Halloween

Ava is our youngest grandchild at 5 months.  She was singing to her grandma and was so into the performance that she did not see her cousin get a hold of a piece of pumpkin cake!

Now this is our youngest grandson who just turned one year old ...Braydon Charles is such a noble name, so I thought to post this as a reminder of the finer moments of growing up. He is just like his granddaddy.

Mortality

Sometimes the memories of our early beginnings do not portray accurately how fragile we are and how moments need to be cherished when our lives are connected by word or deed.  The tragic lost of two of our own this past week reminds us of our own mortality and the need to embrace each other as we share this unique RV lifestyle.  Bruce and Margie will be missed and I have never met them.  They enjoyed life and they had style...I will look for them in all of you.

Trivia

Do you remember the old crank phones ?  What I recall is the operator had to be used for all calls except those on your party line...you would use the crank to "dial" the number.  Our number on the party line was 3 longs and 2 shorts. There was no phone directory.  You would have to ask the operator .  It sure has changed.

Last trip 2010

It appears that we will go on one last 2010 camping trip to Assateague come November when all the campsites are first come, first serve. The summer is over and the ponies won't be on the beach but they will be everywhere on the island.  This particular horse was intent on finding some potatoe chips that fell when we  got out of her way. Before she left and not recorded by the camera, she left us a parting gift. Isn't nature grand?

Milk and Rving

This is how it was done when I was a kid. My grandmother would snug her head into the cows belly and be done before you knew it. See the kickers on this cow's legs? Gramma never used them. When I grew older and had to milk the cows, I remember old Crazy Legs arching her neck to see who was tugging on her teats and grew uncomfortable with me doing the tugging. A few well aimed swipes with her tail let me know to ease up. A cow who has been in the barnyard has a wet and very "ripe" tail and one smack is enough! What has this to do with RVing? Nothing. Milk is good for you, though.

A better deal...

Years ago on one of our beach walks I saw an elderly man sitting on a wooden bench, wrapped in a blanket staring towards the sea.  I noticed a red hat with a Marine Corps emblem and I yelled " Semper Fi, Marine! " and that look in his eyes told me I was welcomed.. After some introductions I learned that he was at Iwo Jima and soon he began to speak of memories long left resting in his heart.  For a brief time I was witness to an old Marine's life and for a moment I could feel his need to share it.  To someone who understands.    Thats what that college professor so many years ago gave me...   Maybe the greatest gift one may give to another is the gift of being heard. To belong to something greater....God bless the veteran...God bless us all. 

Today...42 years ago

On this day 42 years ago, I was leaving a history class at Shepherd College (now a university) and was mad as hell! Another verbal slugfest with a wannabe Vietnam war protesting college professor had just ended and his words that day changed my life.  " If you believe in the war, then go and enlist and stop evading the draft by sitting in class. " I pissed him off too, I guess.  It was a Friday night and at the local watering hole a few hours before closing time, I announced to the hanger ons that I was to enlist in the Marine Corps come Monday. A loud cheer erupted and my money was no good for the remainder of the night.  I followed through that Monday by enlisting in the Marines and was to be walking point and sleeping on hard ground by February. I guess the professor (who left for UCLA that same year) and I were both right.  He did not believe in the war and I believed in my country.  As it turns out, I think I got the best of the deal and will explain in my next post...

Its Coming!

We love the Fall and all that comes with it, yet it is the winter that follows that creates a different world. As you can see, our beach can get its share of snow. No complaints, just anticipating the spring and following through on plans to live in the RV world of full timing. No snow allowed.

Aren't they Grand!

Getting ready for fulltiming requires downsizing and who better than our oldest granddaughter to help us with a yard sale. Of course, all these stuffed animals were won by her over the years playing those giant claw machines. You can't sell those memories.