On the Road Again...

Tomorrow I leave the mountains for Florida and I sure have had a grand stay!  It actually started here back in May at Cedar Mountain.  While there, Alan and Hugh came to visit and we had a blast!  I came to the Asheville area on August 10 from Hot Springs, not all that far from here, and first stayed at Lake Powhatan (aka Bent Creek to the locals).  Besides numerous visits to Reeves Cove, where I grew up, I also saw Davidson River, the Blue Ridge Parkway from Graveyard Fields to Mount Mitchell, the French Broad River and of course downtown Asheville.  And my favorite place of all, the Jubilee Community, my new spiritual home. 

One highlight was my 45th Enka High School reunion, at which I saw many old friends.  Of course our numbers are dwindling as we age, and that makes it even more special to see the folks who are still here.  During my stay, I got to see and spend time with Hugh Huntington (long time friend and brother-by-choice); Wayne and Mary Caldwell, (Wayne is now an award winning author for Requiem by Fire); William and Joyce Propest (favorite cousin and his wife); June and Hester Cagle (another favorite cousin and wife); Henrietta Case (favorite cousin);  Wiley and Pat Salter (Reeve's Cove neighbors); Marcia Crook Howell (high school classmate); Jada Moonstone (new friend from Jubilee); Gail Setzer Cyr (good friend from high school); David and Madeline Rickman (good friend from high school); Jan Wynns (good friend from Raleigh).  I also met 2 delightful ladies at my favorite pub, Jack of the Wood, named Liz and Lena.  Not to mention my good neighbors at the RV park and all the fine mountain folks I spoke with at grocery stores, gas stations, Wal-Mart and restaurants.

Joyce and William Propest

During this part of my walkabout I discovered where I belong - the Asheville area.  I was born here and haven't spent this much time here since the summer of 1968.  The following year I graduated from UNC, got my commission in the Air Force and left the mountains to wander for.all these years.  I thought I'd found my home in Boone back in the '90's, but I wasn't able to make it last.  It was, however, the longest I'd ever lived in one place - 13 years.  The place was fine but the people were lacking, or maybe it was just me, since I traveled so much that making and keeping friends there was tough.   

My heart has healed a lot since I've been here.  Thanks in large part to Jubilee and my friend, Marcia, who lost her husband last January.  Jada  introduced me to chanting, which helped a lot, too.  Yet it was Jubilee that helped the most.  Howard Hanger, the Leader of Ritual there,l and his messages on Via Negativa, Yin/Yang, the fall season, a time of grief and sadness and accepting that.  Seeing the brightest light during the darkest dark.  Connecting with spirit during times of deep sadness and sorrow.  Oh yeah.  It's okay.

Jada at Jubilee

So I take a lot with me as I leave here.  Lots of good memories, pictures, and the hope of returning in the spring, if the Lord's willin' and the creek don't rise. 

I'm very thankful for this place and for these people.  And thank you for stopping by....the adventure continues...

Whatta Day!

Yesterday I picked up the Burgman scooter from the shop after an unexpected lengthy stay over.  Routine maintenance turned into an extended stay when a bearing seized and stuck in place.  It also meant a few extra dollars in parts and repair time.  When it was fixed, though, I hit the parkway and thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

After doing some shopping at Earth Fare at Westgate, I went to the family burial plot at Green Hills Cemetery to visit the graves of my mom, dad, and my mom's parents.  It was a very good visit.  Calm and peaceful.  I also came to realize how much I missed a funeral service for LaVerne.  While the memorial service for her was good, it left me wanting.  That may be why it has taken me so long to heal from the loss of her.  Anyhow, here is a pic of the family plot.

It still makes me stop and be still to see my name on a gravestone.

Tonight I went to a didgeridoo meditation at Jubilee and it was fantastic!  Corey Costanzo played the instruments, and he also used rattles and singing bowls during the meditation.  He walked around while playing the didgeridoo and put the instrument close to our bodies and I could feel the vibrations going through me.  He also placed singing bowls on our bodies which was quite a wonderful experience.  At one point, my minds' eye became extremely clear and very detailed.  It was a new experience for me.  And I liked it very much!  The sound was haunting, melodic, mesmerizing, and captivating.  I hope to do it again.

Afterward I went to Jack of the Woods pub which was hosting a jam session of blue grass musicians.  After several beers and Crown Royals, I found the courage to talk to 2 very young, very beautiful ladies and totally enjoyed flirting and talking with them!  They were both in their mid 20's, from Columbia, SC, and captivating.  When one of them expressed an interest in dating me, I quickly said that both were way too young for me to court and dismissed the idea.  Upon further reflection, I could see being with either of them for a short time, no more than 5 years, as a mentor, guide, whatever you want to call me.  Yes, even dirty old man would be okay.    They got my juices flowing, that's for sure!  It was great fun!

Liz and Lena

They were both gorgeous and you can see why I enjoyed their company so much.  I thanked them profusely for spending time with me, a geezer at best, though I didn't use that word with them..   Two younger guys closed in as I was leaving, and all I could think was."jeez, to be a few years younger."  Oh well, I'm not!  Anyhow, basketball is here now so all is well in the sports world!

Albert and Me

As soon as I posted this pic on facebook, I started getting comments about my resemblance to Albert Einstein.  So let me be clear:  any physical resemblance between Einstein and me is purely coincidental and ends there, as those of you who know me are already aware.  Sure, my name has been used in the same sentence with his a few times in my life, but those incidents were not positive in any way.  I did it to make people smile and it seems to have worked!

On a little more serious note, someone suggested I google Albert to see some pictures of him and I discovered a long list of his quotes.  This one seemed to fit my situation and my feelings quite well:
   "I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity."  A. Einstein
 And that is very true for me now.  The last 2 years have been very painful, but I have come to appreciate solitude more and more, thanks in large part to my learning's from Jubilee.

Last weekend my good friend Jan Wynns came to visit after hearing me rave about Jubilee all fall.  As usual, I came away from the Sunday service with a full heart and a smile on my face.  The lesson was about Letting Go, which I've heard about more than once, and yet I still seem to forget how to let go and why it's important to do so.  The opening song to celebrate the path of yin said it pretty well:
   "O, freedom, o, freedom!
    O, freedom over me!
    I'll let go of what I crave
    And go home to my lord and be free!"
            A traditional U.S. civil rights song, adapted

One of the meditation readings from the program bulletin also said it well:
   "To live in this world
    You must be able to do 3 things:
    To love what is mortal;
    To hold it against your bones knowing
    Your own life depends on it;
    And, when the time comes to let it go,
    Let it go."
       Mary Oliver, from "In Blackwater Woods", new and selected poems

Jan said she enjoyed the service very much and we had a very nice lunch at Early Girl Eatery on Wall Street afterward.  We also lucked out to find 12 Bones open on Saturday when it is usually closed.  There was a gallery walk that day so they had opened to take advantage of a fine opportunity.  Here's what Jan thought of 12 Bones...

We ate very well while she was here, including a visit to her favorite, Tupelo Honey Cafe.

The Burgman is in the shop and the Vespa is now in storage at Hugh's.  I took the Burg in for routine maintenance last Thursday and they discovered a problem with a bearing and had to order a part.  So I'm scooter-less once again for a short while and missing it during these days of Indian Summer.  Oh well.  Soon I'll be in sunny Florida with 80 degree weather and back to shorts, tee shirts and sandals!  That's be nice, but I sure am going to miss Jubilee.  I discovered in the bulletin that web casts of the services are available online for several days after each one.  That will help me stay in touch and I'm very thankful for that.

Since I started this entry with a comment on my hair, aka the pony tail project, I'll end it with one.  It's still not long enough for a p.t., but it's getting there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Odds and Ends

The cold weather sure has slowed me down.  No scooter rides and few walks equals lots of reading and reflecting.  It's truly time to be inside and go inside, of myself, to straighten out a few things.  A numerology report from my new friend Jada has given me a lot to think about and perhaps a thing or two to plan for.  I'll share more about that as I understand it better, but it will be about my personal development. 

Jada took this pic of me outside Jubilee on Wall Street last Sunday.  Lots of folks were doing this and it looked like fun and she suggested a pic.  Nicely done, my friend!  Thank you!

My favorite bumper sticker:  "Honk if you love Jesus.  Text if you want to meet him!"  I shared this with my table mates last Saturday night at a fund raiser for Screaming Eagle Outfitters, a Christian camp for young people, and got some good laughs.  Marcia and I went early and helped finish the meal preparation, which was fun.  It was a good dinner and interesting program.  A conversation at my table about homosexuals was disturbing, though, and I found myself getting angry about the intolerance of these "christians".  Howard said it well at Jubilee the other day:  I don't consider myself a Christian, but I am a follower of Jesus.  Now that I can buy into.  I've become much clearer lately about why I turned away from the Baptists so many years ago and why I still reject many of their beliefs. 

I'm currently reading "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying".  It's one of those books that's good for me and I need to read it, yet I resist doing so.  Lord knows I need all the ancient wisdom I can find!  Tonight Jada and I will go to the kirtan chanting session again.  It will be my third and I continue to find a deep peace there. 

Two weeks from today I'll be heading south with mixed emotions.  I've been here since August, except for my brief trip to Raleigh/Durham and the coast.  Mostly I will miss Jubilee and the good people.  I will also miss the wonderful restaurants, cool people and vibrant atmosphere.  A quiet week at St. George Island, eating oysters and being out of touch with the world for a while, will be a good transition.  I've gotten too accustomed to the internet, cell phone and cable TV again and I'm ready to be without those things for a while.  It'll also be good to have fires everyday for roasting oysters and gazing into.  Long walks on the deserted beach will also be good.  Sounds like I'm almost ready to go!  Almost.....not quite. 

LaZoom Bus Tour

Just couldn't resist taking a pic of this very cool art work near a favorite restaurant, Rosetta's.  It serves vegetarian and vegan fair and makes the best mashed potatoes and gravy I've ever had, except for my mama's of course.  It's on Lexington if you're ever in the area and want a good meal at a very reasonable price.

Last night Jubilee sponsored a bus tour of the city to sing songs, bless people and places and raise money to feed the hungry.  It was a huge success!  There was a band on the bus and we attracted lots of attention with loud singing.  What great fun for a good cause.  There are pictures on the Asheville Citizen-Times website of the 5 o'clock tour (I was on the one at 6:30).  We blessed the YWCA, businesses run by Jubilants, county and city government buildings, prisoners, places that feed and house the homeless and had a ball in the process. 

Howard, beer in hand, leads the Jubilants in blessings and song

I sure am gonna miss these folks.  

A Chili Halloween

On Friday, after moving Howhee in the park, I headed for Virginia to enjoy the Sedalia Chili Cook off and Halloween with Barbara and her family.  It was different driving the truck without Howhee behind, but I did have the Burg and a new spare helmet, hoping the weather would permit some good rides. 

Grandson Patrick

After washing the Burg, I invited Patrick to climb on and pose for a pic.  He hadn't ridden the Vespa and I was hoping he was ready to ride now.  I told him I was ready whenever he was and he said "okay", meaning he would let me know.  Houston was ready, so he road with me to the chili cookoff and loved it!  It was a little on the cool side, but a clear and sunny day.

Patrick, again

Patrick looked so cool in his do-rag and shades, I just couldn't resist this shot!

The cookoff was a blast, as always.  There weren't as many contestants as last year, but the chili was hot, the weather was cool and the beer was cold.  Trey's church sponsored them again and the team did a fine job of making the best batch there.  It was delicious!  I tried each of the other 26 and the Mountain Men had the best, hands down. 

Trey and Barbara

Barbara decided to be in costume for the occasion and surprised Trey.  What a great looking couple!

We're not quite sure what happened in the voting or the judging, but the Mountain Men won second place from the judges and missed out on the People's Choice award this time.  Still, the big, tall trophy looks great next to the other ones Trey had already won.  They had a very fine time and that's what matters most. 

The Mountain Men, a winning team!

As I was getting ready to leave the cookoff, Patrick came running over saying he wanted to ride.  I was thrilled and surprised!  So we loaded him up and took off.  He loved it!  Wish I had a picture of his grin when we got home. 

Sunday afternoon provided time for everyone to do their own thing for a while.  Patrick and I shot some hoops, which I hadn't done in many years.  Then while he and Houston went to play with friends and Barb and Trey went for a ride in the Mustang, I hopped on the Burg and headed for one of my favorite stretches of the Parkway, Peaks of Otter to Otter Creek.  It's where I had my inspiration for traveling full time, as well as my first shakedown trip in Howhee last year.  Highway 501 from the parkway to Lynchburg is smooth, wide, curvy and fast.  It's one of the best rides I've had on the Burg so far.  I laid it over further than ever and had a ball zipping around the curves!

After a trip to Linda and Houston's (Trey's parents) for tacos, it was time for serious trick-or-treating.  Moments after this picture was taken, the masks came off and they ran from house to house collecting goodies.  It's a great neighborhood for T or T'ing, with lots of decorations and very good candy.  I went along for a while, then got tired and came back to the house, only to find that Trey had taken a short cut and beat me back.  He was in the big easy chair watching the World Series when I arrived.

Houston and Patrick

Overall it was a very busy and fun-filled weekend.  No major mishaps, lots of good food' fun, laughter and sunshine.  And, of course, being with people I love so much.  On the down side, I wish I could have seen Derick and his family, too, but still haven't figured out how to be in 2 places at once.  I hope his Halloween Party went well.  It's always a good time, too. 

On a sad note, Zoe's little panther-cat, Cinder, passed away over the weekend and I know she will miss him.  He was a good friend for a long time, and the last pet survivor from the Briarpatch days.  I'm sure he's aggravating Roscoe and Pancho, as the three of them had quite a fine time together.  I guess if a black cat has gotta go, Halloween is as good a time as any and better than most.  RIP, Cinder. 

Trey

Is this a hint from Trey for next year?  If so, I gotta see it!  Thanks for stopping by!