White Squirrels & Old Friends

The county courthouse in the town of Brevard, NC, is a fine place to be on Memorial Day.  I was actually there on Saturday to enjoy the White Squirrel Festival, again, and had a very good time.  The small monument honors all the deceased veterans from all the major wars, listing casualities by name.  It's a moving site.  There was also good music, excellent beer and plenty of sunshine.  And the soap box derby was a highlight for me!  Along with Craggie Brewery's 1840 ale, once again.  It has become a favorite!

Knowing it was the opening day for Sliding Rock, I had to scoot up there for a look and to cool off a bit.  There was a 25 minute wait to slide that day.  The cool air sure felt good!

On Sunday, after Jubilee!, I went to Maynardville, TN, to visit longtime friend, George Holcomb, his wife Brenda and their small pack of friendly and somewhat spoiled 4-leggeds.  I stayed in their "guest house", a 3 bedroom, 2 bath place that was the former home for George's parents when he and Brenda cared for them in their later years.  It's a beautiful place, on the spine of a ridge over looking the mountains.  It's very quiet there, except for the birds and the barking of the 4-leggeds doing their job. 

The main house sits on the crest of the ridge and is a very pretty place.  It is spacious, comfortable and a fine home.  The hosts are also spacious and comfortable and I'm always glad to be there!  Thank you, my friends!

Susie is the alpha female of the little pack and sweet as she can be.  A beautiful lab, she had joint surgery not long ago and is doing very well.  Lil Bit is a daschund with a mind of her own who listens to no one, except maybe Susie.  I didn't get a picture of Otis, a red bone hound dog with a shy disposition but still wanting to be very friendly.  There are a couple more 4-leggeds who hang around the big house, wanting to be part of the pack.  But not yet.  Maybe later. 

George's dad was a pilot in WW II and therefore a hero of sorts to me and George, too.  He also flew radio controlled model airplanes and taught George that hobby.  As you see, my friend has more than a few gorgeous planes and is a very fine RC pilot.  His attention to detail is unmatched and some are like works of art - to be looked at, only.  Therefore, a couple of them have never flown and probably never will!  Good call, my friend!

On Monday we took George's boat to nearby Norris Lake, along with good friend Steve Bales, and had a ball.  We told stories, laughed our butts off, sipped a bit of rum and coke, then collected bait fish all afternoon while anchored in the shade and wading in the cool, shallow water.  It was great fun! 

We ran out of bait (night crawlers), because somebody forgot to check the container and there were only about 3 scrawny worms in there.  So on our way to get more, the wild life officers pulled us over for a safety and fishing license check.  I didn't have a license, so I was warned not to touch a rod.  Well, okay officer, if you say so.  While they were checking our credentials, I managed to sit my sippy cup full of rum and coke on top of a roach crawling across the transom of the boat and saved the day - for the roach and for us!  When the officers departed, we laughed our butts off, then went and got more worms.  Later we trolled for striped bass with the bream we had caught, but had no luck.  Which was fine.  Because we had already had a ton of fun!

There are a few people from high school that I've maintained some contact with over these 45 years, and when I see them, we pick up where we left off. George is one of those, as is David Rickman, Brenda Kay Jones O'Kelly, and Gail Setzer Cyr.  I got close to another classmate, Wayne Caldwell, when we were in college together at Carolina, along Eric Godfrey, now deceased.  I know that for all of us, our days our numbered, and I don't know what the number is. So I want to connect with these good people whenever I can.  That's one of the reasons I started this traveling journey and plan to continue it for a while longer. 

As the Lakota say, "All my relations!"

Beauty and the Beast

First the beauty.  A ride up Davidson River to the Blue Ridge Parkway, then down to Graveyard Fields was the beauty part of this ride.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Then there was the beast.

On the day I reported to pilot training at Williams AFB, Chandler, AZ, there were 2 plumes of black smoke rising from an alfalfa field near the base.  I would soon learn that 3 men died in a mid-air collision in the traffic pattern and 1 survived.  Later in my training I would fly with that survivor on a cross-country training flight.  But on that day, I knew full well that the profession I had chosen was a dangerous one and could take your life in an instant.  That's why they had taken our foot prints during the initial physical, because often that was all that was left from a fiery crash.

Soon after I left Graveyard Fields, a lady wearing a helmet flagged me down to say there was a motorcycle accident up ahead and to slow down and use caution.  And this is what I saw. 

A Honda Goldwing had left the road on the right in a left had curve, run into the guard rail and threw the riders from their mount.  Both were lying on their side, in the fetal position and not moving.  I stopped and asked "What's needed here?  Have you contacted 911?"  Yes, they had, and a woman wanted to know the mile marker.  I said I'd be right back and took off to find it.  After reporting the marker to them, I went down the river road passing 4 emergency vehicles and a firetruck on their way up the mountain.  I prayed for the victims and the lump in my throat finally subsided.  It reminded of the crash at Willy and how that had affected me in a very positive way.  Riding is dangerous, as was flying.  Be aware.  Be responsive.  And maybe today won't be my day. 

The beast is like the tail of the dragon, which I rode last spring at Deals Gap near Lake Fontana.  She can rear her head at any time and bite you on the ass.  So beware.  Be cautious.  Ride your ride.  That's what I learned from the Tree of Shame and riding the dragon last year.   So far, so good.

Pool of Light

Pool of Light

Yesterday I skirted the edge of this thunderstorm returning home from a Jubilee! fundraiser-picnic in Black Mountain.  I got sprinkled, but not soaked, and was grateful for that!

It seems that every time I start to think about not blogging anymore, someone appears to tell me they come here and like what they see.  That happened just a few days ago, so thank you for mentioning it.  Otherwise, I was thinking about writing a farewell post.  Actually, they didn't even say they liked it, just that they come here.  Oh well.  Here's one more at least! 

Several days ago my cell phone went the way of my camera, after they both got dunked in the river.  I really liked that phone and of course that model has been retired.  So I'm onto another one so I can stay connected with the people that matter most, the people I love and who love me in return. 

On Saturday I attended the Opening Gala Event for Jubilee's! new wellness program, Pathways to Wellness, and I had a very fine time!  There were healthy whole foods cooking classes, revitalizing and energizing movement classes and meditation as well as transformative lectures and discussions led by Asheville's top holistic educators.  It was fun, informative and very helpful.

Jubilant and Lino

My first session was with Lino Stanchich on "Self Massage" and it was outstanding!  He is 79 years old and looks and acts more like 29!  He was very knowledgeable, funny, engaging and practical in his approach.  He patiently led us through the self massage techniques and I felt so good when we were done, I immediately bought his dvd so I could learn the many methods he covered.  His website is
www.macrobioticconsultation.com.  Toward the end of our session he had us standing in a circle belly-laughing out loud, jumping up and down and fully rejuvenated.  Wow!

The next session I attended was on soup making and the leader, Lenore Baum, was equally engaging and knowledgeable.  We watched her make "Yellow Spit Pea Dahl" and it was delicious!  But more than that, it was nutritious and I learned far more about nutrition than just making soup.  Things like "antioxidants are like Pacman eating the bad guys", and "Don't cook with salt, add it later", and "Use regular olive oil, not extra virgin, when it's heated" as well as "Eat leafy greens along with bean soups to balance the acidity".  She's written two cookbooks, "Lenore's Natural Cuisine" and "Sublime Soups".  I also learned that the most sprayed items in the produce section are strawberries, grapes/raisins, and peaches, so go for the organic ones whenever you can.  Oh yeah, and before this class was one on making sweets so I got to sample "Cinnamon Raisin Rice Pudding", which was truly out of this world, and "Peach Kanten with Almond Creme".  And one more tip from Lenore: using white pepper instead of black causes less irritation to the intestines.  She was amazing!  You can find her at www.lenoresnatural.com. 

Sushi making

Then there was the sushi making class.  Now that I've seen how it's done, I'm pretty sure I'll never attempt it, but I was very hungry and sat through the whole thing.  And it was soooo worth it!  Delicious!  All vegetables, no fish or seafood of any kind.  She mostly used scallions, cucumber, avocado and carrots.    The flavors were excellent and there were several varieties to choose from.  Plus the rice was just right and some of the best I've ever had!  The only problem I had was trying to stop gobbling them down!  They were sooo good!  Okay, maybe I will attempt to make them some time. 

We finished the day with dancing, both the electric slide and freestyle, and it was a very fine way to finish a very fine day.  I loved it and look forward to the next time.  It's stuff like this that makes me want to be here - a lot!

After the event I was wandering through Pack Square when I saw what appeared to be a familiar face.  So I stopped and said "you look like my cousin, Tommy Propest" and he replied, "I am.  Who are you?"  I said "Fred Racey" and we shook hands, hugged and went off on a 30 minute plus conversation that was most enjoyable.  I don't remember the last time I saw Tommy.  But he and his family lived just up the road from me in Reeves Cove and so we were also neighbors.  He was the youngest of 5, so I didn't know him as well as the rest, especially his older brother, Ralph, who was about my age.  Ralph and I hung around together a lot back then, running his old Henry Ford car up and down the gravel road.  Their dad, my Uncle Garrett, was a car mechanic and a preacher so he keep the car running good as well as trying to steer us on the straight and narrow.  What great fun we had!

Jubilee! Singers

Jubilee's! theme for last Sunday was the Legacy of Connection.  For some reason I can't fathom, it was one of the most moving and tearful services I've attended there.  And it wasn't just me.  There were tears everywhere that day.  Sitting near me was an Elizabeth Salendar look alike, with dark hair falling over her eyes, lips pierced, tats, wearing a black top and blue jeans, signing to a young, stocky man next to her who was sporting a mohawk and wearing an orange astronaut jump suit.  When the choir sang a beautiful song, she signed it as well and it was so moving that Howard had tears running down his face.  So did I and a lot of other folks. 

From the meditation reading for Jubilee! that day came this from Jean Shinoda Bolen and "Crossing to Avalon":"

 I have often felt myself to be a point of light, connected to everyone I have ever loved or mattered to, each also being a point of light, in turn connected to those they love, so that somehow we are all part of a vast web of twinkling lights.

 The whole point of Sunday's message was we are not alone.  Ever.  We are always connected in many ways, to each other and to the divine.  By the end I was feeling very close to all the people I love and who love me:  my children, grandchildren, cousins, siblings, friends and lovers.  All of you, each and every one. 

Later that afternoon was a fundraiser-picnic at the beautiful country home of a Jubilant couple.  We raised money to feed the hungry while feeding ourselves and enjoying this beautiful setting and each other.  There was swimming in the pool, fishing in the pond, volleyball, great music and a warm spring day.  As the thunder beings began to arrive, I left to scoot around the edge of the storm and just make it back in time to miss the deluge.  That's the picture at the top.  I couldn't decide whether to call it "Heaven and Earth" or "Pool of Light".  Both went through my mind as I observed this awesome sight. 

Oh yeah.  I also went to visit another cousin, William Propest and his wife, Joyce, that afternoon after the service and before the picnic.  I stayed with them back in January when I came up for Henrietta's funeral.  They had been on my mind a lot lately and especially so during the service.  William was recovering from a bad cold and Joyce from having something removed from her cheek, so I was glad to bring a little cheer to them.  We had a good visit in spite of their ailments and I felt glad to be with them once again.

My activity level is about to go way up with a short trip to Knoxville this week to visit an old high school buddy, George Holcomb, then the White Squirrel Festival in Brevard this weekend.  The following weekend I'll be going to the Raleigh-Durham area to visit my son and granddaughters, attend a friend's wedding, and visit with friends.  The next weekend I'll be in Forest, VA to visit Barbara and her family before starting my westward trek.  Whew! 

Odds and Ends-5

Last picture with old camera

It was another beautiful day on Davidson River, trying to get a trout or 2.  About 20 minutes before I took this picture, I realized that I'd forgotten to take my cell phone out of my pocket and vowed not to do that again.  Just then I slipped on a rock while wading and thought about leaving.  But looking up river, I saw the spot I'd been working toward and told myself to be extra careful and I would definitely leave after fishing this hole.  Well, you guessed it.  About a minute after taking this pic, I slipped on bedrock and went all the way down, wet up to my chest.  I stood up quickly and walked to the Burg, removed the battery from my cell phone and dried it off.  It don't look too wet, but I sure was!  It was a chilly ride back and I only had one bruise and a small cut.  I was lucky. 

That night I put the phone into a bag of rice, a tip from friend Mamie Potter.  The next day I fired it up and it worked!  I was overjoyed, as I had no desire for a new phone and all the hassle that entails.  But I'd forgotten to pay attention to my camera, which was in its' holster on my belt and also got wet.

On Thursday night I attended a reunion planning meeting for my high school class and when I attempted to take a picture, there were horizontal lines all over the screen.  And sure enough, when the picture was taken, the lines were there.  I was heartbroken.  I loved that camera, partly because it was a gift from LaVern and also because it had become such a close companion on my travels.  In spite of my camera problems, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the good folks and feeling the excitement of planning our next reunion.  I'll get to see them again in October at the next planning meeting.

So now I have a new Nikon Coolpix, a lot like the old one, but with far more mega pixels for clearer pictures.  Here's a shot of the table flowers at Early Girl restaurant today, just to see how it would do.

First picture with new camera

While enjoying my lunch there, I felt like someone was looking at me and couldn't figure out who.  I looked around and no one seemed to be staring.  Then I glanced under the table just to my right and discovered the culprit. 

Bandit

Her name is Bandit and she was just too cute for words!  She was so well mannered and well behaved, except for the staring.  Seeing her was one of the highlights of my day, as was Jubilee!

Yesterday I returned to Todd's RV nearby to see if they still had the 5th wheel trailer I like so much.  They did.  I took lots of pictures and and am very tempted to buy it, but my most recent strategy is to wait until fall when RV action picks up and I will be back from the westward travels.   It's a tough call.  But maybe you can see why I'm so tempted.

Holiday Rambler Presidential suite

Yes, that's an electric fireplace under the TV, and an entertainment center above it.  It is 37 feet long, has 4 slides, a king size bed, space for a washer/dryer and a central vac system.  Hugh says I'm buying the Taj Mahal and he may be right!

Double refrigerator/freezer on right

Since I plan to continue living this way for several years, it would be more than nice to have more space, that's for sure.  HOWEE has served me very well and I like it.  But, perhaps it's time to take another step up. We'll see.

Mother's day

This is my setting as I sit to compose this entry.  The wine is a pinot noir from Trader Joe's, named Petit Reserve from the central coast, 2009, and it is very good.  I just finished a fresh trout dinner with sauteed asparagus tips and corn on the cob.  And the happenings of mother's day finally became clear to me, so here goes.

This photo, though flawed with a scratch, is the only one I have with me of my mom, Mary Emily Propest Racey.  I had tried to avoid thinking about mother's day, as I got so sad when I did.  But good ole Jubilee!, as usual, wouldn't let me off that easy.  During the service, Melodie Meadows read a gift of prose entitled "Conversations With My Mother."  She lost hers in January of this year and I was totally moved by her courage and composure as she read her wonderful writing. One line in particular resonated with me: "Love, not life, is eternal."   It was then that I realized where I was, in Asheville, the birth place and final resting place of my mom, and I knew I had to get some flowers and visit her grave after the service. It had been a long time since I'd taken flowers and momma loved her flowers.

When I got to the cemetery, I read all the family markers and thought that it had probably been a while since anyone had been there, especially to leave flowers on my mom's mother's grave.  Yes, I know, I could have said "grandmother", but that would not have been technically correct, as she was really my great grandmother.  I'll leave that to my children to explain to my grandchildren and maybe for another writing here.  So I divided the flowers and that felt so peaceful.  "Granny" lived with me and mom from 1960 until she passed away in 1965.  Three people in a trailer 8X26 with a 10X10 bedroom for granny was still more than a little snug.  Yet somehow we made it.  Momma was the nearest person to a saint I've ever known. On her marker I had inscribed "She lived to give", because she did.  God rest her sweet soul.

Barbara Sierra, sister

When I got home there were two people I wanted to call and wish them happy mother's day:  sister Barbara and daughter Barbara.  Why?  Because they are the finest mothers I have ever known!  And for sister Barb, she is far and away the best grandmother I have ever witnessed.  Her grandson, Jason, is the budding baseball star and they are two of the main reasons I have chosen to winter there in Sarasota.  She is an excellent mother, too, for her daughter, Jennifer.

Barbara Crowder, daughter, and son Derick

Then I called daughter Barbara so I could wish her a happy mother's day and said that I hoped her children appreciated what a wonderful mother they have!  She said she thought they did.  She is truly the best mother I have ever known.  She is compassionate, empathetic, disciplined and oh so loving.  She sparkles and shines with her young men!  And the results are clear in their behavior.  God bless you, Barbara!  and your kids and fine hubby!

My other mother, Betty Jean, brought me into this world and for that I'm grateful.  I'm also grateful that she gave me to Emily when I was but a few months old.  That was a "win-win-win" if there ever was one.  There are some other mothers out there I would like to mention, but this is not the time or place, if ever.  But you know who you are and God bless you, too. 

First Anniversary!

Today is my first anniversary of life on the road!  It's hard to believe that one year ago today I pulled away from my former home in Raleigh, NC and began this life of a traveler/drifter/vagabond.  I've been called all of those as well as a few other things, like "lady's man" by Walt at Sun n Fun.  My first destination was Twin Lakes campground in Pendleton, SC where my father and siblings camped years ago.  It was a good beginning for this journey.

I didn't write anything in any journal about this day last year, but I did write here on May 2 about the pending departure and the dismantling of the home LaVern and I had made.  I was in Raleigh yesterday to go by the storage building and when I opened it, the tears started to flow.  They come much less often now than then, but they still come.  I still miss her sometimes, and it still hurts a lot when I do.  So, I still pray for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.  After so many years of reciting this, you'd think I would know it by now.  But I still need reminding and still need help from the creator to do them. 

Then on May 31 last year, I posted a picture of the stickers on the back of HOWHEE.  Here are both pics.  Wow! 

Last night I stayed over with Derick and the girls, and he and Lauren were up when I arose and came into the kitchen.  Both of them looked a me and started grinning, so I said "Is it the hair?"  And they both said "yes!"  So, for those of you who need a smile, here's a recent "morning hair 'do".  Enjoy, at my expense!  It was the curly cue on top that made me snap this one!

During a failed fishing expedition the other day to Bent Creek and the French Broad River, I spotted this lonesome goose and was taken by his stature.  Then today at A&J Automotive in Raleigh while getting my new truck checked over, there was a lone goose out back who has taken up with the folks there.  Two lone gooses in as many days, so what's the message for me, if any?  Last year on May 2 a turtle provided a sign for me. 

My desire is to still live one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.  And to accept hardship as a pathway to peace.  There are now many more days of peace and happiness than hardship, though I know that there is hardship in my future.  There always is.  The yin and yang.  That's life, and I'm grateful for it!  Namaste!

Hooray! Hooray! the 1st of May!

Much of my last week was spent reading Jean Auel's latest novel, "The Land of Painted Caves."  Perhaps it's because I know it's the last in the Earth Children series, but it just doesn't have the sense of excitement the previous 5 had.  Still, I love the characters at this stage of their lives and where they are going.  It is so good to be with them one more time! 

I saw the movie "Water for Elephants" and was delighted that it stayed so close to the book.  It is such a good story and the actors brought it to life on the screen very well indeed.  Hal Holbrook almost stole the show at the beginning and the end and was his usual brilliant self.  I highly recommend this one!

This past week the RV park was invaded with over 35 of these little, and I do mean little, T&B trailers (aka teardrops).  They sure are cute, and they sure are small!  I didn't get to look inside one, but all of the people seemed to be very happy campers.  Most had large canopies attached around the door, giving a large outdoor living area.  The one you see here had the more traditional type canopy and it was by far the most attractive. 

On Saturday, good friend Hugh Huntington and I went to Beaufort, SC to see the airshow at the Marine Corps Air Station there.  We had a very fine time!  As we walked down the street looking for a place to lunch, Hugh spotted this Maserati and he had to do a little happy dance!  It sure was a beaut!  Could one be in Hugh's future?  Who knows?

The Blue Angels were there and did their usual spectacular flying exhibition.  Getting a good picture of them with my digital camera is just about impossible, but I did get a few pics of some other special aircraft.

This fine aircraft is called an OV-100, the civilian version of the OV-10 Bronco used by the Air Force during the Viet Nam was as an observation plane for calling in air strikes by the fighters.  It's job was to find the targets and shot smoke markers for the fighters.  It was my  second choice in air craft after the T-37, which I got.  This one had a brand new paint job, less than 2 days old.  But, the inside looked over 35 years old, which it was!  This one is used for mosquito control!

The Air Force now uses the T-6, above, in place of the T-37 (aka Tweety Bird, Flying Dog Whistle) which I flew.  This is a very fine plane, fully acrobatic with a ceiling of 35,000 feet, ejection seats and great instruments.  I'd love to fly one, but it still wouldn't be like flying a Tweet!

Today was the first time I'd seen a parrot attend a celebration at Jubilee!  and it was brought by Christina.  Then there was the cutest of little girl sitting in front of me!  We played "she drops the stuffed poodle and I pick it up for her"  more than a few times. She was such a wiggle worm it was hard to get a picture of her.   

I put the same prayer on the wall today for 2 special people in my life, my son and my lover.  The prayer was for serenity while experiencing major life changes: my son is getting out of a relationship and my lover is getting into one. 

When I was getting ready for church, I got a phone call, became distracted and wound up going to church with only one hearing aid inserted!  Luckily I was able to sit near the podium with my good ear near Howard, so I fared pretty well.  But I've learned over the years that when I'm not able to hear well with my ears to listen more with my heart and watch whoever is speaking very carefully.  Howard is a very animated speaker and singer, so I get it whether I can hear it well or not.  Oh yeah!

Today Pack Square was the site of the first Big Love Fest to celebrate Asheville.  Its' mission is to support independently owned local businesses.  There was great food, music, very fine crafts and excellent beer, as well as over 35 home brewers providing samples.  I passed on that, having been one in a former life and remembering how bad some of it could be.  Plus it's hard to count 2 beers when you're drinking small samples, and 2 is my firm limit when on 2 wheels.  I did have 2 of Craggie's Antebellum Ale which was superb!  It's an updated version of an 1840 recipe containing water, yeast, molasses, ginger and spruce tips. 

One highlight of the crafts were silk flowers by thimblekiss.blogspot.com or thimblekiss.etsy.com.  They were spotted online by my lover and she strongly suggested that I check them out, which of course I did.  They were so nice that I bought 3 of them, including the one you see here.  I also acquired a small terrarium in a light-bulb-shaped container which is just the right size for HOWHEE.  It contains a smooth, green moss and a glowing blue stone.  And it only requires a teaspoon of water every 6 months!  Now that I can handle!

There were lots of colorful hats and dresses and this was one of the best combos.  Unfortunately, the photo doesn't do justice to the color and texture of the dress.  It was like a sheer velvet and had a subtle sheen to it.  It was gorgeous! 

It was another fine Sunday in Asheville and I look forward to the next one.  It has become my favorite day of the week!  Thanks for stopping by!