Walkabout: A Better Understanding

This is my view as I sit and write.  I have some very classy neighbors! 

When I was thinking about doing this adventure, I talked with my fine therapist, Brad Prinzhorn, and this is what he said:  It's a walkabout.  You're going on a walkabout.  And it did seem to be what I was about to do.  I thought walkabouts were about discovery, finding yourself.  I wasn't too far off.

Wayne C. referred me to Habitat's Home Store where I found several good books.  One of them, "Walkabout" by Aaron Fletcher, has me totally engrossed right now.  It's good!  Jarboe Charlie, an aborigine who is going on a walkabout, described it this way to his mate, Jeremy: It's when people go to the place where they belong.  A place that's part of them and they're part of the place.  It may be where they were born or it may not. 

I sure feel close to that here, near Asheville.  There is a strong sense of belonging here.  So many good things happened to me here, even though it was a long time ago.  Those impressions are still very much with me and can make me feel good, grounded, like I belong here.  It's also remembering where I came from. 

What a memorable laundry day this was!  The mural on the wall, couch, easy chair and books make this a very nice space for what can be a tedious chore.  Also, the clean, fresh swimming pool is right next door!  It's the first time I've ever swam while waiting for my laundry.  I guess folks who have their own swimming pool can do that, but I wonder how many actually do?

This afternoon I went on a quest to find a #2, square tipped screwdriver that I was sure could be easily found.  Nope.  Went to 2 Lowe's, Ace Hardware and three automotive stores before finally finding one at a Home Depot in Hendersonville.  It's for removing the screens on the skylights so I can clean them.  Finally!

And a pic that I still find amusing and keep looking for the right caption.....

Mantis on the Menu

I'm Connected!

For the first time in a long time, I have cellphone signal, internet connection and cable TV at my camp site.  Last night I watched TV for and quickly remembered why I stopped watching it.  There's just not much there.  If you know of any good shows you think I'd like, please let me know.

This morning I decided not to adopt Tarheel.  It just didn't feel right.  He's very cute and will find a home quickly, I'm sure.  A lady came for a home visit and I told her right away.  She was very understanding and supportive. 

I'm still waiting for my new hearing aid and tires for the Vespa, as well as getting the speedometer fixed.  When those are done I'm going to sell it and get a Burgman.  This is a good time to get some things fixed, including the radio in the trailer.  Busy, busy, busy!

Last day at Lake Powhatan - for a while

It's moving day and I sure will miss this place.  It is such a great location, quiet, shaded, peaceful and so close to where I grew up.  It has been a pleasure being here.  And the turkeys trotted by for a farewell strut this morning.  Almost got a great pic of the big tom through the trailer window, but alas, he's just too darned fast!

Went to see the dog yesterday and he was already gone.  But they had a cute little Yorkshire terrier named Tarheel, 2 years old. who is adorable.  I took him for a little walk and spent some time with him, then completed an application for adoption.  This morning I'm having second thoughts, as it is far more difficult having a dog without a partner to help care for him.   So I'm trying to think it through and come to a decision that's best for both of us.  He sure would be great company, though.

If I do get him I think I'll change his name to Jack, the hero in "Avatar".  "Cause he sure is feisty and ready to run all the time!

A Great Weekend!

Marcia Crook Howell came over for lunch on Saturday and we had a very good time.  It rained all afternoon and we talked and talked and talked.  She lost her husband, Eddy, in January to a rare blood ailment after many months of not knowing what it was.  They were married 42 years.  So we talked about our grief, getting on with life, the dumbest question people have asked us ("have you cried much?") to the dumbest advice given us ("just get over it").  She's a very strong person with a very good support group, and she's doing very well.  It was a pleasure to get to know her after all these years.

Yesterday I attended Unity Church of Asheville and was disappointed.  The minister had a dialogue with the congregation about gays and lesbians, the minister being a lesbian.  Her tone told more than her message, as there was a defensive edge to her voice.  The venue was very nice and so was the music.  It made me think, which is just what I didn't go there for.  But I did find some peace during the meditation and the music, especially singing the Peace song at the end. 

Yesterday afternoon I went looking for a dog named Hitch, a 3-legged Jack Russell Terrier up for adoption.  The place was closed so I wandered off to see what I could find, and lo and behold the Asheville Tourists were playing a baseball game. As I was standing in line for a ticket, a lady walked up, asked if I wanted a ticket and I said "sure", so she gave me one.   It was great fun!  A clear, blue, cloudless sky, the T's playing very good ball, locally made, ice cold beer, hot,hot dogs and lots of pretty ladies.  Life is good!  REALLY good!  Enjoy it to the fullest!

 

Well, I'm off to try and see Hitch and to measure the bed of my truck for a new, bigger scooter.  The Vespa is driving me crazy needing a new rear tire every 2,000 miles and me riding it 30-50 miles a day.  It's just too much hassle. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Turkeys

The past several days, every time I returned to the camp ground there was a small flock of turkeys in the same place.  Then yesterday they wandered through my campsite!  They are a light brown and very pretty.  Many of them are small and probably this year's hatch.  What a treat!  But it sure is tough to get a good picture of them. 

So far I've found 3 churches that I want to attend:  a Unity church, one called Jubilee that I've been hearing about for years and First Baptist downtown.  Never thought I would set foot in a Baptist church again, but it's where Wayne and Mary go and they swear I won't know it's Baptist.  I sure hope that's true or I'll be running for the door at altar call!

While scooting around down by the French Broad River yesterday I discovered a very good restaurant called 12 Bones Smokehouse.  It's where Obama dined when he was campaigning here.  There was a long line out the door but it moved pretty well.  I don't know what I liked more:  the melt-in-your-mouth ribs, smokey potato salad, jalapeno cheese grits or watching the variety of people moving through there.  It was great and I highly recommend it!  My son-in-law Trey, as a lover of good ribs, would love it.  I also liked their motto: "Live! tender butts and sweet racks".  Oh yeah!

Wayne and Mary came over for dinner the other night and it was delightful.  We had home made gazpacho, grilled trout and steamed asparagus.  As usual, the conversation was the highlight of the evening.  You won't find two more interesting people anywhere and we had a very good time.  Wayne and I also enjoyed a couple of Dead Guy ales and I learned he has actually been to the brewery in Oregon.  That just got added to my list of places to visit next summer. 

Wayne, author of Cataloochee and Requiem by Fire

Mary, Ethicist at Mission Hospital

Finally got to visit my cousin June yesterday.  While it was good to see him, his wife Hester and their son Mel, it was tough to see him bed bound by a stroke.  His sense of humor was fully intact and he told several funny stories.  I feel for all of them and what they're going through.  They were so good to me when I was growing up, he was like a big brother.  Hope they can find some peace in all of this.  I hate to see good people suffer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mount Pisgah

Went for a long ride on the Vespa this morning, up on the parkway to Mount Pisgah, then down twisty-curvy highway 151.  It was kinda chilly and the clouds were gorgeous!  That ride has so many memories for me, like my first car wreck as a driver. 

I was driving the family car, a '61 Ford Fairlane, full of teenagers just like me.  I'd only been driving a few weeks and was in a place I wasn't supposed to be.  The pavement was wet, I was going a little too fast when a '58 Chevy slowly pulled out in front of me and didn't accelerate.  When I hit my brakes, the car fishtailed and almost made it across a bridge going sideways.  But the left rear bumper caught the cement piling and knocked off the taillight.  Everyone was okay, thanks the lord, and I was shaky and mad.

Several years later in Stacy dormitory at Carolina, a group of us Enka guys were telling stories and I told this one.  A friend named Mike DeBruhl spoke up and said "that was me in the Chevy!"  We had a good laugh and solved a mystery to boot.

I got a job at Pisgah View Ranch for a couple of weeks as a dishwasher to pay for the damage, so my insurance premium wouldn't go up or worse yet, cancelled.  Those were long days, hot work and taught me several lessons.

Had a short visit with a favorite cousin, William, yesterday, and plan to go back for another.  He and his wife recently returned from a trip to South Africa and I want to see there pics and hear their stories.

Thanks for stopping by!

Reunion, Part 2

The gathering at Lake Julian on Sunday afternoon was a great success!  The turnout was good, there was more food, all desserts, than the law allows and the rain held off until near the end.  What I'll remember most is the laughter.  Everyone seemed to be in good spirits and had a good time.  Here are some highlights in pictures:

Brenda Kay O'Kelley and Mike Jones sharing a laugh

Lynn, me, Phyllis and Patsy

brunette, silver hair, redhead and blond

me and Marcia

Wayne Caldwell, Charles Roberts and Brenda Kay

I had a great time, as you can see, and thoroughly enjoyed all the female attention.  Some things don't change very much.  Thanks for stopping by!

Reunion, part 1

The 45th reunion of the Enka High School class of '65 is now history, or at last part of it is.  There'll be a gathering at 2:00 this afternoon at Lake Julian, at which I hope to get some good pictures.  I was very negligent on that front last night, just because I was having so much fun!

The committee did a splendid job!  The venue was the Country Club of Asheville, thanks to manager, Gary Warren, and the efforts of many classmates over several months.  The food was Excellent!  The best I've ever had a a large event-over 100 people.  Dinner was fillet Mignon, braised pork, shrimp, asparagus, mixed vegetables and wine, courtesy of our host. 

Gail Setzer Cyr and Gary Warren

Charles Roberts, committee chair, opened the event with a stroll down memory lane.  He was followed by Leon Stewart with some very funny remarks and a benediction.  What talented people our class had! 

After dinner we were treated to music from the 60's and dancing.  It was the first time I had danced in quite a while and though a little rusty, I managed to creak my way through a few.  On returning from a rest break, I walked into an all female line dance and joined right in.  My good buddy George Holcombe remarked that he turned his head for 5 minutes to find me dancing with every woman in the place.  It was great fun!

One classmate had lost her husband in January and we experienced some instant empathy.  Another had just moved from New Jersey to Statesville and we enjoyed some good conversation and few dances.  Of course more of our classmates had passed on, bringing a few sad moments.  Overall, though, the mood was very festive and fun loving. 

It was so good to see everyone and I became even more convinced that Asheville will be my summer home.  There are so many good people and good memories here for me.  It still feels like home.  Our high school principal, Hugh Tomberlin, always said "you can't go home again."  It many ways, he was right.  But in other ways, we can revisit those memories that make a place a home. 

And finally, I caught my good friend Brenda Kay stealing a bite of my dessert.  It's better than having her eat my lunch! 

Today's the Day!

Awoke at 3am thinking about the reunion tonight and finally got back to sleep.  It's gonna be fun!

Bent Creek Lake

Am loving Bent Creek and have decided to stay in the area until Sept. 21.  I found an RV place that will fix the radio and also want to have a ladder installed.  The Vespa also needs a little work and there's a dealership not too far away in Swannanoa.  I'll be moving to Rutledge RV park near Fletcher on August 24 as my time at Bent Creek will be up.

I've been here less than a week and already have run into 3 people I know - the wife of a cousin and 2 former neighbors from Reeve's Cove, Wiley and Pat Salter.  They invited me on a hike this morning, but I just had too much to do today, including a hair cut.  Not a major one, just enough so my mane doesn't lap over my collar so much. 

Had a fine lunch with Wayne Caldwell yesterday and invited he and Mary to my place for dinner one night.  Also saw my aunt Hester and her husband, June (short for Junior).  Unfortunately June was staying in a care facility and was sleeping, so I need to go see him again.  He is paralyzed on his left side from a stroke in '09.  He was a like a big brother to me when I was growing up and taught me to hunt and fish.  Also had a short visit with aunt Henrietta and will see cousin William soon. 

Gotta go for now.  It's gonna be a busy day.  Will find a motel near the party tonight since the campground locks up at 10pm and I sure don't wanna walk 3/4 mile in the dark after partying all evening! 

A Good Deed

Before I tell of this deed, I'm pleased to announce that the IRS is off my tail!  Yep, got the word last week that I'm off the hook for the $2 grand they said I owed, which I was pretty sure I didn't.  Kudos to my accountant for accomplishing this feat!

I'm now at Lake Powhatan and love the place and my site.  This is probably one of the best places I've stayed.  Tomorrow I hope to start visiting relatives and friends.

The good deed really began when I met a guy at the camp ground store who was riding a beautiful Suzuki Bergman 400.  When I went over to admire it, he said he had another on just like it for sale.  So I made arrangements to go to Greeneville, TN to see it on Monday.  Here it is.  What a beauty!  And it will fly!

On my way back, I passed a hitchhiker with a dog who gave me a long, sad look as I went by.  I debated whether to stop or not, then remembered the many miles I hitched during college and all the good folks who gave me rides.  Besides, I had room and time and they looked a little desperate.

When I turned around and went back, we had to move all the stuff from my back seat to make room for the dog.  The hiker put her stuff in the bed of the truck and off we went.  They had just come off the Appalachian Trail because she'd had a seizure and folks had told her of a place coming up that was impassable for the dog.

She and her dog, aka Cat & Dog, had been hiking since January and had started in Florida after she had been laid off.  She had been a security guard and was severely beaten during a robbery, which left her with the seizures and a very small pension for a year.  I was awed by her courage and by the love of her helper dog. 

They were going to Erwin, TN, about 60 miles out of my way.  She also told me of her dog, aka Choice, having been ill and the big vet bill.  So I drove them to Erwin, gave her some money and asked her to say a prayer for LaVerne, as the money was really from her.  She was speechless.  Finally she asked if she could repay the money and I said no, that it was a gift in memory of LaVerne.  Her they are about to resume their hike to NY.  We're both traveler, but doing so in very different ways.  I'm glad I stopped.

I doubt that I'll buy another scooter right now, though the price was right and I loved the ride.  I need to be in one place for a while to sell the Vespa first.  It's eating up rear tires faster than I can replace them, which takes valuable time and money.  While I love the little scoot, I need something that's lower maintenance. 

Got to find a better wifi connection, as I'm back to using my VirginMobile plug-in modem which charges by the minute and megabyte.  Hope to post a lot while I'm here, as there will be a lot happening.  Thanks for stopping by!

Hot Springs

The springs are not the only thing that's hot here-so is the weather!  The AC has been running more than it has since Fontana.  The humidity is high, as the campground is right on the river. 

My good friend Jan has joined me here for a few days and it's nice to have her company.  We have good conversations, fine food cooked by her and she has learned to beat me at gin rummy!  We also watched Avatar, her for the first time, and enjoyed it a lot.  We also enjoyed the hot springs last night, which is always a good and relaxing experience. 

Leaving Barbara and family was bittersweet.  I was glad to be on the road again and knew that I would miss their presence.  There were a few moist eyes upon departure, but not for long. 

 

Pappy's new Rogue Dead Guy Ale tee shirt a birthday gift from the Crowders

The ride here was better than usual because of 4 new tires on the trailer that I got in Virginia.  Had it not been for those, I would have been waiting for the next flat tire.

My left hearing aid stopped working day before yesterday so we had to go to Asheville looking for a repair place.  The factory finally sent me some info today, so I went to the place they told me of and left it with them.  They said they would provide me with a loaner if mine isn't fixed by next Thursday so I can have it for the reunion.  What a relief!  Things like that are hard to deal with on the road. 

This place is very small and quirky.  Like it says on one of the tee shirts, "Where Mayberry meets the twilight zone" is very apt.  The Appalachian Trail comes through here, so lots of hikers seeking a few comforts can be seen.  The roads are also good for scootering, although there is a lot of gravel on them.  The streams are warmer than I expected, so I'm not sure the fishing is very good.  I'll give it a try soon.

I'm trying not to look forward to the reunion so much so I don't miss what's happening now.  But it's hard to do.  It has been 5 years since the last one and that's how long I've looked forward to this one.  The closer it gets, the more anxious I get about my long hair.  My cousin William's wife Joyce is a hair stylist so I'm going to ask her advice when I get to Asheville and settle in. 

That's about it for now.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Birthday Celebration!

Neither Barbara nor I can remember the last time we spent this much time together.  And it has been wonderful!  Our conversations have been lively, interesting and informative, as always.  We've learned from each other, supported each other and even questioned each other when we needed to.  Both laughter and tears joined our talks and it was grand!  I'm very proud of her and the life she has created for herself and her loved ones.  I tried to capture the essence of her telling about Houston's birth.  As usual, she was animated and captivating in her recounting that day.

The party began a little after 4 with the arrival of Trey's family.  The weather was threatening, but that didn't slow us down.  Delicious food, drinks, more laughter and conversation reflected the celebratory mood of the day.  The elder Houston kidded me about my long hair and growing a pony tail, mentioning that he had considered doing something similar at one time. 

Only one game of corn hole was played before the rain gently moved in.  It was Trey and Barbara versus Dave and Laura.  I'm not sure who won, but after the match some good natured hugs were shared. 

Dave and Barbara

Finally it was time for cake and candles, with young Houston doing the honors.  This year he requested an angel food cake with chocolate syrup and home-made vanilla ice cream.  The kid sure knows how to party!

The opening of gifts soon followed, with a fly rod from his mom and dad topping the list of favorites.  Next week his paternal grandparents, Houston and Linda, are taking him to DC for a visit to the newer air museum at Dulles airport.  That should be a very fine time and a lifelong memory for the younger Houston.  Who, by the way, I now call Ivey some of the time.  It's my new nickname for him, coming from IV of course, since he's the fourth Houston Mae Crowder.  I started trying to think of a nick for him ever since he changed mine to Pappy. We have fun with these!

I tell all who will listen that Barbara is the healthiest person I know, inside and out.  Part of the reason for that is her diet.  She makes the prettiest, most delicious salads I've ever seen, so I took a picture of one.  Mmm.   Makes me hungry again just looking at it! 

Trey was a wonderful chef, host and bartender, as always.  I happened to be around when he and Barbara shared this moment.  It looks like he adores her.  And I think he does. 

I'm gonna miss these folks when I leave on Tuesday, but the memories of this time together will stay with me forever.  Love you all!