Continuing the Nutshell

Ending was harder than I thought.

While stationed in DC, my mother fell and broke her hip. Sherry quit a job she enjoyed to return to Belmont and take care of my mama.

This is Mark, Mom and Sherry. Mom could not have had better care than Sherry and Shirl.

In the mean time I applied for a transfer to the Naval Reserve unit in Charlotte and in a couple months got it.

Care giving is tough even with a great patient. Sherry as always gave it her best, she truly loved my mama. A lot transpired and I finally made it home to assist.

(Shirl, Chauncy,Me, Jack jr and Mama.  Shirl brought her Poodle over to see mama!)

Shirl and her husband were now in Maryland where Jim was working at a great job in Aerospace materials. She returned to help take care of mama and Jim quit a good job to come with her. Sherry and Shirl took care of mama until she passed.

I retired from the Reserve Center and took a job at the Raddison Plaza as a maintenance man. Telling myself I did not want any responsibilities and I could work for anyone.

If you work for an idiot, well not an idiot, but a kid who doesn’t know how to organize, and every time you need something he sends you to buy it, although he says I know we have 5 of them somewhere, it sorta grates you. I don’t like to waste the boss’s money, it just isn’t me! So I quit the job and bought Sherry’s brother’s Roach Coach, and went into business for myself.

 

Sherry had taken a job with the Army Recruiting Battalion in Charlotte.  She loved her work. She asked for and got a part time job, short hours.

We were buying a small 3BR house in Paw Creek. Sherry saw what we were paying… (If you have ever bought a house, you realize you pay more interest up front than goes on the principal). The first year she read the lenders report. “WHAT? We only paid $200 on the principal?” She yelled pretty loudly. She learned had she paid one extra payment she would have cut 1 year of payments. So she made extra payments and in 2 years cut our loan down about 8 to 10 years.

Sherry and I have always liked to walk and talk. We solved a lot of problems that way. She knew I wanted to build houses. On one walk she asked the magic question, “Honey, can you build us a house and get us out of debt?”

“Of course!” my quick answer.

“Then let’s do it.”

There again,  my girl started a good thing. We located a nice big lot, we cleared the lot hauling stumps one at a time on our pickup. WE together did build a beautiful split level house. We built it entirely by ourselves except the heating and A/C. This girl even climbed up on the roof to help roof the house.

I studied, got recommendations, took the test and become a General Contractor. Using our new house as a show place it was the start of a great life. I loved it.

We are two of the most blessed people on earth. Being frugal we have managed to live debt free for many years. We were able to retire and travel.  We have some nice places to live if we want to, but  we both love this Motor home. It is easy to clean, maintain and if we do not like the view, noise or neighbors, In 30 minutes, we can be ready to move.

Thanks for coming along on our life travels. Like my lady friends Lucy, Paula and Jean I reached this age surprisingly fast.  Am I really this old?

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Yep!

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1982 Automobiles