Orlando and Friends

Historical Photo:

 West Center Street, Anaheim, CA. 1887, Where Disney Land lives today!
Today...
We are back in Orlando. We left the 1/10 Acre farm over in Deltona. I was a little shocked that one slide-out on the motor home would not seat properly. I went outside and Sherry let it back out and a ton of ice about ½” thick fell of the top before it settled in. I was a little surprised.
My veggie crop looked a little helpless. I gathered the green crop (one 2” tomato) to let it ripen. I think the banana trees are gone and I think the pineapple crop is lost too.  So much for my truck farming. LOL
Before leaving I found one of my lizards, George I think, I picked him up to ask if he wanted to go to Orlando, he said, “#^^*^&*=  &$*>  *&^ &*?” which I interpreted to mean, “SSSSure, that is south, right?” George cannot move fast when he is cold or I could not have picked him up. So I warmed him up, he smiled and I put him back in the compartment.
We are here to meet Dallas and Marion. He says we met in 1956, but not true! I was in diapers then. Anyway they got caught in Lisa’s “Eclipse bomb or Bombogenesis (I had never seen the term until yesterday!). No matter they wuzant here. When Sherry talked to them yesterday they  were stranded in SC on I-95 going 20 mph.  That is tough on Dallas he has driven race cars.
They arrived today in spite of the snow, ice and the boon doggle thing, plus the road construction in Orlando. Dallas is here and Marion looks great, LOL.  With over a thousand sites here, they are about the same distance away as when we were young marrieds. We are neighbors again.

 

If I am not mistaken that RV is a little bigger than the one they started house keeping in 1956!
 
Sherry rewarded them for their efforts with Lasagna for supper (or lunch, or dinner). LOL

Oh yeah, I received an e-mail from Lisa attaching an article telling of Iguanas freezing and falling out of trees down near Miami. Cold affects reptiles that is for sure.


Nite Shipslog

PS: Friend Buddy sent me some good advice and a little sarcasm……                                                                                       

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

                    

******     *******

1938 Jag in Charlotte, NC

Young life....... Gone

Historical Photo:

 This is from 'Appalachian Life,' Baptism in the river.
 (Not only Appalachian Life, I remember this many times during my lifetime.)

Today is a little reflection on life. Looking back, as my friend Bud said to me tonight, “By rights we  used up our 9 lives in our youth.” Most teens drove too fast at one time or the other. We were distracted many times. Climbed too many sheer rock walls and jumped from too high, into the river or lake.  So many more situations that one false move and it could have been your last.
In our family, a distant nephew (great great) had his life snuffed out in a single car accident on a country road. No alcohol, drugs involved, just rushing to get home on a tricky road. Probably did it many times before. He had his own business and was a young father and loving husband.

AND today we have the texting epidemic. When a message cannot wait minutes, must be done at 70-80 mph. I see it from the seat of the motor home EVERY time we are on the road. Men, women, boys and girls texting at speeds above the speed limit.

I cry at the emptiness of homes where lives, especially young lives, are taken away in seconds. Leaving  children with no dad or mom, a wife or husband with no mate.

I cannot believe how good God, Life and Chance have been to me.  By rights I would not have seen my 17^th birthday.  I  was in a one car accident one night. The convertible rolled completely over on a country road. But I and my friend had no major injury and I am thankful.

Life is precious. Life is priceless.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Friend Buddy sent me some good advice (and some   sarcasm)……

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember as much.

                    

******     *******

                       1948 Chevy convertible, my car!

The age of dementia…..

Historical Photo:

 Looking around at the city, can you imagine how high these guys are, and no safety harness.

Tonight…..
A terrible subject, but one that is real. Sherry’s family has a history of heart disease  and cancer. On my side of the family it has been heart disease, heart attacks and dementia.    To tell you the truth dementia worries me more than the heart. I have a good friend who is very concerned about dementia. He has started plans for his own care and that of his family IF the terrible thing happens. Presently there are no symptoms.

Since dementia runs in my mother’s side of the family I am subject to Alzheimer’s. The dementia started near my age now. I could be the one 'losing it'. Sherry and I have already told BOTH our sons, when we cannot care for ourselves put us in an assisted care facility to get better, or remain until the ultimate happens. We do not want to be a burden on our sons. I do not want to drop that responsibility on anyone.

I have went over this a couple times here on the blog. I was very ignorant when my mama needed assisted living. I stated emphatically, “MY mother will never be in assisted living.”  In doing so I saddled our family with the job of taking care of mama. Sherry quit a good job in D.C. to come down and take care of mama. My sister Shirl returned to  NC to assist. Her hubby Jim quit a very good job in Maryland to help with mama.  I bear that burden of REFUSING to allow mama to be in assisted living. It could have damaged a perfect marriage, and came close to it.  I was still stuck back in the age of the Waltons. I must say this, mama was sweet until she passed. She was never mean or demanding, just lost in time.

I threw a monkey wrench in the lives of two families because I was VERY IGNORANT.I DISRUPTED two FAMILIES LIVES.  I do not want my boys to feel that responsibility they have their lives to live. Put me somewhere and come when you can. DO NOT LET me make you feel bad.

Enough of that. This is what is happening at the Florida Estate LOL:

Our RV Gate, solid wood (Son mark called it the ‘stockade’) Son Mark is a smart aleck.

I installed a gate for the “RV using Two sections of privacy fence. HEAVY.  It warped so much I felt bad, since I am supposed to be such a great builder. LOL

            (Notice how it leans out at the top!)

This week I looked up gates. This one I saw for $1395.00.  I am a cheap skate. I built it for $290.

Now Sherry can open it with no problem. It is light and swings on it's own. I like it.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Friend Buddy sent me some good sarcasm……

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

*************

           I spotted this Edsel ('58) in The Villages. That is what vintage is for. To drive around and show off and make folk like me drool!