Still fishing, not sure the bait is right! LOL

Historical Photo:
 Charlie Chaplain and Einstein

today! 
Our home behind Shirl:

 This is the view from our picture window (windshield) to the left.

 To the right

Straight ahead. There is only one swing,  when I built this place 22 years ago I made and installed were 3 swings. We love to swing and talk. (this place is in town, but it fells country)

I really don’t intend to come across a bragging, but  I am. We have previously faced some personal and family problems. Probably not much different than some of you. Like many families we have endured our son’s divorces and addictions. We have seen death too many times, those of both our parents and siblings. Sherry’s family 6 losses, my family 5.

We have handled them. Not always gracefully maybe, but we made it thru.

This trip at home is much different than I had ‘viewed from a distance.’ Since being here we have spent time with my sister Shirl at home and in the hospital. Many Dr’s appointments, taking care of sister’s finances while handling Motor home repairs, cutting grass and plumbing a house for our grandson.
The youngest Grandson bought his first house, he is 22 years old. He bought a mill house that had belonged to the local ‘Hell’s Angels Chapter.’ We have cleaned the back yard. (That doesn’t even come close to saying what we have done there). We cut thru 30 years of ‘vine growth’ (Poison Ivy, morning glory, weeds and Sumac). So far 18 huge construction plastic bags full. (18 bags that the city refused to pick up because some residue besides yard waste was in the bags. We are working on sorting that out). But at least you can finally see the ground.

We are doing that work because Luke is the youngest and is a very hard worker himself. He saved enough money to buy the house and he is only 22 years old.

Our son Mark, his dad, keeps the road hot from Florida to NC to help his son succeed in his project. Friend Evelyn says Mark’s address is I-95. 

But we are proud of them all. Matt, his older brother, is also helping him (hanging drywall etc).

 (This concrete block and asphalt cover hides the sewer system for the motor home.)

I am a few months past 79. During this time  here I also installed the sewer system for the motor home. The Skylight is replaced, the windshield wiper and ignition switch on the coach are replaced.

We are still reading blogs. Thank you guys that take the time to read this blog.

Nite Shipslog

North Carolina facts (since we are here  I am looking forward to the time I can cover the states as I initially planned)

1.    Beech Mountain is Eastern America's highest town at 5,506ft above sea level.

2.    Andrew Jackson, seventh President of the United States, was born in the Waxsaw area on the border of North and South Carolina.

3.    Arnold Palmer recognized as the player whose aggressive play and winning personality raised golf to national attention, honed his skills on the championship golf team of Wake Forest University.

4.    James K. Polk, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, was the eleventh President of the United States.

5.    Hiram Rhoades Revels, born in Fayetteville in 1822, was the first African-American member of the United States Congress.

Dementia, the bad guy!

Historical Photo:
maybe not Historical, but pretty danged old. This is Shirl , Bingo and me abt 1942.

Dementia (a disease), not a fun word. Possibly some better than cancer but we do not get our choice of what happens to our lives in the secrecy of our unfathomable bodies. Some folk die young of lung cancer and have never smoked a cigarette. Then there are those who smoke a pack a day and live to be 100. There are the thieves and ‘never-do gooders’ who keep their brain to connive, while many Intelligent loving folks who have done ‘good deeds’ all their lives start losing brain cells faster than they are produced and become demented. (Simply stated of course)

Dealing with the latter condition can throw an unsick life in a tailspin. When a human of above average intelligence gets to the point they can recall hundreds of things, but cannot remember an important subject that was discussed in detail ten minutes ago, it is tough to comprehend.

There is no answer to the question, ”I have been healthy all my life. Never spent a night in the hospital in 82 years. I managed an office and now can’t find my way home from Walmart. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?” When the question is asked many times a day you know no answer will satisfy nor fix the present dilemma.

My Sherry has a quote from a local celebrity in the 1950s here in North Carolina. Betty Feezer of local TV was attacked by deadly cancer. A fan asked, “Why did this happen to YOU?”  Her sweet soft voice answered, “Why NOT me?”  (Such a logically unselfserving answer)

This is not our first time facing dementia, my mama was afflicted by it in her later years. I know from your communications several of you reading have faced this at a much tougher level. Your thoughts and support are much appreciated. 

Yep, the skipper of the Shipslog is still 'Gone Fishing', but stopped by to say I am still enjoying some blogs.

Nite Shipslog
North Carolina facts (since we are here)

1.     Andrew Johnson started his career as a tailor's apprentice in Raleigh, North Carolina and rose to lead in the reuniting of the nation as the seventeenth President of the United States.

2.     North Carolina leads the nation in furniture, tobacco, brick, and textile production.

3.     Saluda, North Carolina is located at the top of the Saluda Grade. The crest of the steepest standard gauge mainline railroad in the United States.

4.     State Motto: Esse quam videri (To be rather than to seem)

5.     The town of Wendell was named for the American writer, Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Mother's day

Taking time from 'fishing' to wish all you wonderful Mothers out there HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.  We boys and girls have it made because of YOU! To us you hung the Moon!

Wishing you the best! YOU  are the most important person in the world to someone. YOU are called 'BLESSED' by them and others.

Today I am also loving my son's mother and remembering two SPECIAL MOTHERS: my mother and my mother-in-law.

Jack.....

Love letters

Historical Photo:
 Toes of the Statue of Liberty arriving at Liberty Island in the Late 1800's

Today, lazy day on the bank of the fishing lake:

My grandson out in Utah just moved.  We had to ask for an address. He said something that made me think.  He said, “We (He and his daughter) only get mail from you, I forgot about the address.”
At a receiving for the death of a friend lately, his brother was there.  He drew several house plans for me when I used to work. As we talked his son came over and he introduced him. I asked the natural question, “Is he going to be an Architect?”
“Jack, he can’t read nor write cursive, thinks it is a foreign language.  But he is trying.”
I do write a few letters now, but they are on the word processer. I used to actually write long hand (remember that term?). When we were separated by orders, mostly on Government paid cruises on the USS (what ever), I wrote a lot of love letters. (Paula talks about writing Mel when he was in Japan, yes ‘them’ love letters.
In school and even lately when I see a copy of the Bill of Rights or the Constitution I WONDER how anyone could write that long a document with such beauty and correctness.
How is your handwriting? Mine has deteriorated. Sherry, Shirl and friend Mary Ann still have very good ‘longhand’.
Today I am taking a break, waiting for someone to come and fix the blow out on the motor home that happened a few weeks ago on the way to NC. I have put it off too long during this ‘fishing expedition.’

Nite Shipslog
North Carolina facts (since we are here)

1.    Fontana Dam is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States, at 480 feet high.

2.    Many people believe that North Carolina was the first state to declare independence from England with the Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775.

3.    Grandfather Mountain, highest peak in the Blue Ridge, is the only private park in the world designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve.

4.    The Mile-High Swinging Bridge near Linville is 5,305 feet above sea level. The bridge actually hangs about 80 feet above the ground.

5.    Pepsi was invented and first served in New Bern in 1898.

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