell the writer in Tenn. Have fun.

Shirl

Paula said...

I like the way your friend answered that question "Do you miss Africa". A very good Easter week-end to you and Sherry.

betty said...

glad you got to connect with an old friend :)

betty

Fred Alton said...

Yesterday was a GREAT day here! So very nice to have you two in our home yesterday - and I look forward to more visit with you today and the days ahead.

Anonymous said...

TRUE, RETIREMENT IS GREAT.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS A FEW WRINKLES MUST BE IRONED OUT FOR PLEASANT RETIREMENT TO BE ENJOYED BY ALL And THAT 'ALL' INCLUDES THOSE WHOM ARE NOT INCLUDED IN SPECIAL GROUPS SUCH AS THAT PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, PROVIDED BY THEIRSELVES AND FOR THEIRSELVES AND PAID FOR BY MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS AND OTHERS THAT ARE IN THE LOW WAGE PER HOUR RANGE. DO MOST 'VOTERS' BELIEVE THAT CONGRESS PEOPLE WHEN RETIRING DESERVE ALL THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED FOR THEIRSELVES ?
YES, SO MANY MANY WRINKLES. sam