Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Life and Interests

Besides family and travel my interests seem to be narrow until I start to look at them. I love old cars, you cannot tell, huh?

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Just after a very sad time in Shirl life, the losing of Jim a fantastic guy & husband, she was faced with his many collections. There were collections of: radios, speakers, computers, belt buckles, toy cars and real cars. As she started to sell and give away the collections, she offered me any of Jim’s cars.

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My answer was, “I want all of them, but I have to turn down the magnanimous offer.” It was a very generous offer, the collection was Studebakers. She had some classics. But Sherry and I thought about it, She said whatever you decide. WE travel, as much as I would have loved to have had the 1956 Power Hawk, I declined. I settled for the set of glasses, I have been just as proud of those, however as I stated on another entry there is only one left. LOL.

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I have other interests, I love to write (you cannot tell that either can you?) It is hard for me to keep an entry less than 350-400 words. I know, I know, Some do not mind the length, but others do. We live in a rushed time. Some folk follow ‘xxx’ blogs. Betty, the Corgi lover, follows many. I guess Ole’ Robert in Athens follows more than any one. I follow a few, all you guys are interesting, but as you know it is time consuming. I know that.

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(above at a book fair in Key West (with hair))

I love to entertain, but with some regret, I am unpacking all my ‘stuff’ and leaving it here, I have reached the age I dreaded. You can become a bore. Folks won’t tell you, but ‘facts is facts’, I ain’t got it anymore. Oh, but were we good? Wow! From Cuba to Canada,  Sherry always in the background with lights, etc and putting me in the spot light.The largest crowd was a few thousand; the smallest crowd was 1 or 2. I loved them all. Before I leave this subject I must try to give my reasoning: My brother Odis was the Michael Angelo of wood, he was a craftsman.

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Odis on the right,me on the left (notice the dark beard!) Od built all these ships. The USS North Carolina was donated to the USS North Carolina Memorial and displayed there for years.

His last project was a desk for Mom; it looked like a tenth grader had built it. My Mentor, JR Campbell, was an exceptional artist and entertainer, in his time. He was showing me his latest paintings before he died; they were the work of a 9th grader at best. I told Sherry then, I do not want to do that. So my stuff will go into storage, until I am younger. Ha! Sometimes age brings sorrow, but it also brings facts of life in old age.

I will keep my painting supplies and canvas in the basement, along with a few magic tricks.  I think I can still paint landscapes.

Regrets? Nah, God has been good to me, and life has treated me more than fair. Thanks for coming this way.

NIte Shipslog

PS:

More Hollywood squares:

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll give you a gesture you'll never forget.

(atta girl Rose!)

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

8 comments:

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

Are you saying you are quitting with the goings good? I don't know about you but there are many things I was good at that I'm not so good at anymore. I used to be able to a lot in a short time too, but now a little takes a long time. That's not going to stop me though. Slow but sure I'll be trying as much as I can. Now if you are saying that you have other things to keep you busy, I'll agree with that one. Maybe what once appealed to me isn't so gratifying anymore. Life is full of changes and so are we.

Fred Alton said...

Jack, I mostly agree with "Ma" here. Like she says, if you are saying you want to put aside some of your interests so you can explore others - GOOD. I know it does take me longer to do some things but I don't mind that. Maybe that's because I never achieved the excellence you achieved in my public presentations??? You do have the joy of so many times of excellence in performing. And last time I heard you you were still tops in my estimation.

betty said...

thanks for the shout out Jack; I do enjoy all the blogs I follow and enjoy keeping up on everyone's lifes and going ons, and you know I missed you and Sherry when you took that break to take care of that house.

Okay, I'm slow here. But it took me a few minutes to realize what you were giving up. When you said entertain, I thought "having people over". So then I wondered why anyone would be bored with what you would entertain them with at a gathering. Then I realized you meant entertain, as to PERFORM like you are so talented to do. What an adventure that was with Sherry at your side and what a time it was with the crowds, no matter how few were in the crowd. I bet you touched each and every life that saw you entertain. I am sure you and Sherry were quite good with what you did.

Maybe take a break and consider it done the road. But only you know if it is time to "hang up the hat" so to speak for this season of your life.

I am sad I never had the chance to see you entertain; I'm sure it was awesome!!

betty

Anonymous said...

I have many abilities and most of them have been neglected. I used to paint landscapes but the set up time and tear down time was too messy. I still play my guitar, play the keyboards and sing, but a lot of things I used to do just don't move me the way they used to.

That is not to say I do nothing. I am much like you, always looking for greater adventures. Probably the best way to explain would be to say, "Been there, did that."

As usuual, I will sign as Anon because it won't let me sign normally.

Jimmy

Paula said...

That was so nice of Shirl to offer you the collection of cars. I'm sure you and Sherry will always keep busy even if it isn't what you've done in the past. With the blood condition I have I've had to give up so many things or rest in between things but we have to always be thankful for what we do have left.

shirl72 said...

I agree you have to know when to hang it up.
As you know I don't play the piano at Church
anymore. I have resigned singing in the Band.
Smoky also resigned the band. We still have
the Jam sessions but that is for fun. I still
play for my on enjoyment. The autoharp, piano,
keyboard and accordion. I guess talents fall
by the wayside. Have other things to do.
You were good doing the chalk talks and made
them very enjoyable. I understand.

Shirl

Amelia said...

Take care.

-Missy

Dar said...

I'm not sure, Jack, if it's the giving up or the moving onto more adventures somewhere else in our lives. I used to make wedding cakes, make their flower arrangements and bouquets, decorated a few halls, did the craft fairs, etc. taught Sunday School and VBS, was a temp teacher, even, but I'm done with all of that. I have gardens of other colors and flavors to tend now. The Grandloves, seem to need me and even one of the kids is still around, but there will come a time when that will no longer require my input. For now, it's right. I know what you mean, however. I always wondered what I was going to be when I grew up~~~I'm still wondering. The Good Lord has definitely got a plan for each of us. We are to obey and follow. It is not always what we thought for ourselves, but it's right.
Hope your next adventure is as wonderful as the rest. You and Sherry have touched our hearts, I know, so you two have become very important to us. We wish you God's very best.
As for Shirl offering you Jim's collection, well, dear boy, Andy said he would have jumped at taking good care of that 56 Power Hawk until you decided to stop traveling. LOL....what a sweet gesture on your sister's part. So, whatever happened to that wonderful collection? Isn't it something~~~material things are just that. It's what's in the heart that counts.
BlessYourHearts