This is Friday, WE have landed in Millersville, PA on the outskirts of Lancaster.

 Picture of the day

 

Just inside the VA line on I-81, on a mt and can see those in the distance. 

For now:

Sherry and I enjoy traveling.  I have said many times this country  has so much beauty.  This trip from Belmont NC to the Dutch country of PA, is ALWAYS Great in sites and beauty.

There is Fancy Gap, the mountains we drive thru on I-81. The views as we climb the mts are fantastic; getting into Virginia, the countryside is refreshing with the huge farms and cattle.

Sherry got this one from her side looking at a NC valley just before Fancy GAP

 When we walked the Appalachian Trail we crossed under I-81 via a small road underpass . Then we climbed up to the Shenandoah mountains and walked for about a 100 miles. Like I-81 the trail only touches about 20 miles of the West Virginia mountains and a very short trip thru Maryland.

Those distant mountains brought back many memories. Remembering walking at a snails pace, as we drove 60mph in the coach, looking up where we once walked.

Then this trip ends in Pennsylvania. This country is hard to put into words. So much beautiful country mostly farm land and so many big beautiful barns.  Even the ones abandoned are pieces of art.

I have said too many times, we kids down south thought anything North or us was all cities, we had no idea there were bigger and better farms in Pennsylvania.

And then there is a famous river, the Susquehanna. I had never heard of it until I met Dallas, the guy from this foreign country.

This bridge over the river must be close to 3/4 mile long. You see a RR Tressel in the distance, Sherry could not get the whole bridge. (lotta rocks in this river, should be called Rocky River! (I coulda spelled that)
 

Oh, I almost forgot.  I grew up driving thru tobacco and cotton fields, but it has been along time since I saw Tobacco growing. This trip we passed a tobacco field brown and ready to harvest. Truthfully, although I no longer enjoy tobacco, that field was beautiful…

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  About those folks on I-81 in Maryland yesterday. Stuck in a 10 mile traffic jam, it was a 10 mile 2-3 lane parking lot.  I am not sure how long but I would guess at least 2-4 hours. Can you imagine needing to PEE? Or needing to get to a hospital for a sick loved one or dying?  Life is unpredictable! Driving 65 70 mph then sudden STOP!

Strange that I got a comment from Patricia who saw the same jam...

This is Thursday’s post… No internet/phone

 

 

BUT for now:

Sorry I got my days messed up, We had no internet last night.  I cannot believe it.  But WE had a bad start, the 12 volt system would not work in the coach.

After a lot of touch and go, we finally got the 12v.

Then a big traffic slow down in the short 10 miles we were in Maryland. The traffic jam was most of the state.  dOnce thru we noticed there was NO I81 south bound traffic NONE! T THE END OF OUR traffic jam we saw why. Two  tractor/trailers had wrecked completely blocking all 3 lanes. It was a terrible jam. We drove past about 10 miles of trucks and cars on the south bound side that could go no direction. We felt so sorry for them.

Anyway we are in Pennsylvania ready to take a break LOL

On the road to Lancaster and a little rest. LATER!

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No one knows what the future holds, but when adversity comes we must be ready to handle it.  Knowing the Lord does help!

(review in header is word count!)

Thxxxxurxsday Wednesday (sorry I had the wrong day!)… Minister or bartender as marriage counselor!

 Favorite car Picture:

 

A lot of dating in this '48 chevy!

Probably as you read this I am on the road with my sweetheart. I enjoy driving with her beside me.  There was a time she would nearly be in my lap, kissing me as we rode around.  LOL (Happy times!)

BUT for now (continued) :

Sherry quit a good job in DC and returned to NC to take care of mama.  I remained in D.C. and kept bugging my detailer to find me something near to Charlotte, NC. He did find me a billet at the Charlotte USN Reserve Center, and I could help Sherry some.

FAMILY Caregiving is a serious, mentally strenuous situation. The situation was tough. Sherry did not have a problem taking care of mama, her love for mama was obvious, BUT the strain became too much. I don’t remember all the circumstances, and I might have some wrong, but the tension was rough on our marriage. 

So once ,I left Sherry and took mama back to her home. She was constantly saying, 'I want to go home!'.  I got mama settled in and comfortable, then I took a short trip of about a mile to where Martha was bartending. It was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon bar business was slow and so Martha had time to talk, while I had a couple beers.

Now a funny thing, Doug's pastorate was about a 100 miles away; Sherry was making a trip to see him.  I, of course, did not know that; vice versa, she had no idea I was at a bar!

Martha was still single, she never married. WE had a good visit. She slowly gave me HER advice (bartenders do that you know). She laughed telling me that once when Vondale and Rosa were having some marriage problems, he came to see her and sat right where I was sitting. LOL  Laughing she said, 'I told Von Dale he made his choice, now get back with Rosa and make it work.'

Then she looked me in the eye saying, " NOW YOU! Sherry is the BEST, get yourself back with her and do some apologizing. She loves you to death!”, 

Strange isn’t it?  Bro Douglas gave Sherry the same advice, except I am sure he did not say I was the best. LOL

But thank the Good Lord, my Sherry is the BEST, and we were only separated a few days.  WE were able to keep mama and things leveled out. That was many years ago, life has been good to me, I am one fortunate dude!

But NOT everyone can live in a home with another member of the family.  I sure appreciate and admire those folks who can.  It takes a special relationship on all sides to make that work.  And it is wonderful and sweet when it works smoothly.

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No one knows what the future holds, but when adversity comes we must be ready to handle it. WE just heard that my friend Von Dale is watching his Rose fade away. A family member said she now weighs 75 pounds and just broke her hip. Not strong enough for surgery, but it must be done! They need all the good thoughts and prayers they can get...

Tuesday, Tuesday, Soon we will celebrate 69 years together

 Picture of the day!

Picture you have seen many times.. 

BUT for now:

I have blogged about our lives too much, most likely. But soon we will have been married (mostly) happy 69 years. I remember two bumps in this happy road of ours, making this a happy 68 years and about 11 months.

Being raised in a parsonage of a fundamental church pastor, I was moved from church to church as my dad ‘felt God wanted him to move’; six times in my life until I was 17. Most moves I made my parents lives miserable by  pouting and fussing at leaving friends.  Knowing I would have to go thru the process of making new friends.

When I was about 14/15 I met a pretty girl named Martha Carver. She said she lived in Belmont, NC. We flirted a little. At the time I lived in Valdese, NC.

That same year my dad said, "We are moving to Belmont, NC." I did not fuss nor pout, I was ready to move, I remembered Martha!

Sadly the first week in Belmont, I did not see Martha, but met a pretty girl, Margaret Woods. We became sweethearts. Martha and I did become good friends. She & Sherry were good friends. Martha became Von Dale’s sweetheart.  WE spent many, many double dates together. Martha had a brother, Doug, also a good friend of Sherry’s.  Doug was a great guy.  He became a minister and pastor, later Martha and Vondale broke up and he married Rosa.

  Below is Martha left and Sherry right.

Below  left is Margaret  and right is Martha...

Margaret and I broke up and she became Buddy’s sweetheart.  Sherry and I married. Martha remained a good friend of ours and as sweet as sugar, she steered opposite of Bro Doug and became a well-known bar tender. Interesting huh? The brother a preacher and his sister a bar tender.

Until tomorrow, remember Martha became a bartender and Doug became a pastor.

Our marriage remained solid. Over the years, I was on active duty (USN) and Sherry worked full time in Washington . My mother became bed fast, losing her legs to surgery and Sherry loved my mother, she left her job, retuned to Belmont and became mama’s care giver.

To be continued...Then the Bump!…….

Getting close to my self-imposed word limit. 

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  Remember Martha was a good friend, and a sweet bar tender. ;-)

Monday, yep again this week, Monday. ENJOYING OUR own Pop Ups!

 Photo of the day:

 THOSE ARE TRACTOR TRAILER LOADS OF ORANGES

Sadly most of these orane juice plants are closed now.

So for today:

As I type, sitting here at the kitchen booth of the motor home, I see some GRAND pop ups.

Yes, we live in the motor home now. WE are still in our backyard and go up into the house to take a bath or wash clothes.  You cannot wash clothes here in the coach, the washer will only wash about one change of clothes. LOL Here we have the Splendid washer/dryer combo. A good little machine, it will just handle only mall loads.

BUT about our pop-ups?  DIL Corinne gave us a Kodak thingee that has an e-mail address and can receive pictures from the family. The Kodak show goes on all day, So we get to see our family & friends from the past constantly, the sons, grands and great grands. It is great entertainment.

WE love it and think of Corinne of course.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:  Think of the good things in life, we tend to forget those things in trouble-times. BUT they are still there.

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog. 

Sunday, Sunday The day of rest

 Picture of the day!

 

BUT for now:

WE B Tired! Today will be church and some time to rest.  WE are now 500-700 pounds of stuff lighter than we were on Sat morning. We sold and gave away about half of it, then a truck from the Kidney Foundation came and took what was left. We are relieved but have ‘vowed’ not to do it again. LOL

WE met some wonderful people and enjoyed a lot of fellowship. Even saw the owner of a local Lumber yard I did business with or 30-40 years ago  while in the building business.

But today is a day that was the center of my life as I grew up. I cannot remember missing Sunday School.  Even when many families did not attend church, their kids found their way to Sunday School.

It is sad that many kids today do not KNOW the great basic Bible Stories I grew up with.

There are wonerful teaching stories in scripture, no matter the many interpretation you can read.  Most of us older folks have a favorite Bible Character that grabbed our minds as a kid. From Moses to John the revelator. To this boys mind it was hard to top David and Sampson.  LOL

Of course the Birth of the Lord is tops in every child's life at Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Bible character?

 

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No matter what else happens, I will enjoy thinking of HIM and Scripture today. I just thought of Calib and Joshua, my dad could make that story come alive.

Saturday…. Saturday YARD SALE!

 Photo of the day:

 

So for today:

We HAVE STUFF TO GET RID OF.  I am sure you do not, LOL. The ladies of our church are sponsoring a yard sale today.  We have a trailer load of stuff to take down there.

This sale is different than I have known, someone is going to be there at the end of the sale to take the stuff left if you do not want to bring it home, Sooooo we hope to come home with an empty trailer and less stuff in the garage.

I am posting this on Fri evening ‘cause we plan to be up at the strange hour of 5-5:30 to go down to help open up the show!

We plan to have a give away table and a 25 cent table. We do have a couple things with a $3 price tag or best offer.  Any offer will be the best offer. LOL

There is plenty of very good stuff, but it is stuff we do not need or will NOT use.

Have a good day… We normally visit yard sales..  We used to get most of our books there, but since we read mostly digital that is out.  Unless I see a newer John Grisham ;-)

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:  See some great pictures at  Spare Parts and Pics they are fantastic; many are from the Joshua Tree area of California.

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog. 

 

Friday yep Friday.. What the Dr. said…

 Picture of the day!

1938 jAGUAR, One year before I was born...

Note in update 9/11

I ADDED THIS YESTERDAY TO MY LAST POST AFTER DR VISIT.. UPDATE  ;-)  Doc says I will live. made some suggestions about dizziness along with some therapy and nutritional appts.  Not sure yet, but he says my blood work is 'beautiful'. HE ALSO SAID & i QUOTE: "If you have a problem with my diagnosis, talk to Jesus!"  As I was leaving I asked the clerk out front for an appt with Jesus, his retort:  No appt needed He is always available. (That got a lot of smiles and laughs from those in waiting room.)

 

BUT for now:

I was very disappointed at the Dr. office. NOTHING EARTH SHAKING! Shucks after imagining I was surely slowly dying of an exotic disease, he says, “The blood work is beautiful, cholesterol is a little high but you can handle it.

I told him my concerns, he had me stand, gave me some movements to do, hand, arms, head, legs etc.  He smiled at my weight loss, “If you had lost like 10% of your body weight since your last visit I would be concerned.

He is putting me in touch with a nutritionist for my weight and some ‘therapy’ for the dizziness.  He hinted that since I do not use my ears for much anymore (since my cochlear implants) that may be the source of the light headedness. He says physical therapy may each me something.

So according to him my funeral is not imminent. Just to prove it he says I will see you next year…. WHEH, Now I don’t have to make a list of who gets my pocketknives and tools.

Honestly I ws expecting something more drastic, but imma be happy with what I now know…

Thanks for all your concerns, thoughts and prayers.  Who knows what prayer might have already done.. ….TRUE DAT!!

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No matter what else happens, I will enjoy tomato sandwiches until the vines are empty.

Thursday.. AGAIN..I like a lot of things, somethings I LOVE

 Picture

 

That is about a 1955 Caddy, Not many folks could afford that one, it sold for close to $3700!  The '55 chevy could be bought for about $1400.

So, for today:

. UPDATE  ;-)  Doc says I will live. made some suggestions about dizziness along with some therapy and nutritional appts.  Not sure yet, but he says my blood work is 'beautiful'. hE ALSO SAID & i QUOTE: "If you have a problem with my diagnosis, talk to Jesus!"  As I was leaving I asked the clerk out front for an appt with Jesus, his retort:  No appt needed He is always available. (That got a lot of smiles ad laughs from those around.)

but for now:

I love Butter Pecan Ice cream, but due to it having less cholesterol I have been eating Orange Sherbet. I do like the Sherbet.

I love Grandkids, even after they are grown.

I love seeing OLD cars. It probably has a lot to do with the memories I associate with them. (Like smooching in the back seat!)

(we try to fly the flag regularly)

I love this country, it is special to me. In the USA by applying oneself, you can accomplish much. You cannot always be what you WANT to be, but when you try you can reach your potential. BUT it takes planning and many times sacrifice.

I like finding a 4 leaf clover. I haven’ found one in years. Sherry and I once worked in a building that overlooked the Pentagon and part of Arlington Cemetery. WE carried Our lunch most days and sat in the grass and clover overlooking the cemetery.  WE found MANY 4 leaf clovers as we sat enjoying our picnics.

My favorite flower is the Tulip. I love to see them. I never realized the many colors they are until we drove to Holland Michigan for the Tulip Festival, what beauty!!!

On up to northern Michigan is Mackinac Island. Now I liked that, no motor vehicles are allowed. Bicycles and horses. Pace slows down of course.

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: God is Good,  It is said....love one another!

Wednesday Ira Hayes and Lefty Harris

 Photo of the day:

 Olive Oatman taken captive and was held as a slave for 4 years and lived to tell about it.

So for today:

It may be a good thing, but at times this thinking messes me up. I could not sleep late this morning. I got Ira Hayes and Lefty on my mind.  Along with that, it went to two boys working on a farm near Gila Bend and how surprised I was they did not speak English. WE were hiking in the desert looking for the site of the Oatman Massacre. (The oatman family was killed, 2 lived to tell about it.) 

I should not have been surprised about the workers, we were just across the border from Mexico.

An Indian Reservation near Gila Bend is where Ira Hayes lived.  If you are not familiar with Ira, he is in the famous picture of the Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi  on Iwo Jima.  Lefty Harris comes to mind because he is/was Sherry’s brother; wounded in the landing on the beach of Iwo Jima.  He NEVER talked about his time there.

It is amazing how the MIND works, some people hide bad memories in the back of their minds, others cannot hide them.  My brother Jr. seldom spoke of his time in the South Pacific 1940s and the many battles his ship was in.

Anyway, we spent much of that winter near Gila Bend, AZ our coach was parked on the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range. An interesting time in our lives.  I never thought a desert could be interesting BUT it IS.  There is so much beauty and the giant cacti are amazing.

Oh, and we did find the Oatman Massacre site and visited the reservation on which Ira died.

I couldn't go back to sleep......

 

Nite Shipslog

PS:  I am not a photographer, but drop by  Spare Parts and Pics sometime and see some fantastic shots of that part of the world. Gila Bend is not far from  the Joshua Tree area of California.

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog. 

 

Tuesday, Tuesday... I think, (too much) Right or left at Oak St?

 Picture of the day!

 

BUT for now:

Not trying to read minds, I am sure I would be shocked or bored if I could.

Reading minds would cause a whole lot of trouble. You may just want to SMACK someone if you read their mind at the wrong time.  WE all have stupid, crazy, unnecessary thoughts at times. (Speaking for myself of course) I am assuming everyone thinks things they would never say.

Susan over at thercotemplativecat had a post on a day or so ago about a church going lady that was ‘over used’ and finally had enough, gave a note to her hubby that she needed to get home early to check the roast, they were entertaining the pastor AGAIN. She slipped out of church early and did not go home, instead headed for Las Vegas. Leaving the hubby to handle the roast and the pastor.

As I read the post, it was serious, funny and sadly to say to true in many brains. Thoughts of dropping it all and heading OUT! Have you heard the song: Right or left at Oak ST?

Right or Left at Oak Street

Song by

Roy Clark

 

(Charlie Williams & Joe Nixon)

The alarm rang at seven this morning
The same time it did yesterday
Seven-thirty is my breakfast time
And I know what the wife's gonna say.

 

The Crawfords next door got a new swimming pool
The Millers got a color TV
Mr. Wilson's job is not good as yours,
But his wife dresses better than me.

I get to the school at eight o-five
And drop off the kids at the gate
Then I drive past the clock outside the bank
It's exactly a quarter past eight.

 

When I reach the stop sign at Oak Street
The same thought crosses my mind
Should I turn right like I always have,
Or left and leave it behind?

Right or left at Oak Street
That's the choice I face everyday
And I don't know which takes more courage
The staying or the running away.

 

A left turn would take me to somewhere
Leave alarm clocks and schedules behind
And the world wouldn't care if I'm not somewhere
At some particular time.

Where a man can do what he wants to do
And no one expects him to give
All of his time to the same old routine
In the one life that he has to live.

I'm not sure which way is the best way
But I've always turned right before
And it might be strange at the end of the day
If they weren't there at the door.

A man must make his decisions
But he must consider the stakes
For every mans life is a gamble
It depends on the turn that he takes.

Right or left at Oak Street
That's the choice I face everyday
And I don't know which takes more courage
The staying or the running away...

 I am sure I would be skeered if I could read Sherry's mind. I couldn't sleep!

No matter what else happens Now I have had a wonderful life. But I have followed crazy ideas in my lifetime.  A couple as crazy as this song, but I took Sherry along. LOL

.Nite Shipslog

PS.  No matter what else happens, I will enjoy tomato sandwiches until the vines are empty.