A chance meeting

That Historical picture:

1948 Packard convertible. Strange the Packard for years matched the Cadillac and Lincoln as the elite. Even at times surpassed them.

Now tonight:

Most of our family is in the North Carolina area.  We do get together as often as possible. WE have a grandson in Utah and one in Oregon.  I try to keep in contact with the ones on the west by letter once a month. I dread to think that our around the USA trips are coming to a halt. I really want one more trip out that way, even my girl is sorta onboard for next year.

Of course we sightsee on the way. On our walk tonight we ran into Nephew Jerry and wife Debbie. They are also walkers.  They were still excited about a trip to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone they took a couple years ago.  We had a lot in common to talk about and it was such a joy to see the excitement of travels and walks they have taken in Montana plus others.  We did not delay them long but it was such fun just to chat.

Jerry is the oldest son of Lefty, Sherry’s oldest brother. I always admired Lefty.  As a Marine, he was wounded on Iwo Jima in WWII during the landing there. He never talked much about it.  Returning service men after WWII have many tales other than the war. Lefty bought a monkey passing thru some island at the end of the war. He actually got it off the ship with him and brought it home.

That was the talk of the family. The monkey liked Lefty and family but Sherry declared the monkey hated her. And was mean.  LOL  She said Lefty sold it to one of my cousins who dealt in animals over in Lowell, many years before Sherry and I met.  I never heard of it.

Lefty once had a roach coach business.  When he was ready to do something else we bought it from him. We ran the business for a few years.  Oh yes,  Once when I thought I was ready to settle down and go to college Lefty sold us a house for $3000.  We lived there until I changed my mind about college after a couple semesters (surprise), and joined the USN.

I have a lot to thank Lefty for, most of all his dedication and service to this country.  In the last several years we have bought a house on the same street Lefty and family lived on for the last part of his life.   I never passed that house without thinking or saying, “That is the house Lefty built. And raised a wonderful family.”  Lefty’s family is one of the few in our family  that DOES NOT have the traditional ‘Black Sheep’.  Cadoos to the grown kids: Butch, Ann, Becky and Jerry.  A family for the books.

Sorry.. All that from a coincidental meeting on a walk.

Nite Shipslog

Ps: SMILE…

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?'

"They Say"

That Historical picture:

1936 Ford Pickup, dressed up a little of course

Now tonight:

They say, ‘Age is just a number.’

They say, ‘you are as old as you feel!’

They say, ‘Walking fast is as good as jogging.’

They say, ‘Jogging isn’t bad on your knees.’

They say, ‘A spoonful of Apple cider Vinegar a day  is                good for you.’

You may have heard one or two of those statements. It seems what ‘They say’ this week might change to the opposite next week.

I mentioned once I had a friend 12 years old and the doctor prescribed two ‘menthol Kool’ cigarettes a day for his Asthma. Today the Doc would be laughed out of the profession (I think).

In my life time I cannot remember the many studies done on caffeine & sugar.  One year it would kill you, the next year it is good for some organ in your body.  You can name many things during your life time that Studies, doctors and other authorities have contradicted themselves about.

I would hate to stake my life on some sworn study and it be wrong.  With that in mind I think most everyone agrees with being ‘temperate’ in our eating and daily actions, in the long run is the best for us.

There are four people in our immediate family. My girl and oldest son ‘believe in vitamins and supplements’.  Youngest son and I sorta shy away from those.

I have this ‘open theory’, I think we all try to do what is best for our bodies.  What we do is right in our eyes (even when we counteract our own policies) we sorta feel like we have ‘done wrong’.

If we KNEW something we were doing would KILL us, only a few would keep on doing it. Don’t tell the smoker they are gonna die young, they will point out Uncle Johnny smoked two packs a day and died at 92 while aunt Beth never smoked and died at 66.  I know, because I justified my smoking.  We justify our own actions, it is human. I even remember when Santa smoked!

 

Just remember when someone says, “They says that ain’t good for you!”  Just ax ‘em who “They” is?

My doctor said I needed to continue my statin,  I pointed out so far I have out lived you by over 25 years.  He laughed, He knows I am a smart Alek.  

What do you remember most that “THEY SAY?”

Nite Shipslog

Ps: SMILE…

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so
old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you
must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'

This playing field, Gary Claude Setzer

Historical Photo:

1903 Wilbur and Orville First flight

I have heard folks refer to life as the ‘playing field’, i.e. games: football, soccer and baseball.  Some say the field isn’t level in life, there is first the owners/investors and then there are the workers. The laborers; miners, fishermen, all support levels, farmers and cotton/steel mill workers.  OR stated as the wealthy and the lesser groups.

Of course the field isn’t level.  It is leaned toward the ones who pay our salaries, bonuses and retirements. It is not level in our society you will always have the rich/famous and then the rest.

Life is also not level with age. The older are supposed to pass before the younger. Even though I know it doesn’t always follow the correct pattern, I am still shocked when one takes the journey over Jordon out of sequence. i.e. Gary.

I did have an idea in mind when I started, but now I can’t remember it.  I will blame it on age.

But today we attended a ‘memorial service’. It was for a friend I remember as a ‘kid’, he was retired and without a hint, he died a few days ago. When I first knew him 1954 he was 10 years or more, younger than I. When you are 15 a 5 year old is a KID, a child.  But when you are 79 all of a sudden the kid is 68 and he is your peer.  He should not have gone. It isn’t right, his passing should have been after mine.

His dad, a good friend of my dad, was an idol of mine. He was a Marine in WWII and a local police officer. He was acting Chief of Police once before a chief was found. He and his family were striking, honest and great friends. Gary, like his dad was tall, seemed closer to seven feet than six. They were all there today at the memorial and they all had to stoop to hug mine and Sherry’s necks, even the grands. What a great family.

It is such a shock when the good die young(er) than you. Rest in Peace Gary Claude Setzer. May there be fair winds and following seas on the last journey HOME. When the good die young it shocks and traumatizes the loved ones. Please say a prayer for Wanda, Roland, Karen, Sean, Steph, Zach and Austin.

Nite Shipslog

These cars were new the year I first laid eyes on  Gary the little well mannered kid!

1954 Ford

 1954 Buick Skylark