Well it's Christmas - 2011

I can't believe how quickly the year 2011 evaporated.  It seems like yesterday I was anticipating the arrival of the grand babies and children for an exciting time together as we gathered around the Christmas Tree to share in seeing what Santa dropped off.

This year is a 100% weather change from last  year.  Bright sunshine with temps in the 40's with no snow in sight.  Last year we had 5" snow with a new coating of about an inch on Christmas morning.  However, even though no snow the Christmas spirit glows among us.  Since the children are traveling from Fort Wayne it makes for easy travel.

I have procrastinated beyond belief with my blogging. I've been off the site since June.  Oldsters Toadstool reprimanded me for my laziness in his last blog.  Do I have an excuse - well maybe.  On July 20 the love of my life had a much needed surgery to correct a pain syndrome called RSD.  Upon coming out of the surgery she was paralyzed on her entire right side.  Further tests showed the possible reason for the paralysis was a problem call OPLL.  In everyday language this was stenosis in the cervical area pinching the spinal cord.  A second surgery was required on July 22.  Following the surgery five and a half weeks was spent at a rehab center learning to walk and regain the use of her hands and arms.  Here it is a little over five months later and recovery continues very slowly.  Pain still persists, but by the Grace of God improvement does carry on slowly.

Now back to Christmas.  Last night we went to our midnight candlelight service.  Our minister, in his sermon, brought the everyday rush and madness of the season into reality.  He kept asking "why are we here?".  The final answer was this - to come to the manger of the Christchild - a place to find "real" meaning in our lives.  As I continue to mature - I'm now in the mature years of my life - I'm convinced his message was "right-on".  I must confess the Christmas season does give me time to slow down and regroup. 

I'm anticipating good things for 2012.  I pray each day for God's healing grace on my bride of 45 years - yes 45 years on December 27th. 

I'm going to sign off for now.  I heard a cluttering sound out on the lawn - St. Nick must have arrived. I've tried to be good so I hope a small gift awaits.  The only gift I really want is complete recovery for my sweatheart.   Kids will be arriving in about 3 hours - so I better get cleaned up. 

Merry Christmas to all!!

Old Dirt Farmer: Viet Nam Reunion - Fort Worth TX

Old Dirt Farmer: Viet Nam Reunion - Fort Worth TX: "I’d like to start this BLOG by saying, maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s because life takes on different meanings as the..."

Viet Nam Reunion - Fort Worth TX

I’d like to start this BLOG by saying,  maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s because life takes on different meanings as the result of growing older, I’m not sure, but no matter what the reason, it was the morning of July 4, 2010 when it suddenly hit me of how truly blessed I am.  Blessed because I was born in the greatest country in the entire world – the United States of America;  a country that God has blessed  along with this BLOG writer.

Anyway, as I sat and thought about my blessings I suddenly thought about the year I spent in South Viet Nam – 1969-1970.  I thought about how hard it was to leave my wife – nine months pregnant with our first child.   I remembered the trip to the airport and how I cried.  I cried because of the apprehension of going to a land ravaged by war – a very unpopular war, and I wondered if I’d ever see my child.  I asked God to be with me. This may have been a selfish wish, but I wanted to be able to return home safely and see my new baby. 

Now let’s fast forward.  I was one of the fortunate ones.  I made it there and back all in one piece.  However, as I continued to reminisce my thoughts took me back to the days of D-Troop First of the Tenth Cavalry and Pleiku South Viet Nam.  I decided to Google first of the 10^th Cavalry.  I did and found a very complete web page.  Wow, suddenly I was there!  I could almost hear the “pop” of the rotor blades of the Cobras, Slicks, and LOHs.  Forty years melted.  I saw one of my buddies in a picture and decided to try and locate him – a guy from Kentucky.  Thank goodness for the advent of the computer and Google for I found Charlie and gave him a call.  There were several Charlies  (not to be confused with the Charlies of Viet-Nam – they were the enemy)  with the same last name but I took a chance and first one I dialed was the right one.  As a result of this call I was able to get a link to another website which had a list of the guys from D-Troop.  A few e-mails later I had made contact with some of the long forgotten group.   I was told about an upcoming reunion for the D-Troopers in the spring of 2011 in Fort Worth, TX. 

Several months passed, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the opportunity to go the reunion.  Forty years changes many things.  Would I recognize anyone?  Would anyone recognize me?  What will we talk about?  Well, I decided to go.  Connie worked diligently and found a good rate for airline tickets.  We purchased. 

Time flew and it was time to go to Dallas/Fort Worth.  We have friends that live north of Dallas in Plano.  They graciously allowed us to stay with them and even loaned us their car to drive to Fort Worth.  Thanks Josie and Tom.

Now to bring this BLOG to closure; seeing several of the guys I spent one of the most unforgettable years of my life with was quite amazing.  We all had changed – 41 years does that – but I recognized everyone with whom I worked.   Less hair, or white hair; bigger bellies – for most; but the same great gentlemen!!!  Would I do it again?  You bet!!

Captain Miller – thanks for my first ride in a Cobra and the very kinds words at the reunion.

Sgt.  Harry L Allman (armor)  – Cobra  tail #544 – 1969-1970 – D-Troop 1^st 10^th Cav. – Viet Nam

March - Lamb or Lion

I've heard it said if March comes in like a Lamb it will go out like a Lion.  March 2011 came in like a little lamb.  We will now wait to see how the month ends. 

The last weekend in February was extremely wet. Small stream flooding was the result of over one and one-half inches of rain in a little over 24 hours.  Thank goodness there was no snow to add to the water deluge.  

This is the first weekend in March and the weatherman called for hard rain and flooding.  He is true to his word - rain rain rain!  There is one good thing about rain I don't have to shovel or plow it.  I am very thankful for that!  I wanted to work outside but.....

Now here is my concern.  Winter came early to WV this year.  The entire month of December was under a blanket of snow.  Then a repeat the month of January.  February had its share of snow even though the Groundhog didn't see his shadow.  Only time will tell how March ends, but I'm ready for sunshine and flowers...just like the poem says. 

Now back to March's legacy of Lamb and Lion.  The following poem sums it up discusses the Lion / Lamb.  In like a lion out like a lamb.
March - Lion and Lamb (poem) by Joyce P. Hale


MARCH has tumbled on the scene,
exits mild, but enters mean...
Winter waves a fierce goodbye,
while robins promise Spring is nigh.

Daffodils are peeking through...
forsythia is budding, too.
Clouds are racing, sun is cool,
in like a lion is the rule!

Birds all seem to know it's time
to answer Mother Nature's sign;
they listen to an innate command,
and there goes March, out like a lamb.

© Joyce P. Hale

Caribbean in January



Garden at Curacao Liqueur Distillery

 Connie and I just returned a little over two weeks ago from an 11 day cruise in the Southern Caribbean where it's always "summer".
The cruise consisted of stops at several ports - starting in Jan Juan then to St. Croix, St. Kitts....on and on and eventually to Aruba then back to San Juan.
This picture was taken in Curacao in the gardens of Curacao Liqueur.  Tasting was a part of the tour. Can you believe I'm still standing after some serious tasting!

Weather was never a problem because it was always perfect. Rain dampened a portion of our morning in Aruba. However, the warm tropical breeze soon dried our cloths.
Let me say this, the weather there would be very easy and boring to track. With the exception of some rain, it's 80 degrees plus and beautiful every day.
There had been some unusually heavy rains in Aruba a couple days before we arrived and the snorkeling was not good - the water was murky.
Reality sat in when we got back to WV and 6" of snow with temperatures in the mid 20's. This was quite a shock to our somewhat sun-tanned and tropically warmed bodies.
This wonderful time in the sun made what has been an extremely snowy winter in WV more tolerable.