I have an idea, let's go to Florida

Little known facts:

1.    The chicken is one of the few things that man eats before it's born and after it's dead.

2.    Some dogs can predict when a child will have an epileptic seizure and even protect the child from injury. They're not trained to do this, they simply learn to respond after observing at least one attack.

3.    A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

Tonite, I am tired.
Imma tell you, two great grands can wear you out!  LOL The girls are sweet and both getting ready to head for Florida. Stella and her family are headed for St. Augustine.  And I suggested to Sherry that we go to Florida in the coach. And give JJr, Ben, and Elsie a ride in the coach. Elsie has never seen the Ocean/Beach so they can sightsee whilest I fix the plumbing error, and Sherry relaxes

So we will head to Florida in the coach in the next few days. I have DVD’s of old 8mm movies etc from Ben’s past They can view. 

Ben is the grandson spirited away by his mama and we did not see or hear from him for a few years. We did not know where he was. We received letters saying Ben was well. Each letter was postmarked from a different state. Most mornings I would speak to my recorder in my office to him. I was crazy about that little dude.

 Above is Ben when he was spirited away. Below is Ben when Carol allowed us to fly him out from Utah. This is the BIG Birthday party to try to make up for the missed years.

Once when Ben was 12 yrs old I took him back to Utah for court. Just he and I in the coach.  I allowed him to pick the nightly stops. On that 2000 miles I let him listen to the tapes. After a few tapes he turned to me and said, “Grandpa, I can’t believe you thought you would never see me again?”

I told him that after a couple years of NO CONTACT, which seemed like forever, I definitely was not sure. The USA is a very big place to start looking for one little boy!

But we did reconnect, I used to call him, “The greatest boy that ever lived.”  I said that so much it embarrassed him, I finally reduced it to: TGBTEL. When he was in his upper teens I had to change the B (boy) to YM (young man).

We now have a good relationship with Carol, Ben’s mother.  She fed the whole clan when we all flew out to see Ben.  She was a great hostess.

I keep e-mail contact with Carol’s mama. She reads the blog. Joan is a sweetie and still plays golf out in the dry heat of Utah.

Ben is special, our first blood-related GrandLOVE. Life is good seeing him daily for a few days!

Nite Shipslog

 Mystery car, I am sure it is foreign, maybe England/France!

Our Fourth!

Little known facts:

1.    In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years there were no reported cases of an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

2.    It's possible to lead a cow upstairs, but not downstairs.

3.    A shrimp's heart is in its head.

Our Fourth of July family cook out!  The first and probably the last, but we had a great time.
   We had 15 family here for our cook out. First of all I got the birthday # wrong.(I wasn't but a 100 years off!)

 I did the math last night and knew it was #241 but when I started the  Notice I put 141!  OUCH, to be called on it by grand kids!  LOL

We had a great time the kids on the trampoline and water slide.

I cooked steak kabobs, Hot dogs, hamburgers and steaks. All in all, we had a wonderful day.

 Even Janie got patriotic:

 I have moved two heavy pigs around for years. Since Ben and Elsie were out, and the pigs had been for the GRANDS, I decided to kill them and give the change to the greats. Together the pigs weighed about 45 pounds.

EAch great grand had three 20 oz cups of change, mostly pennies.
We ended with a fireworks display. Shirl and I were talking with our backs to the fireworks and were pretty shocked when with out a warning, the first BOOM went off.  But after that it went well. The kids enjoyed the Fireworks OF COURSE!
            Nite Shipslog

Families and separations

Little known facts:

1.    The leg bones of a bat are so thin that no bat can walk.

2.    The katydid bug hears through holes in its hind legs.

3.    Slugs have four noses.

*****************    **********

I forget the energy of kids.  Elsie and Stella went to Carowinds Theme park today.  It is on the NC/SC border just below Charlotte. They were gone about 8 hours. Enjoying rides, Water Park and games. Just a few minutes ago before I started this entry, they bounded up the steps to the motor home still excited. Reece, Ben and his Dad, Jack Jr came in sorta dragging. LOL.

(This is Ben and Elsie 4 years ago, I have not shot any of them together this year but I will remedy that.)

This time is SWEET. Looking out the MH window and seeing Elsie and Ben here in NC, makes one want them near.  But their lives are settled in UTAH, and I would not attempt to encourage a change, that is, I would not initiate it.

There was a time that families were in the majority like the Waltons on TV. All in one area.  Many times in the same house or on the same farm. But now marriages, jobs and wanderlust separates many family members.

My dad & mom’s families started in North Georgia. Between them they had about 16 brothers and sisters. They mostly stayed within a 200 mile radius. North Georgia to Southern North Carolina. Usually it was a day trip to visit an Uncle and Aunt.

I guess the practice of using titles was dropped a few years ago. I always referred to mama and dad’s brothers and sisters i.e. Uncle Roy or Aunt Ann. I think a couple of Vernon’s kids call me Uncle Jack.

Many of our funeral processions went 150-200 miles. I always wondered how the police in a town knew to escort us through small towns. As a boy I noticed people would stop on the street (men white and black, would remove their hats as the hearse passed), all cars stopped for the funeral procession.

With the heavy traffic now I understand it is against the law to stop and impede traffic, in respect for a funeral.  We older folk from down south are finding it hard NOT TO STOP.  I do realize it is dangerous now.

Times change as so does my mental map, I started with our visitors and ended with funerals.  What a jump!

            Nite Shipslog

 Above is a 'early '50's Roadmaster Buick Below is FDR's Plymouth Phaeton.