Saturday, Thanks for your Service.

 Today’s picture

 

                Jr holding me 'n Bingo while home on leave out of uniform.

This was in Shelby, NC our first house with an inside toilet. Jr. threatened to flush me down the commode if I didn't stop talking.

So for today:

From the time I remembered my brothers in uniform, I wanted one. I was 3-4 yrs old and still remember.  Most folks cannot even remember their childhood hopes, much less get to fulfil them.

                            Odis and his soon to be wife Ruth home on leave.

                                                below both brothers in whites.

                            Then there was me in a uniform made by my mother

I served in 3 branches.  I was never a hero, but I met PLENTY OF THEM. Many folks do not realize it, but the largest percentage of service members serve in support positions. Most of us never saw combat.

                                                        Sgt Vernon Gomez Harris,  Sherry's bro.

Sherry’s brother Lefty, landed on Iwo Jima (purple heart). My brother Jr served aboard ship in the South Pacific. BIL Vernon two tours in Nam. Nephew Ted, tour Nam. Nephew Henry, Nam.  Nephew Rick, Nam. More cousins/uncles than I can list.

I see men and women who lost limbs defending Freedom. Military personnel do not choose the wars they fight in, agree or not, they just follow orders.

I am proud to have known the men and women who fought and those who supported. Supplies must get to the men in action.  Food must be there. Medics have to be ready, someone must keep personnel records, and the important bunch, PAY masters. All needs must be met for success. Then that one forgotten by some, someone must supply the stuff for yelling 'MAIL CALL', everyone wants to hear from sweethearts and mama!

I am saying this because I heard that statement ‘Thanks for your service’, twice today and I was away from home only once. SWEET!

Oh, and Arlington, along with many other Veteran Grave sites are full of those who ‘swore an oath’ to defend with their lives, and thousands gave their all.

I wear a hat that says NAVY (My last military service). I hear it so many times lately, “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE”.  I try to always return the thanks and learn that many times that thanks comes from other veterans. I usually say Thank you and I enjoyed it.

                Chief Jack (Highest rank I held)

Yesterday at the grocery store a lady said, “Navy? Great, I served in the USN also shipmate!”  It reminded me of DC and Lois, a young lady of color. She was the hardest working sailor that ever worked for me. WE printed and bound ALL USN books, printed the USN financial statements and regulations. Our printers ran 24/365, stopping only when broke.  LOL

If you served, Thanks for your service.  Many thanks should also be for the ones who kept homes together while others served.

Nite Shipslog

PS: 

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog.  Remember Life goes on, until it doesn’t!

 

Friday TRAFFIC

 Picture of the day

 

Oh yes we could live in this truck!! Living quarters about the size of our first home.

BUT for now:  

I guess I touched on something many folks already know about.  MA mentioned traffic in Texas. WE remember very well, Sherry had taken the wheel of the Coach and we hit Houston, bad traffic and road work. She had the coach steering wheel with concrete walls both sides and only a 10ft lane. Our coach is 8’, she had only one foot on both sides.  She did good, but still remembers the fear she felt in those few miles.

 Chatty and Atlanta traffic! Oh yes, we got into that once at rush hour. Also we remember Atlanta before the interstates and the outer beltways. When we lived in Biloxi Mississippi, we drove thru the middle of Atlanta on Peach Street to and from North Carolina.

Chinese gridlock, Part of the 12 days 62 miles long traffic jamb!

I prefer driving our coach to a car; many people do not understand that. Shucks, I might have some truck driver blood in me. Many in my family and extended family drove trucks.  I had an uncle killed and brother injured in a truck wreck in Maryland. But that was long before the interstate system. I do respect truck drivers and there are millions of trucks on the road. Everyone needs to  remember when you are out on the roads, “Everything we use, eat and buy, most likely came to you via a truck.”

The above may be in the UK, but Trucks are real and needed.

Once on a long haul move from Albany Georgia to Key West, we met a couple that lived in their moving truck. A small portion of their truck trailer was set aside for their personal belongings. They managed to withdraw and store what they needed between moving other people’s household goods, such as ours. Most of the other time they managed to bath at truck stops and slept in the truck cab living area.

That idea appealed to Sherry & I, but we never followed thru on the idea. LOL

Many couples are truck drivers with both having DOT License.

All of you take care and remember, life goes on.

Nite Shipslog

PS.  Yeah, I know you did not need to be reminded of traffic stuff. HA!

Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog.   ;-)  WE all need to be more patient drivers, we are all in the same boat or on the road.  ;-)

Bird in Hand....A long trip

 

Today’s picture: 

                City limit sign

 (I will be sleeping in on Thurs. morning, you can bet!)

So for today:

WE had the best of times on this trip to PA..  It was so wonderful to see Dallas and Marian for a few days. Marian is a real cook and fixed us a great Dutch country meal.  The day before we left they took us to a dinner with theatre in Bird-in-Hand, PA.

          (story and song: "No crime in Amish Country"

 Bird in Hand.....Yep that is the name of the town.  Many unique names of towns up there. The meal was great and we enjoyed the play.  I much prefer folks on the stage rather on film.

Oh, and in Virginia, Big wreck on I-81 again, this time on the North bound lanes. Tractor/trailer and a car or two. A terrible sight.  Two medics were working on a man in the grass using CPR until the medical equipment could get there. I hope everyone survived.

I was shocked at how tired I become on the trip.  Usually I could dance (if I knew how) or do jumping jacks after just 500 miles. I am beat this time.....

WE are back at home base, Belmont, NC. The traffic around Charlotte, NC was terrible. So much back up, start and stop. Of course it was around the 5-6PM traffic.  Is it like that at your home town?

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: 

Many unique city names in Pennsylvania, Below is the most stolen city limit sign:

AGAIN THANKS for reading the  Shipslog.  Remember Life goes on, until it doesn’t!

 

Wednesday.. ‘Little Washington’ I was 5 yrs old.

 PICTURE OF THE DAY

Main St.  Little Washington late 1930s

note:  If you read this on Wednesday, we will be on I-81 headed South to homebase in Belmont, NC  After a wonderful time with friends here in Pennsylvania...

  For today:

I do not read ‘Sean of the South’ on a regular basis but some titles strike my fancy. A story about an old 94 year of woman in Washington …..(nc). His article centered around the old woman’s words, ‘Tell them’. It brought back some of my earliest memories.

I was 5 yrs old, now remembering my first sight of ‘the ocean or coast’.

WWII was still going on; I had a brother fighting in the South Pacific. There were few trips because tires and gas were rationed. Most folks do not know it, but licensed ministers were allowed a little more gas because of pastoral duties. At the time many ministers traveled for required conventions and acted as taxi’s for members with no gas or no car. i.e. trips to hospital, doctors, groceries and many to get to church.

Dad made several trips every service filling his 4door 1947 Chevrolet to capacity. Folks within a mile or two walked to church, but believe me, WHEN THE WORLD IS AT WAR most families have at least one loved one in danger’s path. They meant to be in church praying.

When we lived in Burlington, NC dad needed to go to ‘Little Washington’. (Back then The town was called ‘Little Washington’ to differentiate from DC). W.D Moody was in charge of the ‘Little Washington’ Camp Meeting and had asked dad to be there. So we went.

On the Pamlico Sound, calmer than I remember! LOL

Washington is a small town in Eastern NC, near Pamlico Sound. Dad took Shirley and me to see the ocean.  None of us knew the difference (Sound/ocean), both were on the coast. The first time in my life I saw water that I could not see the other side. At my age the 1-2foot waves of the Sound looked BIG!

Funny how article writers like Sean, can kick in memories. Sherry & I can remember the feelings of anxiety having brothers who were on the front lines of the war with Japan. Even before we were 6 yrs old, we KNEW about rationing. It affected everyone in the USA, old and young. I would BET Victor’s family knew the WAR up close and personal.

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:  Always glad you guys took the time to read this stuff. Some light, some serious, but many things affect the whole world, World war is the worst!

Tuesday ... …The Church in the Corn Field or Reamstown COG

 Picture of the day

 

                                            Reamstown COG

BUT for now:  

Sherry and I have spent a lot of time in CHURCHES.  Many out of desire, but honestly (on my part) out of obligation and to accompany Sherry. Some will never understand the effects on your mind when one of your basic 5 senses is lost, in my case hearing. There are some voices (frequencies) I cannot understand.

I was amazed talking to Bill Irwin the blind man who hiked the Appalachian Trail.  WE enjoyed dinner with he and his wife once in Bangor. I learned so much, one thing he said hit me, “I have thought about it a lot," he said," I would rather my sight be gone than my hearing. I can get by well with Orient (his dog), they just do not make a hearing-ear dog.”  FACT right there.

All that aside, we attended another great church Sunday. We call it ‘The Church in The Corn Field’, because it does have farmland all around (mostly corn). It is a beautiful loving church.  It is hard to imagine that big church with good attendance in the country. This church, ‘Reamstown COG’, has good attendance but not even close to last week’s visit to the Calvary Church (thousands). This attendance is in the hundreds. Small enough to be personal and large enough to know the people are happy there.

I had hoped to get the corn fields, but the fields are just planted or getting ready in this shot. The red pointer is the church the other is mostly parking .

The pastor reminded me of my dad who pastored over 50 years.  They preach (as I think Jesus did) with parables (Bible story)  This one he entitled, ’The Sound of HIS Voice’. He used Jesus’s call to Lazarus.

I was reminded that dad used ‘notes’ …  today that has been replaced by THE OUTLINE. Remember, being on the road, Sherry and I have attended many churches of several denominations in many states. Most ministers will start with point #1 … Later it will be 2,3,4, etc.

Dad’s (style?) like this pastor in the Corn Field present their sermon and one thing FLOWS  into another (as a story) no need to ‘point out a point’, disrupting an engrossed congregation. And we were engrossed! I could just about hear "The Sound of HIS Voice!"

I just wanted to talk about a church in a beautiful setting, in a cornfield.  Pennsylvania has some delicious corn, BTW!

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

AT our age, approaching 90, we will most likely not be in this area again, but after traveling over 20 years, in many countries and all states, of the churches we have visited, Reamstown is at the top of the list.  If you are in the area you should visit.

Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog.   ;-)

   ;-)

Monday .... The sink hole, OUCH

 Picture of the day.

 

                    Sinkhole in Russia, this one took homes and people......

 For today:

WE are in Circle M RV park, a nice park near Lancaster. WE were assigned one of the best sites here.  WE settled in, and very happy to have finished the trip.  After a walk around the park, we had a good night. BUT about midday we lost power.

No problem. We have a generator, Uh oh, it will not start. I walked down the street where a crowd was gathered, hoping to find out how long we would be without power. The answer I received, ‘No one knows, see that sink hole.’ It shocked me, I have seen two sink holes before, but this was the deepest.  It is about 12 ft in diameter and 12’ deep.

The fortunate thing was; nothing or no one was damaged, and occupying RV had pulled out a little earlier.

Anyway, our generator would not start. I got some good advice from 2 RV Repairmen. Both pointed to the battery that it could also be a grounding problem. The coach showed no real evidence of battery failure because the 12v system was still alive.  Evidently just too weak to pull a starter. Anyway we bought two batteries and started the generator. Later that day they had the power restored. 

I have seen 2 sink holes, one in South Georga and the other in Florida. I guess what amazed me was I thought sink holes were a southern problem; but in a PA park just 200 feet from us? Yep, a real surprise.

Not a big one, but about the same as the other two sinkholes I have seen before. But it broke the buried main power lines that cross that site. Now this is admittedly small. but it will take at least 6 dump truck loads to fill this hole. Had a camper been just partly on this hole it could have been ruined.

Here are shots of BIG sink holes that can scare the life out of you!  And how could they ever fill these holes.

                        (Those above are from around the world)

So for sure that incident was a blessing in disguise. If we had needed the generator on the road (which we have, once when broke down in Death Valley at 113 degrees), we would have been out of luck. Like many things in life, you never finish the learning curve in the RV community.

Nite Shipslog

 

PS:  Always glad you guys took the time to read this stuff. It may be silly, but this is a big part of my life now.  I do this instead of scrolling thru FB where I really get lost. LOL

Sunday, WHAT.. Dumb, CRAZY things

Picture of the day

 

(want to be noticed?)

BUT for now:  

I have done some dumb things in my life.  Most of us at one time or the other have observed someone with clothes we considered dumb. Styles change growing up I went thru a period of pegged pants followed by bell bottom trousers. But some things I just consider Dumb.

Consider someone who tends to be a crook, thief or break other laws.  Why would such a fool want things like this:

I mean it sure makes it easy for the law (or anyone) to locate and ID you! The guy is wanted right now for murder!

Things like these below sure make you stand out and just seeing it at times messes up your stomach.

Just maybe you are looking for a nice dress for your next formal?

or maybe just a Halloween party?

Dress? Well maybe just a casual trip downtown: 

Dumb sights are bad, but dumb dangerous stunts can do permanent harm.

 

Or maybe you just want your car to be seen:

 

SO, you want cheaper tires... or below you need a pretty exhaust pipe!

But if you  really like  brick here you go:

Below you can be seen and economical:

This one you drive if you are afraid of being injured:

In our world today (If U can afford it) you are allowed to do what yanks your chain, but it is preferred to be lawful and not dangerous.

Nite Shipslog

PS. 

Thanks for stopping by the Shipslog.   ;-)  Yep I have been 'OFF' a little most of my life, some of it funny, some not.  But I hope YOU have a great day...  I plan to try..

Saturday …Stupidity, death, ruined lives

  Pic of today: Fusses can be funny and deadly!

 Posting early, not sure what we have going in the morning. (Pop ups are less!!!)

For today:

I read today of a 22 yr old lawn keeper was KILLED because of grass clippings flew on a neighbor’s car.  WHAT?

A family is now mourning the loss of a Son, brother, & husband.  Not only that but the killer, just a normal guy who loved his car; was hot headed and carried a pistol, lost control and shot someone in a argument.. NOW he will have years and years in prison to remember just how stupid he is/was. He may never drive another car much less own one.

WE all ask, “What is happening to the world today?”

In a democracy we are supposed to know:

… How to agree to disagree.

…When and how to understand we do not all think alike and will NEVER agree completely.

….Please understand something, just because I am not in agreement with your political party, I should not be killed, punished or not allowed to work where you do. Here, in the USA we have rights too!

I have said many times Valdese, NC is one of the most political places I have ever lived.  Our church there in the 50s was divided about half for Ike the other half for Stevenson. They all wore badges and had bumper stickers for their man. Sure they disagreed....

BUT, BUT, BUT….. the disagreements were lighthearted. I never heard a mean word between the folks.  They still worshipped together in church, thy were still Christians.

One of my dad’s standard statements from the pulpit was, “Do not ask my political party.  REMEMBER I am what you are, a Christian."

I had 2 BILs they were Democrats, I was a Republican most of the time, BUT we always had fun, loved each other and any political disagreement was always, just fun.

I am asked often, “Do you carry?” I know they mean: do I have a weapon on me. Unless I am headed hunting, I can always say, Not me, just my pocket knife.

Just a few days ago a man left his car at a Texaco Station to pay for his gas. The few minutes he was gone his 9 yr old found his pistol and accidentally killed his 3 yr old sister.

NO, I do not have the answer. I do believe Americans should be allowed to own guns. I respect guns. I am an expert with rifle and pistol, proven in USMC/USN, guns can kill or protect. BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO KEEP THE HOT HEAD OR EMPTY HEAD FROM OWNING A GUN!!

I'm SORRY, I AM SORRY!....  THOSE WORDS WILL NOT RETURN A BULLET TO A GUN!

Today I am sick of firearm ignorance, shooting damage is PERMANENT,

  NiteShipslog

PS: There is nothing like a real friend… It is sad we have dropped to a level where a neighbor is killed for being too loud! That happened last week also. YES I do believe in 'some' gun control. Our present states of mind nearly demand it.