Thursday, June 3, 2010

He asked, "Do you regret the life you have chosen?"

For the life of me I cannot get another book underway. Here there are too many distractions. On Monday mornings, here in Belmont, we drop by Hardees for awhile. Well, we go in around nine and stay until they start serving lunch. Jim and Dean (Of the ‘Loose Ends Band’) are usually there. Jim is a great guy. He is the one who told me his last CD was a million seller, ‘Well at least I think I have a million in the cellar!” He said.

The old folks talk and tell stories etc.It is a good group of course. I had quit going because I really don’t hear much of what is going on, but then Don & Evelyn come home from Florida so naturally I go.



Vernon Gomez Harris (Sherry’s brother) comes in around nine fifteen. Vernon is a self appointed ambassador to the old folk. He is an entertainer for any kids who happen to stop by. He has toys, yo-yo’s, tops, puzzles and candy. Sherry, Don & Evelyn were in school with many of the folks. I attended Belmont High for a year and a half. I quit, joining the Corps. Of course most all there, have stories to tell.





Not everyone is from Belmont. One guy ‘Bill’ whose dad was W.C Fields is quite the character. He is 90+ and a veteran of WWII and a charter member of the last-man club. Several folk know me from my building days, not from the couple years I lived here in the 50’s. Every once in awhile I see someone I built for, one couple who is there I completely remodeled their home inside and out.



A childhood friend and school mate of Sherry’s, Ed, is usually there. Ed has lost his wife and has just completed Chemo himself. He leaned over to make sure we heard him. “Have you guys ever regretted leaving and living the life-style you do?”


Together we said, “NO!”

Life for us is different of course, but we are not right there to try to fix everything and stick our noses into places where we cannot rightly do any good. Thus my entry of a couple days back about the serenity prayer. If I am here is it hard to distinguish between the things I can and cannot change, I cannot use the wisdom to know the difference.



So, it is off to follow the yellow line just as soon as possible. That is not until mid July when Josh and Brit tie the knot. I hope the knot is as tight as Sherry & mine, and never comes loose.





This is the life we love, ON THE ROAD


This is a back road of Tennessee. Lovely ride.

Here is my girl just outside her home, presently parked behind our son Mark's house.

Thanks for reading this stuff.



Nite Shipslog






PS:


Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.

I have noticed when ‘dem cotton balls git rotten you can’t pick very much cotton in dem………

8 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I love your home and your life. Before my husband passed away we had decided that when we retired that is what we were going to do. Sell our home and get a motor home and travel. Sadly he passed away several years before he was old enough to retire and the best I've been able to do is the camper in the woods...I love it too.

Paula said...

I wish John liked to go someplace some mornings and meet and sip coffee and try to solve the problems of the world. If he doesn't have something to do he would prefer changing the TV channels. lol

Anonymous said...

JACK, OVER THE YEARS HAVE SEEN AND HEARD SOME STUPIDLY HUMOROUS LYRICS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE ' WHEN THOSE COTTON BOLLS GET ROTTEN'.

IN MY MIND CAN SEE THAT CHARACTER SITTING THERE IN A COMFORTABLE CHAIR, TWANGING AWAY ON THE STRINGS, NOT KNOWING WHAT A COTTON PLANT LOOKS LIKE. SUCH IGNORANCE. FUNNY THO. sam

betty said...

I'm thinking the knot with your grandson and his lovely bride to be will be a strongly tied knot if they knot it with a firm foundation and they go into it with no thoughts of divorce as an option. I'm sure they'll do just fine and rival the commitment and love you and Sherry have for each other. I think it is neat how you spend time with friends at the local Hardees sharing stories and life together :)

betty

Fred Alton said...

Your entry made me think of something I heard a few years back. "You don't have any dress-rehearsal for life. You just live it. So get it right the first time." You and Sherry got it right. You did what you wanted to do and I love that you've helped so many people along the way. Goes along with the Happy Goodman's song, "I Don't Regret A Mile". If you haven't heard that song I recommend that you put your head phones on and go to YouTube and type in that title. You'll love it.

I wish Josh and Brit the best in their life together! God Bless them and give them strength to live out their committment. They have a great example to follow in Uncle Jack and Aunt Sherry.

Lindie said...

I went through a phase of "what ifs" and "if onlys" but life doesn't happen the way you plan. I lost the love of my life but have 3 wonderful girls and 9 great grandchildren. I don't think there will be anymore but great grandchildren are on the horizon! I am too young for that!

Lucy said...

I have been down that road many times as far as the "what ifs" I have also been down that road that is "Why did I do that" I think you and Sherry have been very sure that your wish was to travel. I hope you can continue to do that for as long as you both want to.

Anonymous said...

wow !